TY - JOUR
T1 - Guidelines for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease from the Italian association of psychogeriatrics
AU - Caltagirone, Carlo
AU - Bianchetti, Angelo
AU - Di Luca, Monica
AU - Mecocci, Patrizia
AU - Padovani, Alessandro
AU - Pirfo, Elvezio
AU - Scapicchio, Pierluigi
AU - Senin, Umberto
AU - Trabucchi, Marco
AU - Musicco, Massimo
PY - 2005
Y1 - 2005
N2 - A committee of experts from the Italian Association of Psychogeriatrics compiled the following report, which was then approved by a Steering Committee (comprising 20 specialists in neurology, psychiatry or geriatrics) from the Association and by two Alzheimer associations representing patients and families: the Italian Association for Alzheimer's Disease and the Italian Federation for Alzheimer's Disease. The report is based on a comprehensive review of the scientific literature on the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, discusses methodological aspects of dementia management, and details the limitations of current therapies. These guidelines are, in general, consistent with the principles of evidence-based medicine; however, for some controversial or poorly investigated issues, the guidelines integrate scientific evidence with experience and opinions from experts working in the clinical setting. In particular, the clinical experience of experts has been used to define recommendations for starting and interrupting pharmacotherapy, and to critically review evidence about the efficacy of non-pharmacological interventions. The principal pharmacotherapeutic interventions covered in the guidelines are acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (donepezil, galantamine, rivastigmine, and tacrine) and memantine. The main non-pharmacological interventions reviewed are memory training, reality orientation therapy, and combined non-pharmacological interventions. Other issues covered are opportunities for Alzheimer's disease prevention, various modalities of care, and the treatment of comorbidities.
AB - A committee of experts from the Italian Association of Psychogeriatrics compiled the following report, which was then approved by a Steering Committee (comprising 20 specialists in neurology, psychiatry or geriatrics) from the Association and by two Alzheimer associations representing patients and families: the Italian Association for Alzheimer's Disease and the Italian Federation for Alzheimer's Disease. The report is based on a comprehensive review of the scientific literature on the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, discusses methodological aspects of dementia management, and details the limitations of current therapies. These guidelines are, in general, consistent with the principles of evidence-based medicine; however, for some controversial or poorly investigated issues, the guidelines integrate scientific evidence with experience and opinions from experts working in the clinical setting. In particular, the clinical experience of experts has been used to define recommendations for starting and interrupting pharmacotherapy, and to critically review evidence about the efficacy of non-pharmacological interventions. The principal pharmacotherapeutic interventions covered in the guidelines are acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (donepezil, galantamine, rivastigmine, and tacrine) and memantine. The main non-pharmacological interventions reviewed are memory training, reality orientation therapy, and combined non-pharmacological interventions. Other issues covered are opportunities for Alzheimer's disease prevention, various modalities of care, and the treatment of comorbidities.
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U2 - 10.2165/00002512-200522010-00001
DO - 10.2165/00002512-200522010-00001
M3 - Article
C2 - 16506439
AN - SCOPUS:27644591401
VL - 22
SP - 1
EP - 26
JO - Drugs and Aging
JF - Drugs and Aging
SN - 1170-229X
IS - SUPPL. 1
ER -