Alzheimer's disease (AD), the most common adult form of dementia. Currently available pharmacologic therapies, including cholinesterase inhibitors (ChEIs) and N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists, are considered symptomatic treatments based on their ability to slow the clinical progression of symptoms across cognitive, behavioral, and functional domains. The purpose of this review is to help policy makers and clinicians make informed choices about the use of ChEIs and memantine in the treatment of AD. We compare the efficacy, effectiveness, and safety of donepezil, galantamine, rivastigmine, tacrine, and memantine in patients with mild to severe AD.

Contents

• Introduction
  • A. Overview
  • B. Scope and key questions
• Methods
  • A. Literature search
  • B. Study selection
  • C. Data abstraction
  • D. Quality assessment
• Results
  • Key Question 1
  • Key Question 2
  • Key Question 3
  • Key Question 4
• References
• Appendixes
  • Appendix A. Search Strategy
  • Appendix B. Clinical Assessment Scales Commonly Used in AD Therapeutic Trials
  • Appendix C. Quality Criteria
  • Appendix D. Characteristics of Excluded Studies
  • Appendix E. Abstract-only Studies (not included)
  • Appendix F. Acknowledgements
• Evidence Tables

Oregon Evidence-based Practice Center, Oregon Health & Science University, Mark Helfand, MD, MPH, Director.

Suggested citation:

Hansen RA, Gartlehner G, Kaufer D, Lohr K, Carey T. Drug Class Review of Alzheimer's Drugs. Final Report. 2006 http://derp.ohsu.edu/about/final-products.cfm

The purpose of this report is to make available information regarding the comparative effectiveness and safety profiles of different drugs within pharmaceutical classes. Reports are not usage guidelines, nor should they be read as an endorsement of, or recommendation for, any particular drug, use or approach. Oregon Health & Science University does not recommend or endorse any guideline or recommendation developed by users of these reports.