Use of melatonin for the treatment of dementia: Addressing core symptoms and behavioral challenges

Abstract

Dementia mainly includes Alzheimer’s disease (AD), dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), frontotemporal dementia (FTD), and vascular dementia (VaD). In addition to cognitive impairment, patients often suffer from behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD). Melatonin administration has emerged as a promising therapeutic strategy with potential benefits for BPSD. This review focuses on the therapeutic effects of melatonin on the core symptoms of dementia and BPSD. Specifically, the impact of melatonin on memory impairment, sleep disturbances, anxiety, depression, delusions, and hallucinations is reviewed. The melatonin’s role in amyloid-β, synuclein aggregation, reactive oxygen species, and dementia subtypes are discussed. We aim to provide an up-to-date review of the emerging application of melatonin; thus, dementia patient care and social welfare can be improved by the appropriate usage of this medication.