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

Ara Santos Pérez

doi:10.11648/j.pst.20190301.12

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.

Highlights

Alzheimer's disease (AD) belongs to a group of pathologies generally referred to as dementias
The main symptom of this pathology is an alteration of memory, so it is thought that maybe there is a defect around cholinergic function, in the synthesis or degradation of acetylcholine
Acetylcholine is a chemical used by nerve cells to communicate with each other and it is important for learning, memory and cognitive functions

Summary

Introduction

Alzheimer's disease (AD) belongs to a group of pathologies generally referred to as dementias This term does not refer to a specific disease, but generally implies a persistent and progressive decline in cognitive ability, serious enough to interfere with the activities of daily life. It is an acquired process, which differentiates dementias from mental retardation. It is a neurodegenerative disease that causes a progressive and disabling impairment of cognitive functions, including memory, comprehension, language, attention, reasoning and judgment It appears normally at old age, being the beginning before 65 years (early onset) unusual (observed in less than 10% of patients with AD). There is no cure for AD, there are treatments available that can improve some symptoms. [1, 2]

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