Galantamine for Alzheimer's disease.
BACKGROUND
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most frequent, age-related neurodegenerative disorder and is characterized by progressive deterioration of cognition and global functioning. The relevance of the cholinergic system for memory, cognition and activities of daily life has been recognized decades ago, and research has demonstrated an early involvement and affection of central cholinergic pathways in the course of AD.


METHODS
Here, we review a body of placebo-controlled studies as well as meta-analyses on the cholinesterase (ChE) inhibitor galantamine, one of only four drugs currently approved for anti-dementia therapy in AD.


RESULTS
The scope of this article is to concisely review the rationale of cholinergic treatment in AD, the chemistry and pharmacology of galantamine and to give a detailed overview of its clinical efficacy, safety, tolerability and potential usability for indications beyond AD.


CONCLUSIONS
Galantamine can improve and stabilize cognitive performance, activities of daily living and behavioral symptoms over the course of 6 months and its efficacy and tolerability are comparable with those of other ChE inhibitors (rivastigmine and donepezil). As long as no other drug therapies with comparable or better clinical efficacy emerge, galantamine will remain one of the standard first-line medications for mild-to-moderate AD.
Prvulovic
David
D
Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University of Frankfurt, Deptartment of Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, Heinrich-Hoffmann-Strasse 10, Frankfurt, Germany. David.Prvulovic@kgu.de
Hampel
Harald
H
Pantel
Johannes
J
D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D018849:Controlled Clinical Trials as Topic; D005702:Galantamine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans
D005702:Galantamine