title: [Treatment of Alzheimer's disease and future approaches].
abstract: The progressive neuronal loss in Alzheimer's disease leads to neurochemical abnormalities which provide the basis for symptomatic treatments. Four cholinesterase inhibitors were released in this indication. Meta-analyses have confirmed a beneficial effect on cognitive functioning and activities of daily living. The NMDA receptor antagonist, memantine, was also approved for the treatment of moderate to severe and may be associated. Progress in the patho-physiology of the disease offers some hope of new treatments acting on the cerebral lesions. The amyloid hypothesis allowed the emergence of active or passive immunotherapies, and of secretase inhibitors or modulators. Recent studies have targeted the P tau protein. The brain plasticity and the uses of stem cells offer more distant hope.
authors.affiliation: AP-HP, Hôpital Broca, Université Paris V, Fondation Nationale de Gérontologie-ILC, Paris, France. francoise.forette@brc.aphp.fr
authors.forename: Françoise
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Forette
authors.forename: Jean-Jacques
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Hauw
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D000818:Animals; D002491:Central Nervous System Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D015195:Drug Design; D006801:Humans; D007116:Immunization, Passive / Q000379:methods; D016233:Immunotherapy, Active / Q000379:methods; D008559:Memantine / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D002491:Central Nervous System Agents; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D008559:Memantine