Alzheimer Disease

This volume reviews the new potential treatments and research in the area of Alzheimer's disease. Special attention is given to international developments in all fields relevant to new drug development. Topics discussed include: progress in the international harmonization of drug development guidelines for dementia drugs; bioethics and law; development of rating instruments; behavioural treatments; and the activities of the Reagan Foundation. The text integrates basic and clinical research findings, and provides evaluation of new approaches to therapy by world leaders in the field. The potential benefit for Alzheimer patients and families resulting from these research programmes, from molecular biology to clinical pharmacology, is reviewed and evaluated.

I. Pathological Basis of Therapy in Alzheimer s Disease. - Criteria for the Diagnosis of Alzheimer s Disease. - Neuropathology Of Alzheimer s Disease. - Processing of Amyloid, Cytoskeletal Damage and Apolipoproteins. - Cell Death: Excitotoxins, Apoptosis And Hypometabolism. - Neurotrophins, Growth Factors and Neuroprotectors. - Animal Models. - II. The Cholinergic System in Brain. - Treatment of Alzheimer Disease. - Cholinesterase Inhibitors in Alzheimer Disease Treatment. - III. Nicotinic and Muscarinic Cholinergic Agonists. - Nicotinic Agonists. - Muscarinic Agonists and Antagonists. - The Potential of Antioxidant Therapy. - The Potential for Anti-Inflammatory Therapy. - IV. Development of New Therapies in Alzheimer Disease. - Design of Clinical Trials. - Advances in Assessment. - SPECT and PET. - Potential Markers of Disease Progression and Drug Efficacy in Alzheimer s Disease. - Treatment of Behavioral and Psychosocial Disturbances. - V. Social Issue in Alzheimer Disease. - Legal and Ethical Issues. - Socio-Economic As pects of Alzheimer Disease Treatment. - International Harmonization of Drug Guidelines. - Research Priorities in Alzheimer Disease Treatment An International Perspective. - Author Index.