Generally speaking it seems as though in mental retardation the short thick spines/leaves are reduced, but long thin spines/leaves are increased in number in the surface of the brain (cortex).
http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/...../4169/1126

Donepezil may also have anti-inflammatory actions on microglia.
http://www.sciencedirect.com/s.....09bbb2cc8c

Perhaps animal studies of the effects of donepezil on dendritic spines and the immune system say in Fragile X syndrome could have been performed before human studies on 2 year olds.

Enhanced dendritic spine number of neurons of the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus and nucleus accumbens in old rats after chronic donepezil administration

In Alzheimer’s disease brains morphological changes in the dendrites of pyramidal neurons of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and hippocampus have been observed. These changes are particularly reflected in the decrement of both the dendritic tree and spine number. Donepezil is a potent and selective acetylcholinesterase inhibitor used in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. We have studied the effect of oral administration of this drug on the morphology of neuronal cells from the brain of aged rats. We examined dendrites of pyramidal neurons of the PFC, dorsal or ventral hippocampus and medium spiny neurons of the nucleus accumbens (NAcc). Donepezil (1 mg/Kg, vo) was administrated every day for 60 days to rats aged 10 and 18 months. Dendritic morphology was studied by the Golgi-Cox stain procedure followed by Sholl analysis at 12 and 20 months ages, respectively. In all Donepezil treated-rats a significant increment of the dendritic spines number in pyramidal neurons of the PFC, dorsal hippocampus was observed. However, pyramidal neurons of the ventral hippocampus and medium spiny cells of the NAcc only showed an increase in the number of their spines in 12 months old-rats. Our results suggest that Donepezil prevents the alterations of the neuronal dendrite morphology caused by aging

No mention of REM sleep patterns in the rodents. I’m not up to speed as much as I’d like to be on the subtleties of dendritic spine modifications in autism versus say, Alzheimer’s (calling Dr. Treg), but I’d still say we are largely groping in the dark as to the effects of this kind of stuff.

OK!

– pD

We tried a different acetylcholinesterase inhibitor (galantamine) with Luke, but the side effects were quick in coming and convinced us that whatever benifit it might eventually provide couldn’t be worth it.

I saw a really neat NOVA science now regarding sleep and how much is being learned about how the brain learns during sleep. It was completely fascinating, and it does occur to me (now) that there is a possible link between the sleep problems in many children with autism and difficulties learning.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/s.....10/01.html

– pD

The question about dreaming is very interesting.

Thanks for that reference.

The paper you note is here:
https://tspace.library.utoronto.ca/bitstream/1807/1649/1/pn03015.pdf

The side effect profile of DH use in children suggests that in most children it can be tolerated with irritability, hyperactivity, and mild gastrointestinal upset seen in a subset of participants. Decreasing the daily dosage from 2.5 to 1.25 milligrams often ameliorated persistent side effects. The most common adverse event was the concomitant increase in mood swings and lability. Reports of increases in lability, crying, and irritability were often accompanied by reports of increased exploration of environment and increased affection, for example.

I saw another paper on the use of this drug for memory issues in epileptics. Both of these papers were inconclusive.

This one I have not been able to locate

Chez MG, Buchanan TM, Becker M, Kessler J, Aimonovitch MC, Mrazek SR (2003) Donepezil hydrochloride: a double-blind study in autistic children. J Pediatric Neurol 1:83–88.

Perusing through some of the articles I found that it may cause oneiric confusion. I had to look it up. Oneiric means having to do with dreams.

One thing I’ve often wondered is whether my daughter dreams and what she dreams of. She is not able to tell me herself.