[Cognitive Function and Calcium. Suppression of neurotoxicity by an anti-dementia drug managing calcium influx].

Although drugs affecting N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors are being largely expected for anti-dementia drugs, memantine has been solely approved. As memantine has moderate affinity to NMDA receptors, memantine display efficacy of neuro-protection and learning promotion. In clinical trials, memantine showed suppression of progression of symptoms with dementia including improvement and suppression of aggressiveness and behavioral disturbance. Moreover, memantine can be prescribed with choline esterase inhibitors, thus, memantine is used as one of major anti-dementia drugs.