Does the dementia drug donepezil really work? if so how well? i started giving it to my 85 year old mother with mild dementia.

Yes/no: First thing is first, it's not going to "fix" her memory. BUT without it, she will decline much faster. All other aspects of dementia need to be treated and considered as well. Donepezil has been around for some time and is helpful.

Depends: on what you mean by "work." No drug is likely to reverse the damage that has already occurred. What they may do, but only in some patients and only to a limited degree, is slow down the progression of the dementia. Physical exercise, a balanced diet, lots of socialization and enrichment, as well as treating any underlying depression may do more to increase quality of life than meds. Get support!