Background
Alzheimer’s disease is a multifactorial progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by memory loss, disorientation, and gradual decline in intellectual ability. The accumulation of beta-amyloid (Aβ) peptides is assessed to be one of the essential neuropathological pillars of the disorder, and its dishomeostasis plays an essential role in its onset. AD is a progressive neurodegenerative pathology for which there is no definitive cure. However, different types of treatments can help delay the progression and improve the quality of life of affected patients.
Treatment options include meditation, cognitive stimulation therapy, occupational therapy, massage therapy, physical exercise, music therapy, and nutritional supplements. Pharmacological treatments available for AD include rivastigmine, donepezil, galantamine, and memantine. Despite advances in available treatments for AD, there is still no definitive cure. Thus, new treatment approaches are constantly being examined, such as gene therapy, immunotherapy, diet, light therapy, and physical exercise. Research on new approaches aims to find a more efficacious and specific therapy than the current treatment options, with the goal of finding a cure for this disease that affects millions of people worldwide.
Objective
This study aimed to map out new perspectives on the effect of pharmacological treatment on cognition and overall psychological state in patients with AD.
Methods
- Two independent researchers searched for randomized clinical trials (RCTs) examining new pharmacological approaches related to cognition in Alzheimer’s disease in adults in Pub Med, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases.
- The inclusion criteria for this search were original articles of randomized clinical trials, and studies conducted in living humans with AD, focusing on a cognitive state or psychological aspects, the adult population over 18 years, both men and women, articles published in English, and intervention must be a pharmacological treatment.
- The exclusion criteria were studies conducted in animal models, studies on biochemical composition or biomarkers, studies on nutritional aspects, and studies on the prevention of AD.
- A total of 738 documents were initially specified, 17 of which were included in the study.
Results
- The results show that in recent years, new drugs have been tested in patients with Alzheimer’s disease, including masitinib, levetiracetam, and methylphenidate.
- Most studies have been conducted in populations with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease.
- Masitinib is an anti-tumor drug that has been investigated for potential use in the treatment of AD.
- Verubecestat is a selective inhibitor of BACE-1 (β-site amyloid precursor protein cleaving enzyme) that reduces Aβ levels in the cerebrospinal fluid of healthy individuals and AD patients by more than 60%.
- There are studies suggesting that methylphenidate may have beneficial effects on patients with AD, such as improving memory and cognition.
Conclusion
This study concluded that although a potential improvement in cognitive function has been observed with some of the evaluated drugs, the limited number of available studies necessitates further investigation to specify their effectiveness and safety in treating cognitive impairments in Alzheimer’s disease.