[The use of donepezil in gait disorders in eldery patients with dementia]

Donepezil is the most commonly used cholinesterase inhibitor. The indication for its use is Alzheimer's disease. A number of clinical studies have shown its effectiveness in vascular dementia, dementia with Lewy bodies, Parkinson's disease with dementia, dementia due to traumatic brain injury. It is shown that dementia is a risk factor for falls, and standard measures to prevent falls in the elderly are ineffective in patients with cognitive impairment. This article provides a review of publications on the influence of donepezil on gait and balance. Most authors agree that donepezil is able to improve some parameters of gait, such as gait velocity and stride time variability, which can increase stability and reduce the risk of falls. The effect of donepezil on motor function is small, but its use may be particularly valuable if other approaches to treatment of gait disorders in patients with cognitive impairment are ineffective.