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New Drug for Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's is a progressive, incurable disease that affects a person's cognitive ability. Cholinesterase inhibitors and memantine are the two recognized drug types to slow the decline in cognitive ability. Research continues for a new drug to combat the cause of Alzheimer's.

  1. Types

    • According to the Mayo Clinic, cholinesterase inhibitors are medications that improve the levels of neurotransmitters in the brain. This type of medication includes Aricept (donepezil), Razadyne (galantamine) and Exelon (rivastigmine).

    Function

    • Namenda (memantine) is a drug prescribed for moderate to severe Alzheimer's disease. According to the National Institute on Aging, Namenda works by regulating glutamate. An excessive amount of glutamate may cause brain cell death.

    Considerations

    • Cholinesterase inhibitors and memantine may be prescribed at the same time because they work differently. Dosages are usually started at a low level and increased according to the patient's tolerance and response to the medication.

    Warning

    • According to the Alzheimer's Organization, possible side effects of the cholinesterase inhibitors include nausea and vomiting. Memantine may cause dizziness and confusion. Report symptoms to the patient's health care provider.

    Prevention/Solution

    • New drugs for Alzheimer's disease are tested in clinical trials. ClinicalTrials.gov offers a search for the latest clinical trials (see Resources).

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