Donepezil in Treating Patients Who Have Undergone Radiation Therapy for Brain Tumors

OBJECTIVES: Primary * Compare the effect of donepezil hydrochloride vs placebo, in terms of improving neurocognitive symptom cluster (i.e., cognitive impairment, subjective confusion, and fatigue), in patients who have undergone partial- or whole-brain irradiation for brain tumors. Secondary * Compare the effect of these regimens on mood and quality of life in these patients. OUTLINE: This is a prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized, multicenter study. Patients are stratified according to prior brain irradiation type (whole-brain vs partial-brain) and study site. Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 treatment arms. * Arm I: Patients receive oral donepezil hydrochloride once or twice daily for up to 24 weeks in the absence of unacceptable toxicity. * Arm II: Patients receive oral placebo once or twice daily for up to 24 weeks in the absence of unacceptable toxicity. Patients complete self-reported questionnaires (quality of life, fatigue, subjective confusion, neurocognitive battery, and mood) at baseline and 12 and 24 weeks. PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 200 patients will be accrued for this study.