Piracetam for dementia or cognitive impairment
Abstract Background Piracetam is a drug that may enhance memory and other intellectual functions, but its usefulness in treating dementia is uncertain. It is, however, commonly prescribed for cognitive impairment and dementia in several countries of continental Europe. Objectives To determine the clinical efficacy of piracetam for features of dementia (classified into the major subtypes: […]
Alpha lipoic acid for dementia
Abstract Background Oxidative processes have been implicated in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative dementias including Alzheimer’s disease. Protecting the central nervous system against these damaging mechanisms may be a useful therapeutic approach. Alpha lipoic acid (ALA) is an endogenous antioxidant that interrupts cellular oxidative processes in both its oxidized and reduced forms. These properties might qualify […]
Cholinesterase inhibitors for dementia with Lewy bodies
Abstract Background Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) was first described in 1983, and clinical diagnostic criteria were published in the early to mid 1990s. It has been suggested DLB may account for up to 15-25% of cases of dementia among people aged over 65, although autopsy suggests much lower rates. Characteristic symptoms are dementia, marked […]
Validation therapy for dementia
Abstract Background Validation therapy was developed by Naomi Feil between 1963 and 1980 for older people with cognitive impairments. Initially, this did not include those with organically-based dementia, but the approach has subsequently been applied in work with people who have a dementia diagnosis. Feil’s own approach classifies individuals with cognitive impairment as having one […]
Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) for dementia
Abstract Background Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is the application of an electrical current through electrodes attached to the skin. The commonest clinical application of TENS is pain control. TENS is also used occasionally for the treatment of a range of neurological and psychiatric conditions including drug and alcohol dependence, headaches, and depression. TENS is […]
Ibuprofen for Alzheimer’s disease
Abstract Background Non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen may have a role in the treatment of conditions characterized by inflammatory processes. Ibuprofen may attenuate the effects of modulators of inflammation that have been implicated in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease. Objectives To investigate the efficacy of ibuprofen treatment for people with Alzheimer’s disease. Search methods […]
Propentofylline for dementia
Abstract Background Propentofylline is a novel therapeutic agent for dementia that readily crosses the blood-brain barrier and acts by blocking the uptake of adenosine and inhibiting the enzyme phosphodiesterase. In vitro and in vivo its mechanism of action appears to be twofold; it inhibits the production of free radicals and reduces the activation of microglial […]
Homeopathy for dementia
Abstract Background Dementia is a common illness in older people and has major implications for individuals with the disease, their carers and society. A meta-analysis of population based studies in Europe found the prevalence of dementia in individuals over 65 to be 6.4%. Homeopathy (also spelt “homoeopathy”) is a popular form of “complementary” or “alternative” […]
Vinpocetine for cognitive impairment and dementia
Abstract Background Vinpocetine is a synthetic ethyl ester of apovincamine, a vinca alkaloid obtained from the leaves of the Lesser Periwinkle (Vinca minor) and discovered in the late 1960s. Although used in human treatment for over twenty years, it has not been approved by any regulatory body for the treatment of cognitive impairment. Basic sciences […]
Selegiline for Alzheimer’s disease
Abstract Background Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia in older people accounting for some 60% of cases with late-onset cognitive deterioration. It is now thought that several neurotransmitter dysfunctions are involved from an early stage in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease-associated cognitive decline. The efficacy of selegiline for symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease […]