Aricept has been approved for the symptomatic treatment of mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease. Aricept is effective in improving cognition and patient function in people with mild to moderate Alzheimer's Disease.

Controlled clinical trials in over 900 subjects demonstrated that more than 80% of subjects taking Aricept either improved or exhibited no further demonstration in tests of cognition over the course of the studies. In an assessment of patient function, which includes general function, cognition, behavior and activities of daily living, clinicians rated approximately two times as many subjects on Aricept as improved in comparison to placebo after 24 weeks of treatment.

Aricept is a new reversible inhibitor of the enzyme acetylcholinesterase. Acetylcholinesterase is an enzyme, which breaks down the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. Aricept may allow a greater concentration of acetylcholine in the brain, thereby improving cholinergic function. Acetylcholine, associated with memory and learning, is in short supply in subjects with Alzheimer's disease.