Ging-Yuek Robin Hsiung, MD, MHSc, FRCPC and Howard Feldman, MD, FRCPC, Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC.
In the past decade, there have been numerous advances in our understanding of the molecular biology and pathogenesis of Alzheimer disease (AD). Although to date no pharmacological treatments have been shown to alter the pathology of AD, several medications have been proven to offer symptomatic improvement and to delay the progression of cognitive, behavioural and functional deficits. This article reviews the currently available medications for management of cognitive symptoms in AD, as well as other promising drugs that are under investigation.
Key words: Alzheimer disease, management, cholinesterase inhibitors, donepezil, memantine.
Introduction
An estimated 8% of the Canadian population over age 65 suffers from dementia, of which 6070% is caused by Alzheimer disease (AD). The incidence of dementia doubles for every five years of increased age between 65 and 85 years.1 The management of dementia is a significant burden to our health care system, with an estimated annual cost of $3.9 billion in 1991.2 Epidemiologic studies suggest that if the symptoms of dementia can be delayed by just two years, prevalence will decrease by 25%, with significant savings to the long-term care of these individuals.
