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  • Title: The effect of donepezil on sleep in elderly, healthy persons: a double-blind placebo-controlled study.
    Author: Schredl M, Hornung O, Regen F, Albrecht N, Danker-Hopfe H, Heuser I.
    Journal: Pharmacopsychiatry; 2006 Nov; 39(6):205-8. PubMed ID: 17124641.
    Abstract:
    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.
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