Antidementia drugs
Antidementia drugs
Antidementia drugs (pronunciation: an-ti-de-men-sha drugs) are a class of pharmacological agents used to treat dementia and improve cognitive function.
Etymology
The term "antidementia" is derived from the Greek prefix "anti-", meaning against, and the Latin word "dementia", meaning madness or insanity.
Types of Antidementia drugs
There are two main types of antidementia drugs: cholinesterase inhibitors and NMDA receptor antagonists.
- Cholinesterase inhibitors (pronunciation: ko-lin-es-ter-ase in-hib-it-ors) work by increasing the levels of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter that is often deficient in people with dementia. Examples include Donepezil, Rivastigmine, and Galantamine.
- NMDA receptor antagonists (pronunciation: en-em-de-a re-sep-tor an-tag-o-nists) work by blocking the NMDA receptor, which can help to reduce symptoms of dementia. The most common example is Memantine.
Usage
Antidementia drugs are used to treat various forms of dementia, including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease dementia, and vascular dementia. They can help to improve memory, attention, reason, language, and the ability to perform simple tasks.
Side Effects
Like all medications, antidementia drugs can have side effects. These can include nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, and increased frequency of bowel movements. More serious side effects can include heart problems, seizures, and trouble urinating.
Related Terms
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Antidementia drugs
- Wikipedia's article - Antidementia drugs
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