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Relevance of donepezil in enhancing learning and memory in special populations: a review of the literature
Yoo JH, Valdovinos MG, Williams DC.. Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 2007-01-13
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
This review discusses the laboratory and clinical research supporting the rationale for the efficacy of donepezil (Aricept USA) in enhancing cognition in autism, Alzheimer disease, Down syndrome, traumatic brain injury, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and schizophrenia. While preliminary animal models have shown effective, human studies exclusive of Alzheimer disease are sparse. Although attention and memory are unlikely a sole operation of the cholinergic system, evidence indicates a promising direction for further examination of this hypothesis in autism. Studies that examine changes in operationally defined behaviors and reliable and valid measure of changes in attention and memory are needed.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Yoo, J. H., Valdovinos, M. G., & Williams, D. C. (2007). Relevance of donepezil in enhancing learning and memory in special populations: a review of the literature. Journal of autism and developmental disorders. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-006-0322-8
Vancouver
Yoo JH, Valdovinos MG, Williams DC. Relevance of donepezil in enhancing learning and memory in special populations: a review of the literature. Journal of autism and developmental disorders. 2007. doi:10.1007/s10803-006-0322-8. PMID: 17221321.
BibTeX
@article{yoo2007-17221321,
author = {Yoo, J. H. and Valdovinos, M. G. and Williams, D. C.},
title = {{Relevance of donepezil in enhancing learning and memory in special populations: a review of the literature}},
journal = {Journal of autism and developmental disorders},
year = {2007},
doi = {10.1007/s10803-006-0322-8},
pmid = {17221321},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-006-0322-8}
}
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
Key findings
- This review discusses the laboratory and clinical research supporting the rationale for the efficacy of donepezil (Aricept USA) in enhancing cognition in autism, Alzheimer disease, Down syndrome, traumatic brain injury, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and schizophrenia.
- While preliminary animal models have shown effective, human studies exclusive of Alzheimer disease are sparse.
- Although attention and memory are unlikely a sole operation of the cholinergic system, evidence indicates a promising direction for further examination of this hypothesis in autism.
- Studies that examine changes in operationally defined behaviors and reliable and valid measure of changes in attention and memory are needed.
Why it matters
This review discusses laboratory and clinical research on donepezil for enhancing cognition in autism, Alzheimer's disease, Down syndrome, traumatic brain injury, ADHD and schizophrenia, and notes that human studies outside Alzheimer's disease are sparse. It calls for further study with reliable measures of attention and memory, but reports no new treatment result.
Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 35/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomized / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Journal of autism and developmental disorders) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders: journal h-index 302 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 2007 — within 20 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomized / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomization or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 4 / 7 | Cited 52 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 1 / 5 | 2.5 citations a year over 21 year(s) since 2007 |
| Impact for its field and year | 2 / 6 | Cited 2.7× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 1 / 4 | Cited 3 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 1 / 4 | Last-listed author Dean C. Williams: h-index 19 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | University of Kansas: institution h-index 709 (OpenAlex) |
| Multicenter collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 3 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 17221321) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 35 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
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