Comparison of the effect of donepezil and a combination of donepezil and mefloquine (THN201) on cognition during a scopolamine challenge in healthy participants.

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of donepezil and a combination of donepezil and mefloquine (THN201) on cognitive function and electroencephalography (EEG) parameters during a scopolamine challenge in healthy participants. Scopolamine, which is known to induce cognitive impairment, was used to model transient cognitive deficits similar to those observed in Alzheimer's disease. The study involved 152 healthy male participants, who were subjected to various cognitive tests and EEG recordings to assess the impact of the treatments on attention and memory processes. The results showed significant temporal effects on cognitive performance and positive component around 300 milliseconds EEG parameters, indicating that scopolamine-induced notable changes in cognitive functions and brain activity. However, this study did not find significant overall group differences or interactions between time and group for most cognitive and EEG measures. The combination of donepezil and mefloquine (THN201) did not show a clear protective or restorative effect against scopolamine-induced impairments, highlighting the role of the cholinergic system in cognitive processes and the potential of EEG parameters as markers for cognitive impairment. This study underscores the complexity of cholinergic modulation in attention and memory, suggesting a need for more targeted approaches in future research. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).