Drug treatments for alzheimer's disease: Hopes and challenges

Abstract

At present, no effective cure is available to slow down or prevent progressive neuronal loss in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). All currently approved therapeutic agents provide symptomatic relief only. However, current agents under development exhibit potential protective effects on disease course. In this chapter, we consider currently marketed drugs for AD, including acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AChEI) and antagonists of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors. This work also discusses potential cognitive enhancers under clinical trial. We also review new therapies that are likely to slow down disease progression by mechanisms unrelated to amyloid or tau.