Pharmacologic management of Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's disease is a chronically progressive neurodegenerative disorder. Examinations of brains of Alzheimer's disease patients have shown various neuropathologic and neurochemical deficits, especially decreases in acetylcholine, norepinephrine, serotonin, and some neuropeptides. During the long course of the illness, almost every patient experiences psychiatric symptoms and exhibits behavioral disturbance, most of which can be treated effectively with antidepressant, antipsychotic, and mood-stabilizing drugs. This article is divided into several sections to discuss specific symptoms and relevant medications used to treat each of these symptoms: cholinergic drugs, anti-inflammatory agents, antiamyloidigenic strategy and antioxidant therapy, estrogen, management of psychosis and agitation, and management of depression.