The State of The Art on Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitors in the Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease.

ABSTRACT: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a chronic disabling disease that affects the central nervous system. The main consequences of AD include the decline of cognitive functions and language disorders. One of the causes leading to AD is the decrease of neurotransmitter acetylcholine (ACh) levels in the brain, in part due to a higher activity of acetylcholinesterase (AChE), the enzyme responsible for its degradation. Many acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AChEIs), both natural and synthetic, have been developed and used through the years to counteract the progression of the disease. The first of such drugs approved for a therapeutic use was tacrine, that binds through a reversible bond to the enzyme. However, tacrine has since been withdrawn because of its adverse effects. Currently, donepezil and gal

SUBMITTER: Vecchio I 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8267037 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature