[Current therapeutic approach in patients with Alzheimer disease].
Even if a complete recovery is not an available outcome for Alzheimer disease, it is possibile to improve the clinical symptoms (selfsufficiency, cognitive impairment and behavioral disturbances) with pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapies. The treatment of the patient with dementia is a complex one, that cannot rely only on the use of drugs but needs of a global approach that take into account all the different aspect of the disease. The most used drugs are the cholinesterase inhibitors that have been shown to stabilize or slow down cognitive and functional decline and retard institutionalization, but new treatments are on the way. Extremely important is a strong alliance with the family. Non pharmacological cognitive rehabilitation techniques are also useful in potentiating residual cognitive functions in the patient and in supporting the family and the caregivers.
Ferlisi
Anna
A
Cattedra ed U.O. di Geriatria, Unità Valutativa Alzheimer n. 6, Università, Palermo.
Dominguez
Ligia J
LJ
Vernuccio
Laura
L
Sutera
Loredana
L
Bue
Anna Lo
AL
Di Prima
Anna
A
Picciolo
Valentina
V
Giambartino
Tanina
T
Barbagallo
Mario
M
D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans
D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors