title: Drug therapies for cognitive impairment and dementia.
abstract: Drugs currently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease include acetylcholinesterase inhibitor drugs (tacrine [Cognex®], donepezil [Aricept®], rivastigmine [Exelon®, Exelon Patch®], and galantamine [Reminyl®, Razadyne®]) and glutamate-modulating drugs (memantine [Namenda®]). They do not halt the underlying degenerative process but can slow disease progression. Piracetam is a nonprescription noot ropic drug designated by the FDA as an orphan drug for myoclonic seizures. Clinical trials in a diverse group of patients with age-related dementia or cognitive impairment demonstrated a significant benefit, but the methodology of these studies is poor, and long-term effects are unknown. Other therapies discussed in this article include Ginkgo biloba, a nonprescription natural supplement, and Axona", designated by the FDA as a medical food.
authors.affiliation: Psychiatry, University of Pittburgh School of Medicine, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA. HowlandRH@upmc.edu
authors.forename: Robert H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Howland
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002210:Caprylates / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000451:nursing*; D003704:Dementia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000451:nursing*; D005526:Food, Formulated; D020441:Ginkgo biloba; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D018697:Nootropic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D002210:Caprylates; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D018697:Nootropic Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D014280:Triglycerides; D018698:Glutamic Acid; C031492:octanoic acid