Pharmacology of Alzheimer’s Disease: Appraisal and Prospects

Vol. 19, No. 5-6, 2005

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Review Article

Pharmacology of Alzheimer's Disease: Appraisal and Prospects
François Sellal^a, André Nieoullon^b, Géraldine Michel^c, Bernard François Michel^c, Lucette Lacomblez^d, Hugo Geerts^g, Alexandra Delini Stula^h, Régis Bordet^e, Danièle Bentué-Ferrer^f, Hervé Allain^f

^aHôpital Universitaire, Strasbourg,
^bLaboratoire CNRS - LNCF Neurosciences, and
^cHôpitaux Sainte Marguerite et de la Conception, Marseille,
^dFédération Neurologie Mazarin/Service de Pharmacologie, Hôpital de la Pitié Salpétrière, Paris,
^eLaboratoire de Pharmacologie, Lille, and
^fLaboratoire de Pharmacologie, Rennes, France;
^gSilico Biosciences, Philadelphia, Pa., USA;
^hADI International Institut, Basel, Switzerland

Address of Corresponding Author

Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord 2005;19:229-245 (DOI: 10.1159/000084400)

Key Words

Alzheimer's disease
Pharmacology
Innovation
Drug
Methodology

Abstract

Ten years after the introduction of the first drug, tacrine, in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, it seems appropriate to reappraise the pharmacological processes of innovation in the research field of dementia. The aim of this review is to pinpoint concrete improvements achieved in this field, regarding experimental methods and clinical evaluation of the compounds, as well as the neurochemistry of the disease and cellular targets to consider in priority. This review deals with this objective in three parts: (1) assessment of current therapeutics, (2) discussion of the experimental models and clinical practices and (3) prospective drugs of the future. The implementation of considered strategies will require the involvement and close cooperation between political decisions, pharmaceutical companies and the scientific community.

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Author Contacts

Danièle Bentué-Ferrer
Department of Pharmacology, Faculté de Médecine, University of Rennes I
2, avenue du Professeur Léon-Bernard, FR-35043 Rennes (France)
Tel. +33 2 23 23 47 13, Fax +33 2 23 23 46 05
E-Mail daniele.bentue-ferrer@univ-rennes1.fr

Article Information

Accepted: October 30, 2004
Published online: March 11, 2005
Number of Print Pages : 17
Number of Figures : 2, Number of Tables : 1, Number of References : 50

Publication Details

Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders

Vol. 19, No. 5-6, Year 2005 (Cover Date: May-June 2005)

Journal Editor: Chan-Palay, V. (New York, N.Y.)
ISSN: 1420-8008 (print), 1421-9824 (Online)

For additional information: http://www.karger.com/dem

Drug Dosage / Copyright

Drug Dosage: The authors and the publisher have exerted every effort to ensure that drug selection and dosage set forth in this text are in accord with current recommendations and practice at the time of publication. However, in view of ongoing research, changes in goverment regulations, and the constant flow of information relating to drug therapy and drug reactions, the reader is urged to check the package insert for each drug for any changes in indications and dosage and for added warnings and precautions. This is particularly important when the recommended agent is a new and/or infrequently employed drug. Copyright: All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be translated into other languages, reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, microcopying, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher or, in the case of photocopying, direct payment of a specified fee to the Copyright Clearance Center.

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	Last update: 28/4/2005