Browse by author
Lookup NU author(s): Professor John O'Brien
Full text for this publication is not currently held within this repository. Alternative links are provided below where available.
Dementia is a rapidly growing global health problem. It is a clinical syndrome characterised by multiple cognitive deficits which impact on social functioning and activities of day-to-day living. Currently available treatments offer symptomatic improvements in cognitive functions; however their effect on progression of disease is unclear and requires development of validated outcome measures which can track such long-term changes. There is some evidence that non-pharmacological therapies have a role in reducing psychiatric co-morbidity in care givers, while psychological and social interventions may improve behavioural symptoms in some people. The use of cholinesterase inhibitors and memantine for AD has generated huge controversy in recent years and attracted a lot of attention and interest from scientific community and various non-statutory agencies and consumer groups. Various evidence-based guidelines have been developed for the assessment and management of dementia. The evidence is overwhelmingly in favour of using the cholinesterase inhibitors as symptomatic treatments, however, the key question is how early should one consider the treatment and institute such treatments. Treatment at the "pre-dementia" or Mild Cognitive Impairment stage is not warranted. Once dementia is apparent, early treatment is effective and makes obvious clinical sense, though argument continues over whether it is really cost effective at these early stages. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
Author(s): Singh B, O'Brien JT
Publication type: Review
Publication status: Published
Journal: Maturitas
Year: 2009
Volume: 62
Issue: 3
Pages: 230-234
ISSN (print): 0378-5122
ISSN (electronic): 1873-4111
Publisher: ELSEVIER IRELAND LTD
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.maturitas.2008.12.022
DOI: 10.1016/j.maturitas.2008.12.022
