Altered pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics associated with aging, accompanying physical disorders, as well as polypharmacy in the elderly, must all be considered.75 The recommendation “start low, go slow” should be strictly followed. Compounds, such as tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) are characterized by a high potential for anticholinergic side effects, including memory impairments, delirium, behavioral toxicity, and cardiovascular dysfunctions. Demented patients appear particularly prone to these effects probably due to diminished capacities in central regulatory systems.76 The new generation of antidepressants, Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical particularly the SSRIs,

the reverse inhibitors of monoamine oxidase A (RIMAs), tianeptine, vcnlafax ine, and mirtazepine have been demonstrated to be as efficient, as traditional TCAs with a better tolerability67,77 and appear appropriate for treatment of depression in dementia (Tables VI and VII). 78,79 The choice of an antidepressant, should be based on the patient’s general medical and psychiatric status and the drug’s Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical profile of adverse effects.75 Table VI. Examples for drug treatment of depression in patients with dementia. SSRI, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor;

RIMA, reversible inhibitor Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical of monoamine oxidase A; SNRI, serotonin and noradrenergic reuptake inhibitor; NaSSA, noradrenergic and specific … Table VII. Common side effects of antidepressants. +, mild; ++, moderate; +++, strong; MAOI, monoamine oxidase inhibitor;

Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical TCA, tricyclic antidepressant. Conclusion BPSDs are a major component of dementia. Neuropathological and biochemical studies have clearly demonstrated multiple neurotransmitter dysfunctions in patients with AD involving cholinergic, serotonergic, and noradrenergic pathways. These alterations have been associated with different psychopathological Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical states including cognitive decline, depression, anxiety, agitation, aggression, sleep disturbances, and psychosis. There are a number of pharmacological and nonpharmaco logical treatments available that, can enhance quality of life. Selected abbreviations and acronyms AD Alzheimer’s disease BEHAVE- AD Behavioral Pathology in Alzheimer’s Disease Rating Scale BPSD behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia BRSD Behavioral Rating Scale for Dementia CMAl Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory EPS extrapyramidal side effects FTD frontotemporal dementia NPI Neuropsychiatrie Inventory SSRI selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor
The 37th Meeting of South-West Metalloexopeptidase German Psychiatrists (37 Versammlung Sudwesideutscher Irrenarzte) was held in Tubingen on November 3, 1906. At the meeting, Alois Alzheimer (MGCD0103 Figure 1), who was a lecturer (Privatdozent) at the Munich University Hospital and a coworker of Emil Kraepelin, reported on an unusual case study involving a “peculiar severe disease process of the cerebral cortex” (Uber einen eigenartigen, schweren Erkrankungsprozeβ der Hirnrinde). Figure 1.