Case report

TREATMENT OF COGNITIVE DEFICITS IN ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE: A PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGICAL REVIEW

Carlos Campos ; 1Polytechnic Institute of Porto, School of Health Technologies, Portugal
Nuno Barbosa F. Rocha orcid.org/0000-0002-3139-2786 ; 1Polytechnic Institute of Porto, School of Health Technologies, Portugal
Renata Teles Vieira ; Dementia Outpatient Unit, Hospital of the Clinics, Federal University of Goiás, Brazil
Susana A. Rocha ; Polytechnic Institute of Porto, School of Accounting and Administration of Porto, Portugal
Diogo Telles-Correia ; University of Lisbon, School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Portugal
Flávia Paes ; Panic and Respiration Laboratory, Institute of Psychiatry, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, National Institute for Translational Medicine (INCT-TM), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Tifei Yuan ; Nanjing Normal University, China
Antonio Egidio Nardi ; Panic and Respiration Laboratory, Institute of Psychiatry, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, National Institute for Translational Medicine (INCT-TM), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Oscar Arias-Carrión ; Unidad de Trastornos del Movimiento y Sueño (TMS), Hospital General Dr. Manuel Gea Gonzalez, Secretaria de Salud, México, DF, México
Sergio Machado ; Panic and Respiration Laboratory, Institute of Psychiatry, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, National Institute for Translational Medicine (INCT-TM), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Physical Activity Neuroscience, Physical Activity Postgraduate Program, Salga
Leonardo Caixeta ; Dementia Outpatient Unit, Hospital of the Clinics, Federal University of Goiás, Brazil

Abstract

The growing and aging population has contributed to the increased prevalence of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other types of
dementia in the world. AD is a progressive and degenerative brain disease with an onset characterized by episodic memory
impairments, although progressive deficits can be observed in several domains including language, executive functions, attention
and working memory. The relationship between cognitive impairments and the topography and progression of brain neuropathology
is well established. The pathophysiologic mechanisms and processes that underline the course of cognitive and clinical decline have
been the theoretical support for the development of pharmacological treatments for AD. Cholinesterase inhibitors (ChEIs) and Nmethyl-
D-aspartate (NMDA) antagonists are the main drugs used in the management of global cognitive impairment and several
studies also explore the effects of both in specific cognitive measures. Recent research trends also examine the effects of combination
therapy using both compounds. This review aims to update practical recommendations for the treatment of global cognitive
functioning and specific neurocognitive deficits in AD using ChEIs, NMDA antagonists and combination therapy with both drugs.

Keywords

Alzheimer’s disease - neurocognitive deficits - pharmacological treatment - cholinesterase inhibitors – memantine

Hrčak ID:

154745

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/154745

Publication date:

29.3.2016.

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