Neues zur Alzheimer-Demenz

BACKGROUND Current therapy concepts for dementias are based on symptomatic treatment modalities. They do not influence the long-term course of the disease. Specific therapies that prevent the progression of neuronal cell death after outbreak of the demtia disease are currently being intensively examined in clinical studies. The present article provides a review of new developments in the diagnositics of and therapy for dementias. MATERIALS AND METHODS On the basis of the literature survey new developments in the diagnostic of and therapy for dementias are analysed. RESULTS The recently published S3 guidelines „Dementias” contain a new evaluation of diagnostics for dementias. Hereby, biomarker analysis in cerebrospinal fluid takes on an important role. In recent years efficacy analyses and meta-analyses have confirmed the utility of established symptomatic treatment modalities, in particular, of cholinesterase inhibitors and memantin, whereas therapies classied as questionable, such as GINKGO BILOBA or vitamin preparations, have largely had to be declared as inefficient on the basis of new studies. Novel therapies acting on the cause of the problem, such as, for example, β- and γ-secretase inhibitors as well as active and passive immunisation, are currently undergoing prospective randomised trials. The first of the studies to be published were negative. The results of ongoing trials are eagerly awaited.