Memantine in Moderate-to-severe Alzheimer’s Disease

Abstract

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia. It is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder resulting in cognitive and behavioural impairment of sufficient severity to markedly interfere with social and occupational functioning. The prevalence of AD increases steadily after the age of 65, with an estimated prevalence of approximately 50% in patients aged 85 or older. 1-2 Moreover, as the population ages, the proportion of the population affected by AD is predicted to increase dramatically. 3 AD is not only a heavy burden for the patient but is also responsible for making the patient dependent on his family or the community. Current pharmacotherapy is focused on delaying the symptomatic progression of AD. Although the cause of the disease remains unknown, acetylcholine deficiency, within a complex milieu of neurotransmitter changes in the brain, has been shown to play a role in AD. 4-5 By inhibiting the