title: Treatment of Cognitive Deficits in Alzheimer's disease: A psychopharmacological review.
abstract: The growing and aging population has contributed to the increased prevalence of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other types of dementia in the world. AD is a progressive and degenerative brain disease with an onset characterized by episodic memory impairments, although progressive deficits can be observed in several domains including language, executive functions, attention and working memory. The relationship between cognitive impairments and the topography and progression of brain neuropathology is well established. The pathophysiologic mechanisms and processes that underline the course of cognitive and clinical decline have been the theoretical support for the development of pharmacological treatments for AD. Cholinesterase inhibitors (ChEIs) and N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) antagonists are the main drugs used in the management of global cognitive impairment and several studies also explore the effects of both in specific cognitive measures. Recent research trends also examine the effects of combination therapy using both compounds. This review aims to update practical recommendations for the treatment of global cognitive functioning and specific neurocognitive deficits in AD using ChEIs, NMDA antagonists and combination therapy with both drugs.
authors.affiliation: Polytechnic Institute of Porto, School of Health Technologies, Portugal.
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Campos
authors.forename: Nuno Barbosa
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Rocha
authors.forename: Renata Teles
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Vieira
authors.forename: Susana A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Rocha
authors.forename: Diogo
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Telles-Correia
authors.forename: Flávia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Paes
authors.forename: Tifei
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.forename: Antonio Egidio
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Nardi
authors.forename: Oscar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Arias-Carrión
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Machado
authors.forename: Leonardo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Caixeta
mesh_terms: D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D016202:N-Methylaspartate / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*
chemical_list: D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D016202:N-Methylaspartate