Managing Non-Alzheimer’s Dementia with Pharmacotherapy

Kannayiram Alagiakrishnan, MD, MPH, FRCP(C), Associate Professor, Division of Geriatric Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB.
Cheryl A. Sadowski, BSc(Pharm), PharmD, Associate Professor, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB.

Cholinergic deficits are seen in the brains of individuals with non-Alzheimer’s dementia. Antidementia drugs such as cholinesterase inhibitors and memantine have showed some cognitive and behavioural benefits in non-Alzheimer’s dementia trials, but more evidence is needed to define their role.
Key words: mixed dementia, cholinesterase inhibitors, Lewy body dementia, Parkinson disease dementia, vascular dementia.