Abstract

FUENTES G, Patricio  and  MENA L, Raúl. Alzheimer's disease treatment: Neurotrophic agents role. Rev. chil. neuro-psiquiatr. [online]. 2009, vol.47, n.4, pp. 315-320. ISSN 0717-9227.  doi: 10.4067/S0717-92272009000400008.

Dementia and mainly Alzheimer's disease is a very serious and frequent clinical problem. So far, the pharmacological treatment with approved drugs has been essentially symptomatic. Although the aetiology of AD is not yet fully understood, new therapy approaches are primarily based on the amyloidal hypothesis. Unfortunately, the new drugs with amyloidal target have had difficulties to show consistence in efficacy and safety On the other hand, neurotrophic factors such as NGF and BDNF are small, versatile proteins that maintain survival and function to specific neuronal populations, for instance cholinergic neurons, on which they have a trophic and protective effect. Cerebrolysin is a peptidergic drug, approved for Alzheimer 's disease in some countries, containing biologically active peptides that exert nerve growth factor like activity and it has interesting data about pleiotropic properties of the compound. Some clinical trials with cerebrolysin have demonstrated cognitive and functional benefits when comparing with placebo. In a complex therapeutic scene appears necessary to explore with more clinical trials the neurotrophic way.

Keywords : Alzheimer 's disease treatment; neurotrophic factors.