Effect of donepezil on brain acetylcholinesterase activity in patients with AD measured by PET.

Shinotoh, H; Aotsuka, A; Fukushi, K; Nagatsuka, S; Tanaka, N; Ota, T; Tanada, S; Irie, T · Neurology · 2001

case_series · Level IV

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Abstract

Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activities in the brain of three patients with AD were measured once before and once during donepezil treatment (5 mg/d in two patients, 3 mg/d in one patient) using PET and N-[11C]methylpiperidin-4-yl acetate. Donepezil reduced k(3) values, an index of AChE activity, in the cerebral cortex by 39 +/- 5%. All patients showed some degree of symptomatic improvement, and it was concluded that this improvement was likely caused by improved cholinergic activity by inhibition of AChE in the brain.

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