TY - JOUR
T1 - Treatment of cognitive deficits in Alzheimer's disease
T2 - A psychopharmacological review
AU - Campos, Carlos
AU - Rocha, Nuno Barbosa F.
AU - Vieira, Renata Teles
AU - Rocha, Susana A.
AU - Telles-Correia, Diogo
AU - Paes, Flávia
AU - Yuan, Tifei
AU - Nardi, Antonio Egidio
AU - Arias-Carrión, Oscar
AU - Machado, Sergio
AU - Caixeta, Leonardo
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© Medicinska naklada - Zagreb, Croatia.
PY - 2016
Y1 - 2016
N2 - The growing and aging population has contributed to the increased prevalence of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other types of dementia in the world. AD is a progressive and degenerative brain disease with an onset characterized by episodic memory impairments, although progressive deficits can be observed in several domains including language, executive functions, attention and working memory. The relationship between cognitive impairments and the topography and progression of brain neuropathology is well established. The pathophysiologic mechanisms and processes that underline the course of cognitive and clinical decline have been the theoretical support for the development of pharmacological treatments for AD. Cholinesterase inhibitors (ChEIs) and N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) antagonists are the main drugs used in the management of global cognitive impairment and several studies also explore the effects of both in specific cognitive measures. Recent research trends also examine the effects of combination therapy using both compounds. This review aims to update practical recommendations for the treatment of global cognitive functioning and specific neurocognitive deficits in AD using ChEIs, NMDA antagonists and combination therapy with both drugs.
AB - The growing and aging population has contributed to the increased prevalence of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other types of dementia in the world. AD is a progressive and degenerative brain disease with an onset characterized by episodic memory impairments, although progressive deficits can be observed in several domains including language, executive functions, attention and working memory. The relationship between cognitive impairments and the topography and progression of brain neuropathology is well established. The pathophysiologic mechanisms and processes that underline the course of cognitive and clinical decline have been the theoretical support for the development of pharmacological treatments for AD. Cholinesterase inhibitors (ChEIs) and N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) antagonists are the main drugs used in the management of global cognitive impairment and several studies also explore the effects of both in specific cognitive measures. Recent research trends also examine the effects of combination therapy using both compounds. This review aims to update practical recommendations for the treatment of global cognitive functioning and specific neurocognitive deficits in AD using ChEIs, NMDA antagonists and combination therapy with both drugs.
KW - Alzheimer's disease
KW - Cholinesterase inhibitors
KW - Memantine
KW - Neurocognitive deficits
KW - Pharmacological treatment
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84968732950&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - Review article
C2 - 26938815
AN - SCOPUS:84968732950
SN - 0353-5053
VL - 28
SP - 2
EP - 12
JO - Psychiatria Danubina
JF - Psychiatria Danubina
IS - 1
ER -