Current Strategies of Therapy in Alzheimer’s Disease

ABSTRACT

The molecular mechanisms involved in the plaques and tangles pathogenesis in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) discloses new potential targets for therapies that could modify the clinical course.

In the last years, the neurotransmission defect (cholinergic hypothesis) has been extensively investigated. Cholinesterase inhibitors (donepezil, rivastigmine and galantamine) and N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist (memantine) are approved agents that can delay the cognitive deterioration.

Recent evidence in the literature suggests innovative strategies of treatment in AD, acting at the level of the amyloid cascade that is related to the neuronal defects and the neurotransmission disturbances. Confirmatory data are necessary and they will arise from the clinical trials with these potential disease-modifying drugs.

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