Treatment goals of symptomatic treatment for Alzheimer’s disease

As a key goal for managing cognitive impairment is an improvement in cognition, the availability of symptomatic treatments for AD is important.² Additionally, improvement of behavioural symptoms can impact the quality of life of patients and caregivers, and may delay time to institutionalization.² Cholinesterase inhibitors and the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist, memantine, improve cognition and global function, while providing temporary stabilization of activities of daily living (ADLs).² 5-HT₆ antagonists have been the subject of several recent clinical trials, but have failed to establish a drug-placebo difference on cognitive outcomes.² The dopaminergic system may also play a role in cognitive function; however, trials of drugs targeting this system have conflicting results.²

References:
1. Geldmacher DS, Frolich L, Doody RS, et al. Realistic expectations for treatment success in Alzheimer’s disease. J Nutr Health Aging 2006; 10 (5): 417–429.

2. Cummings J. New approaches to symptomatic treatments for Alzheimer’s disease. Mol Neurodegener 2021; 16 (1): 2.