Answer:
Usually are used cholinesterase innhibitors drugs and memantine. Although other types of substances are used in combination with treatment, like ginkgo biloba, antioxidants, etc.
Explanation:
Alzheimer disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that manifests with cognitive and short-term memory impairment and a variety of neuropsychiatric symptoms and behavioral changes that worsen over time.
The treatment of Alzheimer's disease involves pharmacological strategies and psychosocial interventions for the patient. Regarding pharmacological treatment, various psychoactive substances have been used to preserve cognition, behavior and functional abilities of the patient, which is called symptomatic treatment. However, the effects of drugs currently approved for the treatment of AD are limited to the delay in the natural course of the disease, allowing only stabilization or temporary improvement of the patient.
Some drugs used for AD treatment are:
- Cholinesterase Inhibitors
: are the major drugs approved for the specific treatment of AD. Its use is based on increased synaptic availability of acetylcholine by inhibiting the enzymes acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase. In addition to the effect on cognition, there is also an additional benefit on behavioral symptoms and functional changes of the disease compared to the placebo group (first generation: Tacrine; second generation: rivastigmine, donepezil and galantamine)
- Memantine: is a noncompetitive N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor affinity antagonist, allowing its physiological activation during memory formation processes, but blocking channel opening and pathological activation.
- There is evidence that the formation of oxygen free radicals may contribute to the pathogenesis of AD, which would justify the use of antioxidant substances, like vitamin E (α-tocopherol) and selegiline, which were used as adjuncts to AD treatment, exerting a supposed neuroprotective effect.
- Ginkgo biloba is used in traditional Chinese medicine to improve alertness and cognition. Its protective effects are related to the presence of terpenic and flavonoid constituents with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Its active principles promote increased brain irrigation and reduced free radicals, preventing β-amyloid neurotoxicity.
