Objective
To evaluate the effect of donepezil on cognitive function in patients with brain injury who had cognitive impairment.

Method
Twenty one subjects with brain injury (18 males, 3 females) were enrolled and classified into two groups, experimental and control group. There was no significant difference between two groups in age, postonset duration, and level of education. For the experimental group, one tablelet of Aricept^Ⱂ (5 mg of donepezil per tablet) was administered daily for 6 weeks. The baseline and follow up cognitive assessments were performed before and 6 weeks after. Mini- mental Status Examination (MMSE), Computerized Neuropsychologic Test (CNT), Judgement of Line Orientation (JLO), and visuospatial Wechsler memory test were used for the assessment of cognitive function.

Results
In baseline study, two groups showed no difference in their cognitive function. After 6 weeks, the experimental group showed significantly higher performance in forward digit span, verbal learning test, backward visual span, visual learning test, non-verbal Wechsler memory test, and judgement of line orientaion than control group (p＜0.05).

Conclusion
These results suggested that the administration of Aricept^Ⱂ was beneficial in improving the cognitive function, especially verbal and visual memory and visuospatial perception in patients with brain injury. (J Korean Acad Rehab Med 2002; 26: 374-378)