title: The clinical efficacy and safety of galantamine in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.
abstract: Alzheimer's disease is a progressive, neurodegenerative condition characterized by deficits in cognition, inability to perform activities of daily living, and alterations in behavior. Galantamine hydrobromide is the newest acetylcholinesterase inhibitor (AChEI) approved in the United States for the treatment of mild-to-moderate AD. The safety and efficacy of galantamine has been demonstrated in multiple randomized, Phase III trials of >2,600 patients with mild-to-moderate AD. Studies have found that galantamine improved or maintained performance in all domains of AD (cognition, function, behavior, and caregiver burden) in the short term and slowed the decline in performance or maintained baseline performance through 12 months. The dual mechanism of action may make galantamine a reasonable treatment option for both newly diagnosed patients and patients who have not benefitted from or have poorly tolerated current therapy.
authors.affiliation: St. Joseph Mercy Hospital, Ann Arbor, MI 48106, USA. denziga@trinity-health.org
authors.forename: Alan N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Dengiz
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kershaw
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005702:Galantamine / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018697:Nootropic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D018697:Nootropic Agents; D005702:Galantamine