Donepezil improves obstructive sleep apnea in Alzheimer disease - A double-blind, placebo-controlled study

Background: There is an association between Alzheimer disease and sleep-disordered breathing. Donepezil is the drug most frequently used to treat cognitive symptoms in Alzheimer disease. This study evaluates the effects of donepezil on obstructive sleep apnea in patients with Alzheimer disease.Metho...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Moraes, Walter [UNIFESP], Poyares, Dalva [UNIFESP], Sukys-Claudino, Lucia [UNIFESP], Guilleininault, Christian, Tufik, Sergio [UNIFESP]
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2008
País:Brasil
Institución:Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP)
Repositorio:Repositório Institucional da UNIFESP
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:repositorio.unifesp.br:11600/30468
Acceso en línea:http://dx.doi.org/10.1378/chest.07-1446
http://repositorio.unifesp.br/handle/11600/30468
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Alzheimer
donepezil
oxygen saturation
polysomnography
rapid eye movement sleep
sleep apnea
Descripción
Sumario:Background: There is an association between Alzheimer disease and sleep-disordered breathing. Donepezil is the drug most frequently used to treat cognitive symptoms in Alzheimer disease. This study evaluates the effects of donepezil on obstructive sleep apnea in patients with Alzheimer disease.Methods: Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled design. Twenty-three patients with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer disease and apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) > 5/h were allocated to two groups: donepezil treated (n = 11) and placebo treated (n = 12). Polysomnography and cognitive evaluation using Alzheimer disease assessment scale-cognitive (ADAS-cog) subscale were performed at baseline and after 3 months. Cognitive and sleep data were analyzed using analysis of variance.Results: AHI and oxygen saturation improved significantly after donepezil treatment compared to baseline and placebo (p < 0.05). Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep duration increased after donepezil treatment (p < 0.05). ADAS-cog scores improved after donepezil treatment, although they did not correlate with REM sleep increase and sleep apnea improvement (p < 0.01).Conclusions: Donepezil treatment improved AHI and oxygen saturation in patients with Alzheimer disease. Treatment also increased REM sleep duration and reduced ADAS-cog scores. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00480870.