Dementia, drug treatment

Konno S, Meyer JS, Terayama Y, Margishvili GM, Mortel KF. (1997). Classification, diagnosis, and treatment of vascular dementia. Drugs Aging. 11(5) 361-73. 

In addition to epilepsy, neuronal death due to the toxic effects of glutamate has also been implicated in cerebral ischaemia associated with multi-infarct dementia and possibly Alzheimer s disease. With the plethora of selective excitatory amino acid receptor antagonists currently undergoing development, some of which are already in clinical trials, one may expect definite advances in the drug treatment of neurodegenerative disorders in the near future. 

Schneider LS, Dagerman KS, Insel P. Risk of death with atypical antipsychotic drug treatment for dementia meta-analysis of randomized placeho-controUed trials. JAMA 2005 294(15) 1934-43. 

Howes MJ, Perry E (2011) The role of phytochemicals in the treatment and prevention of dementia. Drugs Aging 28 439-468... 

Holladay, M. W., Lebold, S. A., Lin, N. H. Structure-activity relationships of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonists as potential treatments for dementia. Drug. Dev. Res. 1995(35), 191-213. 

Memantine is approved for treatment of moderate to severe Alzheimer s disease. It is an antagonist at glutamatergic NMDA-receptors. Memantine is well tolerated and has a small beneficial effect at six months in moderate to severe AD (McShane et al. 2006). For patients with dementia one has to be careful wit all kind of medications that may affect the central nervous system. Delirium and hallucinations are common adverse effects in patients with dementia. Agitation may be due to delirium and external causes should be ruled out before adding another psychoactive drug. Sleep disturbance is common in demented elderly patients. Sleep deprivation may in a patient with dementia induce delirium. Nonpharmacological treatment for delirium or hallucinations should be considered first. 

Hydergine is for treatment of dementia. It has been approved by the Food and Drug administration for treatment of "idiopathic decline in mental capacity."... 

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