Affiliations: Department of Neurology, Alzheimer's Disease Research
Center; University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
Note: [] Corresponding author: John M. Ringman, Assistant Professor, UCLA
Department of Neurology, Director, UCLA Kagan Alzheimer Treatment Development
Program, Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, 710 Westwood Plaza, Suite 2-238,
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1769, USA. Tel.: +1 310 206 2867; Fax: +1 310 206 5287;
E-mail: jringman@mednet.ucla.edu
Abstract: Treatments for the symptomatic relief of Alzheimer's disease are
available but despite advances in our ability to treat persons with various
forms of dementia, more effective treatments are needed. The cholinesterase
inhibitors donepezil, rivastigmine, and galantamine have demonstrated efficacy
in improving cognition and global status and to a lesser extent, behavioral
abnormalities relative to placebo in patients with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's
disease. Rivastigmine has been shown to benefit patients with dementia with
Lewy Bodies and with dementia associated with Parkinson's disease. Donepezil
and galantamine have also been shown to be mildly effective in dementia due to
cerebral ischemia. Memantine has a distinct mechanism of action and is
effective in moderate-to-severe AD. The benefits from these drugs, however, are
limited and their long-term effectiveness has not been well-demonstrated. Their
clinical utility is controversial. Many novel approaches that promise to
provide more effective treatments are currently being pursued.
