Alzheimer's Disease Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Alzheimer's Disease, including details on diagnosis, memory loss, heredity, treatment, medication.

Pharmacology of Alzheimer's disease: appraisal and prospects.

Sellal F, Nieoullon A, Michel G, Michel BF, Lacomblez L, Geerts H, Delini Stula A, Bordet R, Bentué-Ferrer D, Allain H

Hôpital Universitaire, Strasbourg, France.

Ten years after the introduction of the first drug, tacrine, in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, it seems appropriate to re-appraise the pharmacological processes of innovation in the research field of dementia. The aim of this review is to pinpoint concrete improvements achieved in this field, regarding experimental methods and clinical evaluation of the compounds, as well as the neurochemistry of the disease and cellular targets to consider in priority. This review deals with this objective in three parts: (1) assessment of current therapeutics, (2) discussion of the experimental models and clinical practices and (3) prospective drugs of the future. The implementation of considered strategies will require the involvement and close cooperation between political decisions, pharmaceutical companies and the scientific community.

Published 2 May 2005 in Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord, 19(5): 229-45.
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