Review of Alzheimer’s Disease: Treatments and New Pharmacological Strategies

Abstract

Alzheimer's disease belongs to a group of pathologies called dementias, being this one the most common type. It is a neurodegenerative disease that causes a progressive and disabling impairment of cognitive functions, including memory, comprehension, language, attention, reasoning and judgment. Until now there is no cure, although there are treatments available that can improve the symptoms. In this paper we describe the disease, its classification and prognosis, as well as its physio pathological mechanism and the different diagnostic techniques currently being used. In addition, we perform an analysis of different therapies both pharmacological and non-pharmacological, focusing on conventional drugs marketed so far, making a comparison between them, as well as those strategies or therapeutic targets that are being researched, different phases of clinical trials which project different perspectives towards the future. For this, we carry out a bibliographic review of the most updated scientific literature, analyzing the most relevant information about this disease. Unfortunately, in the last years there have not been relevant bibliography or studies done. Finally, as a practical contribution to complement and conclude this study, we collect the dispensing data of several pharmacy offices, in order to approximate the data obtained through the bibliographic analysis with the treatments that are currently used in the Spanish population. The data found coincide with the daily practice at the pharmacy: the population gets older and the most used drug is Donepezil.