Alternative pharmacological treatment options for agitation in Alzheimer’s disease
In patients with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease (AD), treatment of neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) is a major concern in the management of these devastating diseases. Among NPS in AD, agitation and aggression are common with earlier institutionalization, increased morbidity and mortality, and grea...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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PAGEPress Publications
2015-11-01
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| Series: | Geriatric Care |
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| Online Access: | http://www.pagepressjournals.org/index.php/gc/article/view/5460 |
| _version_ | 1811252411952529408 |
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| author | Francesco Panza Vincenzo Solfrizzi Bruno P. Imbimbo Andrea Santamato Madia Lozupone Giancarlo Logroscino |
| author_facet | Francesco Panza Vincenzo Solfrizzi Bruno P. Imbimbo Andrea Santamato Madia Lozupone Giancarlo Logroscino |
| author_sort | Francesco Panza |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In patients with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease (AD), treatment of neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) is a major concern in the management of these devastating diseases. Among NPS in AD, agitation and aggression are common with earlier institutionalization, increased morbidity and mortality, and greater caregiver burden. Pharmacological treatments for AD-related agitation, specifically off-label use of atypical antipsychotics, showed only modest improvements, with increased side-effect burden and risk of mortality. Non-pharmacological treatment approaches have become the preferred firstline option. However, when such treatments fail, pharmacological options are often used. Therefore, there is an urgent need to identify effective and safe pharmacological treatments for agitation/aggression in AD and dementia. Unfortunately, progresses have been slow, with a small number of methodologically heterogeneous randomized controlled trials (RCTs), with disappointing results. However, evidence coming from recently completed RCTs on novel or repositioned drugs (mibampator, dextromethorphan/ quinidine, cannabinoids, and citalopram) showed some promise in treating agitation in AD, but still with safety concerns. Further evidence will come from ongoing Phase II and III trials on promising novel drugs for treating these distressing symptoms in patients with AD and dementia. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T16:34:18Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-efbeeea8184448ac960516a16465a88a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2465-1109 2465-1397 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T16:34:18Z |
| publishDate | 2015-11-01 |
| publisher | PAGEPress Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Geriatric Care |
| spelling | doaj.art-efbeeea8184448ac960516a16465a88a2022-12-22T03:25:03ZengPAGEPress PublicationsGeriatric Care2465-11092465-13972015-11-011110.4081/gc.2015.54604540Alternative pharmacological treatment options for agitation in Alzheimer’s diseaseFrancesco Panza0Vincenzo Solfrizzi1Bruno P. Imbimbo2Andrea Santamato3Madia Lozupone4Giancarlo Logroscino5Neurodegenerative Disease Unit, Department of Basic Medicine, Neuroscience, and Sense Organs, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari; Department of Clinical Research in Neurology, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Pia Fondazione Cardinale G. Panico, Tricase (LE)Geriatric Medicine-Memory Unit and Rare Disease Centre, University of Bari Aldo Moro, BariResearch & Development Department, Chiesi Farmaceutici, ParmaPhysical Medicine and Rehabilitation Section, University Hospital of Foggia, FoggiaNeurodegenerative Disease Unit, Department of Basic Medicine, Neuroscience, and Sense Organs, University of Bari Aldo Moro, BariNeurodegenerative Disease Unit, Department of Basic Medicine, Neuroscience, and Sense Organs, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari; Department of Clinical Research in Neurology, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Pia Fondazione Cardinale G. Panico, Tricase (LE)In patients with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease (AD), treatment of neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) is a major concern in the management of these devastating diseases. Among NPS in AD, agitation and aggression are common with earlier institutionalization, increased morbidity and mortality, and greater caregiver burden. Pharmacological treatments for AD-related agitation, specifically off-label use of atypical antipsychotics, showed only modest improvements, with increased side-effect burden and risk of mortality. Non-pharmacological treatment approaches have become the preferred firstline option. However, when such treatments fail, pharmacological options are often used. Therefore, there is an urgent need to identify effective and safe pharmacological treatments for agitation/aggression in AD and dementia. Unfortunately, progresses have been slow, with a small number of methodologically heterogeneous randomized controlled trials (RCTs), with disappointing results. However, evidence coming from recently completed RCTs on novel or repositioned drugs (mibampator, dextromethorphan/ quinidine, cannabinoids, and citalopram) showed some promise in treating agitation in AD, but still with safety concerns. Further evidence will come from ongoing Phase II and III trials on promising novel drugs for treating these distressing symptoms in patients with AD and dementia.http://www.pagepressjournals.org/index.php/gc/article/view/5460AgitationaggressionAlzheimer’s diseasedementiaantipsychoticsantidepressants. |
| spellingShingle | Francesco Panza Vincenzo Solfrizzi Bruno P. Imbimbo Andrea Santamato Madia Lozupone Giancarlo Logroscino Alternative pharmacological treatment options for agitation in Alzheimer’s disease Geriatric Care Agitation aggression Alzheimer’s disease dementia antipsychotics antidepressants. |
| title | Alternative pharmacological treatment options for agitation in Alzheimer’s disease |
| title_full | Alternative pharmacological treatment options for agitation in Alzheimer’s disease |
| title_fullStr | Alternative pharmacological treatment options for agitation in Alzheimer’s disease |
| title_full_unstemmed | Alternative pharmacological treatment options for agitation in Alzheimer’s disease |
| title_short | Alternative pharmacological treatment options for agitation in Alzheimer’s disease |
| title_sort | alternative pharmacological treatment options for agitation in alzheimer s disease |
| topic | Agitation aggression Alzheimer’s disease dementia antipsychotics antidepressants. |
| url | http://www.pagepressjournals.org/index.php/gc/article/view/5460 |
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