[Medical treatment of Alzheimer's disease].
OBJECTIVE
To review the drugs commercially available at present and in the near future in relation to the evolution of Alzheimer disease, bearing in mind the possible psychiatric disorders which may be associated with the disease.


METHODS
The therapeutic approach is planned according to the different phases of the disease. In the preclinical phase, anti-inflammatory drugs and estrogens in post-menopausal women have been effective. In the initial phase current recognition therapy is directed basically towards correcting the break-down of acetylcholine (tacrine, donepezil, SB202026, SDZ ENA 713). For depressive symptoms serotonin levels are corrected using selective inhibitors of serotonin uptake.


CONCLUSIONS
Drug treatment should be considered with the association of drugs which activate the malfunctioning circuits and/or pathways. It would also be useful to design clinical studies using pharmacological combinations of cholinergic agonists, estrogens, anti-inflammatory drugs, seligiline and/or new anti-cholinesterase drugs amongst others.
López-Pousa
S
S
Unitat de Valoració de la Memòria i les Demències, Hospital Santa Caterina, Girona.
Serra-Mestres
J
J
D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000819:agonists / Q000502:physiology; D000368:Aged; D000374:Aggression / Q000187:drug effects; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000523:psychology; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001007:Anxiety / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000819:agonists / Q000502:physiology; D018697:Nootropic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011618:Psychotic Disorders; D013239:Stereotyped Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D013727:Terminal Care
D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D018697:Nootropic Agents; D000109:Acetylcholine
Tratamiento médico de la enfermedad de Alzheimer.