Relevance of Donepezil in Enhancing Learning and Memory in Special Populations: A Review of the Literature

Layperson Summary:

Donepezil (Aricept®) may help to make people smarter and some doctors think that it may also be a good treatment for autism.

Early data suggest that drugs used to treat Alzheimer disease may also be a good treatment for autism. While donepezil is prescribed for many diseases, the best data exist for Alzheimer's and Down syndrome. Donepezil appears to be safe and it seems to work the same way in both animals and people. Some doctors don't like the idea of using donepezil because it only works on one part of the brain (acetylcholinesterase enzyme). The authors urge more studies looking to see if donepezil is a good treatment for people with autism.

Scientific Abstract