Cholinergic Basis For Alzheimer Therapy

In this book, the four leading experts on the ACE inhibitors donepezil, galantamine, and rivastigmine and the NMDA receptor antagonist memantine explain the practical pharmacology of these symptomatic drugs with the aim of providing a sound basis for their clinical use in patients with Alzheimer’s disease. In addition, an introductory chapter considers the basic theory of pharmacology for Alzheimer’s disease and the book closes with an overview of the ways in which symptomatic drugs for dementia are used. The wide acceptance of the amyloid cascade hypothesis has led to vigorous development of disease-modifying drugs for Alzheimer’s disease, such as amyloid vaccinations and gamma- or beta-secretase inhibitors. The failure of clinical trials of these drugs to yield satisfactory results has, however, meant that for the time being patients continue to be treated only with symptomatic drugs. There is accordingly a need to become more proficient in the use of symptomatic medicines, and it is against the background of this quest that Practical Pharmacology for Alzheimer’s Disease will be of wide interest.

This two-volume work contains the full text of the oral and poster presentations and the general discussion at the round table discussion of the Second International Conference on Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Diseases: Basic and Therapeutic Strategies, held at the Kyoto Park Hotel in Kyoto, Japan, on November 6-10, 1989. The First Conference was held at the Aviya Sonesta Hotel in Eilat, Israel, on March 24-27, 1985. The record of this First Conference was published by Plenum Press in 1986 as Volume 29 in Advances in Behavioral Biology, under the title "Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Diseases: Strategies for Research and Development." We are happy that the comprehensive texts of the oral and poster presentations of the Second Conference could again be published within the framework of this series. Since the First Conference in 1985, rapid progress has been made in both basic and 'therapeutic aspects of these diseases. About 700 scientists from allover the world participated in the Second Conference, and 300 papers were presented in oral and poster sessions. Many people and organizations have helped to organize this multi disciplinary international conference and hence have contributed to the scientific quality of these two volumes. We thank the members of the organizing committee, the organizations that provided financial support, and the contributing scientists for their enthusiastic participation. These two volumes follow the same publishing philosophy as the volume derived from the First Conference. They span a broad spectrum of topics and bridge preclinical and clinical concepts related to these diseases.

Papers from the Second Suncoast Workshop on the Neurobiology of Aging, held March 1991, at Amelia Island Plantation, Florida, discuss various issues related to Alzheimer's treatment cholinergic drugs, growth factors, phospholipids; ion channel modulators in Alzheimer's disease; CNS targeted drug del

The costs associated with a drug's clinical trials are so significant that it has become necessary to validate both its safety and efficacy in animal models prior to the continued study of the drug in humans. Featuring contributions from distinguished researchers in the field of cognitive therapy research, Animal Models of Cognitive Impairmen

Presents a comprehensive update of central cholinergic mechanisms from their most molecular aspects to possible clinical applications modifying cholinergic neurotransmission. A considerable number of high-calibre scientists from several continents contributed to this volume.

Drug Design and Discovery in Alzheimer’s Disease includes expert reviews of recent developments in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and neurodegenerative disease research. Originally published by Bentham as Frontiers in Drug Design and Discovery, Volume 6and now distributed by Elsevier, this compilation of the sixteen articles, written by leading global researchers, focuses on key developments in the understanding of the disease at molecular levels, identification and validation of molecular targets, as well as innovative approaches towards drug discovery, development, and delivery. Beginning with an overview of AD pharmacotherapy and existing blockbuster drugs, the reviews cover the potential of both natural and synthetic small molecules; the role of cholinesterases in the on-set and progression of AD and their inhibition; the role of beta-site APP clearing enzyme-1 (BACE-1) in the production of ß-amyloid proteins, one of the key reasons of the progression of AD; and other targets identified for AD drug discovery. Edited and written by leading experts in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and other neurodegenerative disease drug development Describes existing drugs for AD and current molecular understanding of the condition Reviews recent advances in the field, including coverage of cholinesterases, BACE-1, and other drug development targets