Effect of Donepezil on Cognition in Parkinson's Disease With Mild Cognitive Impairment (PD-MCI)

There have been growing interest in identifying Parkinson's disease (PD) patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) which is susceptible to progress to PD dementia(PDD). PD-MCI is known to significantly correlates with low cerebrospinal beta-amyloid 1-42 and 1-40 levels, in which suggest the existence of something common with Alzheimer's dementia. PDD have showed more cholinergic deficits than Alzheimer's dementia and responds to donepezil. The investigators assume that PD-MCI patients also have cholinergic deficits. Donepezil improves cognition, and seems to be well tolerated and not to worsen parkinsonism in patients with cognitive impairment. Donepezil produced similar improvements in cognition and behaviour in DLB and PDD. This supports the hypothesis that the two disorders are closely related clinically and neurobiologically. Larger scale, placebo controlled clinical trials are needed to provide an evidence base to guide the clinical use of cholinesterase inhibitors in Lewy body disease.

It is believed that earlier intervention, later appearance of dementia should be needed to lower the socioeconomic costs and to improve the quality of life on patients and caregivers. The investigators anticipate that donepezil may delay the development of dementia in patients with PD-MCI.