donepezil + leuprolide

Donepezil + leuprolide is an investigational combination therapy for Alzheimer's disease, particularly studied in women. Donepezil is an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor that increases acetylcholine levels in the brain by inhibiting its breakdown, thereby improving cognitive function and slowing symptom progression in Alzheimer's disease. Leuprolide is a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) receptor agonist that ultimately suppresses luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), reducing sex steroid production. In the context of Alzheimer's disease, leuprolide may exert neuroprotective effects by modulating LH levels, which are implicated in amyloid production and neuronal cell cycle re-entry leading to neurodegeneration. Clinical studies have shown that this combination can halt or slow cognitive decline more effectively than donepezil alone in certain subgroups of women with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease[2][5][6].