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There is limited research on the effect alcohol has on the developing brain, what has been concluded from the emerging research is that alcohol over time has negative cognitive effects on the developing brain. Therefore, a new study demonstrates the drug used to treat Alzheimer’s disease called Donepezil being tested on mice, which results to repair damage that affects learning and memory after alcohol binge drinking. The outcome of a dose of Donepezil seemed to have reversed the damage caused by the alcohol. Focusing on the improvement donepezil is having on learning and memory in the hippocampus, other changes that can potentially be happening in other areas of the brain are not being tested. Bringing to the table the process of donepezil in the brain, it opens up more gaps that need to be filled to fully understand the potential risks and brain damages that can develop in the future. If an adolescent with a developing brain but normal levels of acetylcholine is to intake donepezil, what can result of having increased levels of acetylcholine? As the brain is balancing by having the amount necessary of acetylcholine in the brain, could there be an effect if the medication is not continued? Resulting in chemical imbalances in the brain, because of how adjusted the brain was to the effects of the drug. Uses

Donepezil is used to treat dementia due to mild, moderate, and severe Alzheimer's disease. This drug isn’t a cure for Alzheimer’s disease, but it may help slow down how quickly your symptoms progress. Symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease will get worse over time, even if you take medications such as donepezil.

Side Effects

Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite/weight loss, dizziness, drowsiness, weakness, trouble sleeping, shakiness (tremor), or muscle cramps may occur as your body adjusts to the drug. These effects usually last 1-3 weeks and then lessen. Tell your doctor right away if any of these serious side effects occur: slow/irregular heartbeat, fainting, trouble urinating, severe stomach/abdominal pain, black stools, vomit that looks like coffee grounds, seizures.

Examples
 * The consumption of Donepezil resulted beneficial to the research study done by Berkley University, concluding to improve concentration on adults ages 18-35. They assume that with further research, enhancing the activity of acetylcholine in the brain is shown to benefit other forms of perceptual learning, and it could eventually lead to clinical treatments for people with conditions other than Alzheimer’s. Berkley research studies is coming up with results in favor of what they seem to be looking for, which is a change that positively affects the areas of learning and memory in the brain.
 * Study conducted by Duke Health, led by Dr. Swartzwelder, tested the effects on the brain of rats exposed to alcohol, which resulted in a change in the hippocampus, the dendrite spine density had been altered and the Fmr1 gene appeared to have been affected. The damage in the brain produced by alcohol exposure can lead to behavioral deficiencies, therefore, the research team tried the treatment of Donepezil to test any difference in the brain. The outcome of the dose of Donepezil seemed to have reversed the damage caused by the alcohol. With that in mind, alcohol is proven to cause negative cognitive effects and Donepezil proved to reverse those changes in rats. Focusing on the improvement donepezil is having on learning and memory in the hippocampus

Background

This medication is an enzyme blocker that works by restoring the balance of natural substances in the brain known as neurotransmitters. Donepezil is proved to increase the level of acetylcholine in the brain, by preventing the action of acetylcholinesterase, the compound that normally breaks it down. Acetylcholine supports the speed up or slowdown of nerve signals and assists in learning, memory, and arousal in the central nervous system, the drug donepezil performs as an agonist to mimic the action of the acetylcholine to facilitate the movement of the nerve signals and improve the thinking process.

References ScienceDaily, 15 Feb. 2018,www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/02/180215125019.htm. Antagonist idalopirdine (lu ae58054) and acetylcholinesterase Inhibitor donepezil have synergistic effects on brain activity: A pharmacological mri study in the awake rat. Alzheimer's & Dementia: the journal of the alzheimer's association, 12(7), p1020. listing/alzheimers-drug-repairs-brain-damage-after-alcohol-binges-rodents?h=nl. H. S. (2018), Donepezil Reverses Dendritic Spine Morphology Adaptations and Fmr1 Epigenetic Modifications in Hippocampus of Adult Rats After Adolescent Alcohol Exposure. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. doi:10.1111/acer.13599 drug boosts perceptual learning in healthy adults.” Berkeley News, 9 July 2015, news.berkeley.edu/2010/09/16/donepezil/. 2010, www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=122765890.
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