Pharmacotherapy for patients with Alzheimer’s disease

Abstract

Background: Alzheimer’s disease is a neurodegenerative condition characterized by the accumulation of amyloid and tau proteins, leading to neuronal loss, cognitive decline, and difficulties maintaining daily activities. As the elderly population grows, interest in effective Alzheimer’s disease treatment is increasing.Current Concepts: The recent approval of drugs by the United States Food and Drug Administration with mechanisms based on the amyloid cascade hypothesis, in addition to existing therapies based on the cholinergic hypothesis, raises the possibility of introducing these novel agents in South Korea.Discussion and Conclusion: Currently, South Korea offers cholinesterase inhibitors and an N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist based on the cholinergic hypothesis for Alzheimer’s disease dementia. Each drug has different indications under national health insurance coverage depending on dementia severity. The development of new intravenous drugs targeting the amyloid cascade offers potential benefits not only for early-stage Alzheimer’s disease but also for mild cognitive impairment due to Alzheimer’s disease, suggesting a wider scope for future pharmacological intervention.