Cholinesterases and Cholinesterase Inhibitors

Alzheimer's disease is the most common neurodegenerative disorder, clinically characterized by a noticeable cognitive decline defined by a loss of memory and learning ability, together with a reduced ability to perform basic activities of daily living, and a diverse array of neuropsychiatric symptoms such as apathy, verbal and physical agitation, irritability, depression etc. Pharmacotherapy of Alzheimer's disease has progressed in the past ten years from the use of psychotropic medications for sedation to the use of rational treatments aimed at neurotransmitter replacement. Only one class of medications has been extensively evaluated in clinical trials with patients with Alzheimer's disease and is approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for Alzheimer's disease treatment. These medications are cholinesterase inhibitors and have a significant, although modest, effect on the cognitive status of patients with Alzheimer's disease.