Efficacy of donepezil combined with rehabilitation training in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease

Yi Yi; Xiaoyan Deng

doi:10.12669/pjms.41.6.11986

Yi Yi
Xiaoyan Deng The First Afiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical and Pharmaceutical College

DOI: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.41.6.11986

Keywords: Donepezil, Rehabilitation training, Alzheimer disease, Nerve growth factor, Brain-derived neurotrophic factor

Abstract

Objective: To examine the efficacy of donepezil combined with rehabilitation training for treating Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and its impact on nerve growth factor (NGF) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF).

Methods: This single center retrospective analysis was conducted at the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical and Pharmaceutical College and included 184 patients with AD treated between January 2022 to May 2024. Of them, 92 patients who received donepezil combined with rehabilitation training (combined group) were matched in a 1:1 ratio with a cohort that received donepezil alone (donepezil group). The treatment efficacy, cognitive function, ability to engage in daily living activity before and after the treatment, serum NGF and BDNF levels, and incidence of adverse reactions were compared between the two groups.

Results: The total efficacy of patients in the combined group was higher than that of the donepezil group (P<0.05). After the treatment, mini-mental state examination (MMSE) and activity of daily living (ADL) scores of patients in the combined group were significantly higher than in the donepezil group (P<0.05). In contrast, the combined treatment method was associated with considerably lower Alzheimer’s disease assessment scale–cognitive subscale (ADAS-Cog) scores (P<0.05). Patients who received the combined treatment had significantly higher serum NGF and BDNF levels than those treated by donepezil alone (P<0.05).

Conclusions: Compared with donepezil alone, the combination of donepezil and rehabilitation training is associated with significantly improved therapeutic effects and better serum NGF and BDNF levels.

doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.41.6.11986

How to cite this: Yi Y, Deng X. Efficacy of donepezil combined with rehabilitation training in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. Pak J Med Sci. 2025;41(6):1612-1617. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.41.6.11986

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