Source:College Freshmen See Rx Drug Misuse More Risky Than Alcohol,
Pot
(HealthDay)

Source:FDA posts list of potential problem drugs
(AP)

Although memantine is approved for treatment of moderate to severe Alzheimer’s disease its usage has been not advised by UK’s National Institute for Clinical Excellence, on the grounds that its high cost outweighs the benefits of treatment in most patients. Memantine has been associated with a moderate decrease in clinical deterioration in Alzheimer’s disease. A systematic review of randomised controlled trials found that memantine has a small positive effect on cognition, mood, behaviour, and the ability to perform daily activities in moderate to severe Alzheimer’s disease, but an unknown effect in mild to moderate disease.

Dimebolin Hydrochloride - brand name Dimebon is an antihistamine drug. Recently dimebolin has attracted interest after being shown to have positive effects on persons suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. Preliminary results from human trials have also been promising. In an initial six-month phase trial, results have shown that at 12 months there was significant improvement over placebo. Dimebolin showed promising results in a Phase III-equivalent double blind trial in Russia with mild-moderate stage patients. Dimebolin is an orally active small molecule that has been shown to inhibit brain cell death in preclinical studies of Alzheimer’s disease and Huntington’s disease, making it a potential treatment for these and other neurodegenerative diseases. Research suggests that it may also have cognition-enhancing effects in healthy individuals.

The US FDA has approved rivastigmine capsules and patch for the treatment of mild to moderate dementias related to both Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s Disease. It has is now used in more than 6 million patients world-wide. Rivastigmine has is very effective in improving the cognitive (thinking and memory), functional (activities of daily living) and behavioral problems that are commonly associated with Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease dementias.

In patients with either type of dementia, rivastigmine has been shown to provide meaningful symptomatic effects that may allow patients to remain independent for longer. In particular, rivastigmine appears to show marked treatment effects in patients showing a more course of aggressive disease, such as those with a younger age of onset, a poor nutritional status, or those experiencing symptoms such as delusions or hallucinations. Those Alzheimer’ patients who have the presence of hallucinations appears to benefit more from rivastigmine. It has been proposed that these effects might reflect the additional inhibition of butyryl cholinesterase, which is implicated in symptom progression and might provide added benefits over acetyl cholinesterase-selective drugs in some patients.

Galantamine is available under brand names Razadyne, Razadyne ER, Reminyl, Memeron etc. It is a drug used for the treatment of mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease and various memory impairments. It is an alkaloid that is obtained the flowers of the Caucasian snowdrop , Galanthus woronowii and Lycoris radiata (Red Spider Lilly plants). The active ingredient was discovered accidentally by a Bulgarian scientist.

The Galantamine drug is supplied in twice-a-day tablets, once-a-day extended release capsules, and in oral solution. The tablets come in 4mg, 8mg and 12mg forms. The capsules come in 8mg, 16mg, and 24mg forms. In clinical trials, galantamine’s side effect profile was very similar to that of other cholinesterase inhibitors, with gastrointestinal symptoms being the most notable.

Donepezil- trade name Aricept is a centrally acting reversible acetyl cholinesterase inhibitor. It is used in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease where it is used to increase cortical acetylcholine. Currently, there is no conclusive proof that donepezil halts/decreases the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. However many controlled studies have shown modest benefits in cognition and behavior. Many neurologists, psychiatrists, and primary care physicians use donepezil in patients with severe Alzheimer’s disease. But there is no significant improvement in functional outcome, of quality of life or of behavioral symptoms in those with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease. Donepezil comes as a tablet and dissolves quickly in the mouth. It is usually taken once a day, in the evening with or without food. The medicine is taken around the same time every day. It may take several weeks before the full benefits of donepezil are experienced . This drug helps control the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease but does not cure it. It has to be taken even if the patients feels well and not stopped without talking to doctor.

 
  
  http://www.squidoo.com/alzheimers-disease-usa

Reduction in the activity of the cholinergic neurons is a well-known feature of Alzheimer’s disease. Acetyl cholinesterase inhibitors are employed to reduce the rate at which acetylcholine is broken down, thereby increasing the concentration of Acetyl cholinesterase in the brain and combating the loss of Acetyl cholinesterase caused by the death of cholinergic neurons. The cholinesterase inhibitors approved for the management of AD symptoms are donepezil (Aricept), Galantamine (Razadyne), and rivastigmine ( Exelon and Exelon Patch). There is evidence for the efficacy of these medications in mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease, and some evidence for their use in the advanced stage.

Donepezil is approved for treatment of advanced AD dementia. The use of these drugs in mild cognitive impairment has not shown any effect in a delay of the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. The most common side effects are nausea and vomiting, both of which are linked to cholinergic excess. These side effects arise in approximately ten to twenty percent of users and are mild to moderate in severity.

Glutamate is a useful excitatory neurotransmitter of the nervous system, although excessive amounts in the brain can lead to cell death through a process called excitotoxicity which consists of the over stimulation of glutamate receptors. Excitotoxicity occurs not only in Alzheimer’s disease, but also in other neurological diseases such as Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis. Memantine (brand names Akatinol, Axura, Ebixa/Abixa, Memox and Namenda), is a noncompetitive NMDA receptor antagonist . It acts on the glutamatergic system by blocking NMDA receptors and inhibiting their over stimulation by glutamate. Memantine has been shown to be moderately efficacious in the treatment of moderate to severe Alzheimer’s disease.

 
  
  http://www.squidoo.com/alzheimers-disease-usa

Ginkgo is widely used in Europe for treating Alzheimer’s disease. It improves blood flow to the brain and has good antioxidant properties. There is evidence that ginkgo may improve thinking, learning, and memory in people with Alzheimer’s disease. One herb known as Ashwagandha (Botanical name Withania Somnifera) seems to have certain preventive and cognition improving effect on Alzheimer’s patients. Ashwagandha (Botanical name: Withania Somnifera) is a medicinal plant used in India to treat a wide range of age-related disorders. Its most remarkable effect may involve its ability to preserve the health of the aging brain. Research indicates that ashwagandha extract is capable of halting and even repairing damage to brain cells in an experimentally induced model of Alzheimer’s disease. In laboratory experiments in Japan 2004 and in earlier in Germany, researchers discovered that ashwagandha root extract inhibits acetyl cholinesterase in much the same way as the prescription drug donepezil, which is currently used in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.

http://www.squidoo.com/alzheimers-disease-usa

Alzheimer’s disease affects a person’s cognitive, emotional, behavioral and physical functions increasingly over time, causing many people with the disease to eventually require full time care. Caregivers often devote a majority or all or of their spare time to helping their loved one with Alzheimer’s disease.

Full-time Alzheimer’s caregivers can benefit from periodic relief from care giving duties, giving them time to nurture other relationships and return to caring for their loved one with a refreshed mindset. Caregivers can benefit from seeking assistance, either on regular intervals or as needed, from one of the following sources: Other relatives or loved ones. Other friends or family members may be willing to assume care giving responsibilities at times, particularly if they already have a close relationship with the person.

Sharing care giving responsibilities with a close friend or relative allows them to spend quality time with their loved one and gives the primary caregiver free time to fulfill unrelated needs and responsibilities. Respite Care. Respite care is professional daytime or overnight care that may be offered by a full time Alzheimer’s care home in your area. Respite care can give caregivers the comfort of knowing that their loved one is in the care of professionals who specialize in the unique needs of people with Alzheimer’s, and can give their loved one the opportunity to socialize and participate in rewarding activities. Respite care not only gives full time caregivers a break, it also gives them a chance to become familiar with a professional care home that may make a viable option for full time care for their loved one in the future. In home professional care. Another option is to hire a professional caregiver who provides in home care service.

A professional caregiver can be a convenient option, particularly for caregivers whose loved one with Alzheimer’s lives with them in their home. For some Alzheimer’s patients, remaining in a consistent environment is comforting and the most suitable temporary care option for their needs. Care giving takes on a variety of connotations for different people, ranging from occasional help to full time supervision and assistance. Caregivers closer to the full time end of the spectrum sometimes inadvertently neglect their own needs when they are consumed with caring for the daily life of a loved one, making an occasional break from care giving important for their well being and health. The appropriate short term care option for a person with Alzheimer’s depends heavily on his or her individual needs
 
 

http://www.squidoo.com/alzheimers-disease-usa

It is estimated that there are currently 50 million people worldwide with Alzheimer’s disease. This figure is projected to grow to more than 160 million people by 2050. The first sign of Alzheimer disease is a continuous pattern of forgetting things. This starts to affect a person’s daily life. He or she may forget where the grocery store is or the names of family and friends. This stage of the disease may last for some time or quickly progress, causing memory loss and forgetfulness to get worse. Although some kinds of memory loss are normal parts of aging, the changes due to aging are not severe enough to interfere with the level of function. Many different diseases can cause dementia, but Alzheimer’s disease is by far the most common cause for dementia in the United States and in most countries in the world.

Alzheimer’s is a progressive and unfortunately fatal brain disease for which there is no cure. It destroys brain cells causing loss of memory, mainly short term loss. In addition to memory loss Alzheimer’s causes thinking and behavior problems that can become serious enough to effect your work, your social life, and the ability to accomplish simple everyday tasks such as personal grooming, preparing meals, household chores and many other things. As the disease progresses you could even forget how to do these things altogether
 
 

http://www.squidoo.com/alzheimers-disease-usa

Source:Clinical Trials Update: Sept. 3, 2008
(HealthDay)