Donepezil Treatment and Alzheimer Disease: Can the Results of Randomized Clinical Trials Be Applied to Alzheimer Disease Patients in Clinical Practice?

A comparison of a randomized clinical trial of donepezil in AD patients and this observational study indicates that if appropriate methodological and statistical precautions are undertaken, then results from randomized clinical trials can be predictive with AD patients in clinical practice. This California study supports the modest effectiveness of donepezil in AD patients having clinical characteristics similar to those of the Nordic study.