Evidence map›Paper›PMID 27920795›Full record

ArticleDementia and geriatric cognitive disorders extra

Donepezil Enhances Frontal Functional Connectivity in Alzheimer's Disease: A Pilot Study.

Ludovica Griffanti, Gordon K Wilcock, Natalie Voets, Guendalina Bonifacio, Clare E Mackay, Mark Jenkinson, Giovanna Zamboni

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Dementia and geriatric cognitive disorders extra. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 15 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
15citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

15 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Trial
  2. Fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations in right dorsal cingulum bundle associated with depression symptoms in AD patients: effects of donepezil intervention.Neurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology · 2025
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Ludovica GriffantiCentre for Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Brain (FMRIB), Nuffield Department of Clinical Neuroscience, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
Gordon K WilcockOxford Project to Investigate Memory and Ageing, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neuroscience, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK, Oxford, UK.
Natalie VoetsCentre for Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Brain (FMRIB), Nuffield Department of Clinical Neuroscience, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
Guendalina BonifacioDipartimento di Scienze Biomediche, Metaboliche e Neuroscienze, Università di Modena e Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.
Clare E MackayCentre for Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Brain (FMRIB), Nuffield Department of Clinical Neuroscience, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK; Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
Mark JenkinsonCentre for Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Brain (FMRIB), Nuffield Department of Clinical Neuroscience, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
Giovanna ZamboniCentre for Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Brain (FMRIB), Nuffield Department of Clinical Neuroscience, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK; Oxford Project to Investigate Memory and Ageing, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neuroscience, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK, Oxford, UK; Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche, Metaboliche e Neuroscienze, Università di Modena e Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.

Funding

Medical Research Council G0900806Medical Research Council MC_EX_MR/N50192X/1Medical Research Council MR/L023784/1Medical Research Council MR/L023784/2Medical Research Council MR/M024962/1
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundWe have previously shown that increased resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)-based functional connectivity (FC) within the frontal resting-state networks in Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients reflects residual, possibly compensatory, function. This suggests that symptomatic treatments should aim to enhance FC specifically in these networks.

methods18 patients with probable AD underwent brain MRI and neuropsychological assessment at baseline and after 12 weeks of treatment with donepezil. We tested if changes in cognitive performance after treatment correlated with changes in FC in resting-state networks known to be altered in AD.

resultsWe found increases in FC in the orbitofrontal network that correlated with cognitive improvement after treatment. The increased FC was greatest in patients who responded most to treatment.

conclusionThis 'proof of concept' study suggests that changes in network-specific FC might be a biomarker of pharmacological intervention efficacy in AD.

Indexed as

Alzheimer's diseaseCholinesterase inhibitorsDonepezilFunctional connectivityFunctional magnetic resonance imagingResting-state networks

Identifiers

PMID27920795
PMCPMC5123022

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.