Żaneta Binert-Kusztal, Małgorzata Starek, Monika Dąbrowska

Neurodegenerative diseases  – pharmacotherapeutic aspect of Alzheimer’s diseases
2021-09-16

Alzheimer’s disease is a growing public health problem that affects millions of patients worldwide and is responsible for 60–70% of dementia cases. This disease is classified as a neurodegenerative disease, it disrupts the functioning of the nervous system through the gradual degeneration of neurons, which in turn results in impaired mental performance. It is a progressive and incurable disease, leading to the patient’s death. Already the ancient Greeks and Romans saw a link between memory loss and old age. The disease was first described in 1901 by the German psychiatrist Alois Alzheimer, the discoverer of the “disease of forgetfulness”.

Neuropsychiatric symptoms and disorders are currently treated primarily with non-pharmacological techniques (physical rehabilitation, occupational therapy), while appropriate treatment should include pharmacotherapy, psychotherapy, and social care. Modern pharmacotherapy of Alzheimer’s disease is only symptomatic, focusing on the reduction of cognitive disorders as well as mental and behavioral disorders related to dementia, i.e. agitation, depression, psychotic symptoms. Its purpose is to improve the patient’s condition and slow down the progression of the disease symptoms, but it does not lead to a cure, but only to stabilize and improve the quality of life. One of the better‑proven hypothetical pathomechanisms of the disease is the dysfunction of cholinergic neurotransmission. It has been shown that inhibition of the enzyme that hydrolyses acetylcholine by drugs belonging to the group of so-called cholinesterase inhibitors leads to the improvement of cognitive functions in patients. Studies on the dissolution and inhibition of -amyloid toxicity as well as modulation of the effect of estrogens are also being carried out. Currently, research is conducted around the world that gives hope for greater pharmacotherapeutic success. In summary, Alzheimer’s disease is a multifactorial, complex disease entity and an international problem, and it will pose an increasing health challenge, both social and economic, for all countries.

Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease, neurodegeneration, therapy.

© Farm Pol, 2021, 77(7): 451–457