Affiliations: Department of Psychiatry, Maulana Azad Medical College
and G. B. Pant Hospital, New Delhi, India | Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Trust, West Park
Hospital, Darlington, England
Note: [] Correspondence: Arun L. Agarwal, M.D., D-5, Type IV Quarters,
Mirdard Lane, Maulana Azad Medical College Campus, New Delhi 110002, India.
Tel.: +91 11 23239457; E-mail: dralagrawal@hotmail.com
Abstract: Viral encephalitis is often followed by cognitive sequelae including
intellectual decline whose pathophysiology remains obscure till date. Based on
recent laboratory studies implicating the cholinergic system in viral
encephalitis, the authors postulate the hypothesis that cholinergic deficit
might account for some of the cognitive sequelae in at least some types of
viral encephalitis, which might be benefited by central acetyl cholinesterase
inhibitors. The case of an adolescent with postencephalitic intellectual
decline responding robustly to donepezil is presented.
Keywords: Donepezil, central acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, encephalitis, mental retardation
