Drug treatments for Alzheimer's disease

摘要

Since early January a new treatment for Alzheimer's disease-the acetylcholinesterase inhibitor donepezil-has been available in the United States and last week was licensed in the UK This and possibly other similar compounds will be introduced in the UK and other European countries shortly. Donepezil is the first drug to be licensed in the UK for Alzheimer's disease, and, while its benefits still appear modest, it is easily administered and its side effect profile appears favourable. The availability of such drugs does, however, raise clinical and ethical issues.