Furthermore, an animal study demonstrated that intermittent ethanol exposure leads to long-lasting decreases in dendritic spine density and modifies Fmr1 gene expression within the hippocampal formation; importantly, these alterations are ameliorated by donepezil administration.[10] This mechanism may partially explain the observed cognitive improvement in our FXTAS patient with a history of intermittent alcohol use following donepezil treatment. This evidence concerns the gene FMR1 and fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome.