| BackgroundDonepezil, a cholinesterase inhibitor, is an approved symptomatic treat for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) by enhancing levels of acetylcholine (Ach) in brain. However, the mechanisms underlying changes of nerve function after treatment with donepezil has not been clarified fully.Objective:The aim of this study was to assess the ReHo changes in mild to moderate AD patients treated with donepezil assessed by resting-state fMRI.Methods:Our study included 25 mild to moderate AD patients, which met the diagnosis of international Classification of diseases-10(ICD-10) for Alzheimer’s disease criteria. fMRI data is from these 25 AD patients at baseline and 24 weeks of treated. Mini-Mental Status Examination(MMSE), Assessment Scale-Cognitive subscal(ADAS-cog), Neuropsychiatric Inventory(NPI) and activities of daily Living(ADL) were performed to assess the cognitive function and the behavioral and psychological symptoms. ReHo analysis was performed and statistical significance was set.Results:6 patients completed 24 weeks of observation and MRI of 2 times. Our results show increased ReHo index after donepezil treatment in the left Hippocampus(t=6.22,P<0.01)and right Cingulate Gyrus (t=15.51,P<0.01)and decreased ReHo index in the right Fusiform Gyrus(t=-6.62,P<0.01), right Middle Temporal Gyrus(t=-9.11,P<0.01),left Parietal Lobe(t=-9.13,P<0.01),right Parietal Lobe(t=-6.55,P<0.01), right Precuneus(t=-6.42,P<0.01). At the end of week 24, the scores of MMSE(17.67±4.50,17.50±4.76,t=-0.82,P=0.938),ADAS-cog(23.43±9.34, 28.00±13.36,t=1.57,P=0.177),ADL(23.43±9.34,28.00±13.36,t=1.57,P=0.177) and NPI(1.83±4.49,0.50±1.22,t=-0.67,P=0.533)were changed, but there was not significant difference.Conclusion:The results suggest a positive effect of donepezil treatment in patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s Disease, resulting in an increased the regional function which include right Cingulate Gyrus, right Precuneus and right Fusiform Gyrus. |
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