[Management of Alzheimer disease]

Presse Med. 2007 Oct;36(10 Pt 2):1500-10. doi: 10.1016/j.lpm.2007.04.028. Epub 2007 Jun 29.
[Article in French]

Abstract

Management of Alzheimer disease is based on drug and nondrug treatments. Specific drug treatment includes acetylcholinesterase inhibitors and memantine. They show moderate efficacy superior to that of placebo for global condition, cognitive disorders, need for care, and behavioral problems, but do not prevent further decline. These treatments remain underused. The efficacy of psychotropic drugs (antidepressants, neuroleptics, and antipsychotic agents) in treating behavioral problems is not well documented. Nondrug activities and interventions have not been sufficiently evaluated scientifically. These involve interventions against the consequences of the disease (loss of autonomy, malnutrition) and helping patients' family caregivers. Among these activities, the best evaluated and most interesting are: educational programs for caregivers, occupational therapy at home, and interventions at home by nurses specially trained as case managers.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Alzheimer Disease / diagnosis
  • Alzheimer Disease / drug therapy
  • Alzheimer Disease / nursing
  • Alzheimer Disease / therapy*
  • Animals
  • Antipsychotic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Caregivers / education
  • Case Management
  • Cholinesterase Inhibitors / therapeutic use*
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Donepezil
  • Dopamine Agents / therapeutic use
  • Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists / therapeutic use
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Forecasting
  • Health Education
  • Humans
  • Indans / therapeutic use
  • Memantine / therapeutic use
  • Mental Disorders / drug therapy
  • Meta-Analysis as Topic
  • Nootropic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Occupational Therapy
  • Piperidines / therapeutic use
  • Practice Guidelines as Topic
  • Psychotropic Drugs / therapeutic use
  • Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Antipsychotic Agents
  • Cholinesterase Inhibitors
  • Dopamine Agents
  • Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists
  • Indans
  • Nootropic Agents
  • Piperidines
  • Psychotropic Drugs
  • Donepezil
  • Memantine