Treatment options for Alzheimer's disease.
An understanding of the basic pathophysiology and molecular mechanisms of Alzheimer's disease is essential to effective treatment of the disease. Despite multiple hypotheses related to the development and progression of Alzheimer's disease, no unifying theory is currently available. Inflammation, oxidation stress, estrogen hormone status, pathways for production of beta-amyloid42, apolipoprotein E state, cholinergic neuron depletion, and head injury are all possible contributors and therefore provide points of intervention or potential intervention in the development and progression of Alzheimer's disease. Thus, this article reviews current therapeutic modalities, including estrogen replacement therapy, Ginkgo biloba, and the two cholinesterase inhibitors approved in the United States, tacrine and donepezil.
Dinsmore
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Center for Aging, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-School of Osteopathic Medicine, Stratford 08084-1504, USA. dinsmore@umdnj.edu
D000110:Acetylcholinesterase / Q000502:physiology; D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002795:Choline O-Acetyltransferase / Q000502:physiology; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy; D020441:Ginkgo biloba; D006801:Humans; D010946:Plants, Medicinal
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D002795:Choline O-Acetyltransferase; D000110:Acetylcholinesterase