Location: University Hospital and Medical Center, Stony Brook, NY; Rochester, NY; Buffalo, NY; Rhode Island

Purpose: This study will examine the effectiveness of the drug donepezil and of sugar water for enhancing memory in individuals with MS. Donepezil (also known as Aricept®) has been FDA approved for improving memory and learning in individuals with Alzheimer’s disease.

Eligibility: Women and men, 18 to 56 years of age, with unequivocal diagnosis of MS, Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score of 0 to 6.5, stable neurologic function for at least 30 days prior to study entry, who agree to continue all current medications for study duration, and have Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test score in the low normal range or below.

Procedure: Patients meeting the above criteria will be randomly assigned to receive either donepezil or placebo for 24 weeks. Participants will complete memory and cognitive tests at the beginning and end of the 24-week period.

Benefit: This study may lead to new therapy to enhance the verbal memory function in individuals with MS.

For Information: Call Patricia Melville, RN, at the University Hospital and Medical Center in Stony Brook, New York, at 631-444-8164, or via e-mail: Pmelvill@neuro.som.sunysb.edu

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