Donepezil Research in Cognitive Impairment: A Bibliometric and Scientometric Analysis of Global Trends and Pharmacological Perspectives

TL;DR

This study analyzes global research trends on donepezil, a drug used for cognitive impairment, to understand its evolving role in treatment and future research directions.

Contribution

The paper provides a comprehensive bibliometric and scientometric analysis of donepezil research trends from 2000 to 2025.

Findings

The United States led in both output and citation impact in donepezil research.

Recent research hotspots include acetylcholinesterase, oxidative stress, and neuroinflammation.

Future studies may focus on individualized therapy and underexplored cognitive impairment subtypes.

Abstract

Cognitive impairment (CI) greatly affects global health and quality of life. Donepezil, a widely used treatment for CI, particularly in Alzheimer's disease, has been extensively studied; however, a comprehensive bibliometric analysis summarizing global research trends remains limited.

Relevant English‐language articles and reviews published between 2000 and 2025 were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection. CiteSpace and VOSviewer were employed to analyze publication trends, collaborative networks, journal distribution, co‐citation patterns, and keyword co‐occurrence.

A total of 1907 publications were identified. The United States led in both output and citation impact, with the University of Toronto emerging as the most influential institution. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services provided the greatest funding support. The Journal of Alzheimer's Disease was the primary publishing outlet, and Etsuro Mori was the most prolific and influential author. Keyword analysis revealed “Donepezil,” “Alzheimer's disease,” and “Mild cognitive impairment” as dominant terms. Recent hotspots—such as “acetylcholinesterase,” “oxidative stress,” “neuroinflammation,” “tau protein,” and “mechanism”—reflect a shift toward mechanistic and preclinical research.

Research on donepezil for CI has shown consistent growth, evolving from clinical application toward mechanistic exploration and disease modification. Future studies are expected to focus on individualized therapy, combination strategies, and underexplored CI subtypes, aiming to enhance the therapeutic potential and clinical value of donepezil.

Donepezil research in cognitive impairment: a bibliometric and scientometric analysis.

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