Donepezil May Be Effective For Down’s Syndrome
(This Is dated Material)
LONDON, ENGLAND -- March 26, 1999 --
It is usually
assumed that the disabilities associated with Down's syndrome are untreatable.
In a research letter in this week's issue of The Lancet, Dr. Priya Kishnani
and colleagues, from Duke University Medical School, Durham, N.C., report
an improvement in communication, language ability and mood in four people
with Down's syndrome treated with donepezil, a drug usually used to treat
dementia.
Down's syndrome is caused by a disorder of chromosomes that cannot be corrected.
The effects of this disorder, especially in older people with Down's syndrome,
are similar to those seen in people with dementia due to Alzheimer's disease:
poor communication, short attention span and changeable mood. Over the
past few years, a drug that alters the way brain cells communicate with
each other, donepezil, has been shown to help people with Alzheimer's disease.
Dr. Kishnani and colleagues tried donepezil on four people, aged 24 to
67 years, with Down's syndrome. Beneficial effects were seen within the
first three months of treatment. The researchers report that improvements
in communication, expressive language, attention and mood stability were
noted in all four patients.
The researchers do not claim their small study should lead to widespread
use of donepezil, but conclude that, a larger randomised placebo-controlled
trial of cholinergic therapy in Down's syndrome is warranted.
As reported By The Lancet