Pharmacopsychiatry 2006; 39(6): 205-208
DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-950396
Original Paper

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

The Effect of Donepezil on Sleep in Elderly, Healthy Persons: A Double-blind Placebo-controlled Study

M. Schredl 1 , O. Hornung 1 , F. Regen 1 , N. Albrecht 1 , H. Danker-Hopfe 1 , I. Heuser 1
  • 1Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité-University Medicine Berlin, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Berlin, Germany
Weitere Informationen

Publikationsverlauf

Received 8. 3. 2006 Revised 11. 7. 2006

Accepted 13. 7. 2006

Publikationsdatum:
23. November 2006 (online)

Preview

Introduction: Previous research in younger individuals has shown that acetylcholinesterase inhibitors tend to enhance REM sleep. Methods: Forty-two healthy elderly persons participated in a double-blind placebo-controlled polysomnographic study (parallel group design). Results: The present study indicates that in the elderly persons, donepezil, an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor also exerts a marked effect on REM sleep parameters: REM density was increased whereas REM latency was reduced, thus, confirming the findings of our pilot study described earlier. Conclusion: Whether the cholinergic stimulation measured by polysomnography is related to treatment efficacy is a very interesting but an open question. Based on the findings that REM sleep is associated with memory consolidation, the question whether REM sleep augmentation enhances memory performance-as suggested by the findings of the pilot study-seems to be an interesting topic for future research.

References

Correspondence

Michael SchredlPh. D. 

Sleep Laboratory·Central Institute of Mental Health

P. O. Box 122120

68072 Mannheim

Germany

Telefon: +49/621/17 03 17 82

Fax: +49/621/17 03 12 05

eMail: Schredl@as200.zi-mannheim.de