Dementia Therapy, Memantine

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CLASSIFICATION
Donepezil: Acetylcholinesterase inhibitor; cholinergic
Galantamine: Acetylcholinesterase inhibitor; cholinergic
Memantine: NMDA receptor antagonist
Rivastigmine: Acetylcholinesterase inhibitor; cholinergic

ACTION
Donepezil, galantamine, rivastigmine:
- Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors increase the level of acetylcholine in neuronal synaptic clefts in the brain.
- Galantamine also increases the effect of acetylcholine at nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in vitro; clinical
relevance unproven.
- Rivastigmine also inhibits butyrylcholinesterase; clinical relevance unknown.

Memantine: Blocks one of the glutamate receptor types, the NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate) receptor, reducing
neuronal damage caused by excessive glutamate.

Keywords:

alzheimers disease

dementia

donepezil

galantamine

memantine

rivastigmine

We are grateful to all the First Nations who have cared for and nurtured the lands and waters around us for all time, including the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation), and səl̓ílwətaʔ (Tsleil-Waututh Nation) on whose unceded and ancestral territory our centre is located.

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