Pharmacological treatment of Alzheimer's dementia: state of the art and current dilemmas

World J Biol Psychiatry. 2008;9(1):69-75. doi: 10.1080/15622970701568412.

Abstract

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the most frequent disorders of the central nervous system characterised by a progressive cognitive decline. The demographic changes of our aging population lead to increased numbers of patients and a need of early diagnosis and treatment of cognitive and behavioural symptoms of AD. Drugs are available for symptomatic treatment of AD. The pharmacological treatment of behavioural disturbances experienced dynamic changes in the last years. In this paper, we present the current state and future perspectives in the treatment of AD. Furthermore, we discuss current difficulties regarding AD treatment by looking for explanations for a still unsatisfying rate of state-of-the-art treatment of AD-patients.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Algorithms
  • Alzheimer Disease / drug therapy*
  • Alzheimer Disease / psychology
  • Anticonvulsants / therapeutic use
  • Antidepressive Agents / therapeutic use
  • Antipsychotic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Cholinesterase Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • Dopamine Agonists / therapeutic use
  • Drug Therapy / methods*
  • Humans
  • Psychomotor Agitation / drug therapy
  • Psychomotor Agitation / etiology

Substances

  • Anticonvulsants
  • Antidepressive Agents
  • Antipsychotic Agents
  • Cholinesterase Inhibitors
  • Dopamine Agonists