Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Introduction The purpose of this guide is to provide convenient and useful information on about Alzheimer’s disease and dementias of late life. The information includes selected facts, diagnostic criteria tables, descriptions of selected tests and screens, guidelines, clinical pharmacological data and references. This guide is divided into several sections: Background facts Diagnostic aids and criteria for dementia diagnoses Medications used for Alzheimer’s disease and dementia Background facts Diagnostic aids and criteria for dementia diagnoses Medications used for Alzheimer’s disease and dementia Basic information on marketed treatments is provided although the treatment may not be FDA approved for this use. Approved cholinesterase inhibitors, memantine, and monoclonal antibodies are listed. No treatment is recommended or endorsed, however. This guide does not address the evidence base for the efficacy of the treatments listed. Caveats : Except for treatments above, discussions of medications for people with dementia nearly always involve off label use. For example, antidepressants and antipsychotics are indicated in the FDA-approved prescribing information for major depression and schizophrenia, and not for depressive symptoms or the delusions or hallucinations occurring within the context of dementia with two exceptions. In these instances, the doses listed are for reference only and should not be considered as recommendations or appropriate use. Physicians should consult the product package labeling for any drug mentioned.
Source: Psychopharmacology Bulletin
DOI: 10.64719/pb.4463
Author: Lon S Schneider
Institution: University of Southern California
Language: English
Subfield: Psychiatry and Mental health
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W4385230464