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How do medications work in Alzheimers disease?

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How do medications work in Alzheimers disease?

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Cholinesterase inhibitors slow the breakdown of acetylcholine, an important neurotransmitter involved in thinking and memory. Alzheimer’s disease causes several brain abnormalities. One of them is a progressive decrease in the acetylcholine neurotransmitter (brain messenger) system functioning. It’s as though an engine — in this case the brain – is being starved of fuel and not firing all cylinders. Cholinesterase inhibitors increase acetylcholine and permit more neurotransmission. By analogy, the engine would no longer be as starved for fuel and would then be able to fire more of its cylinders. This description is obviously an oversimplification of Alzheimer’s disease, as other neurotransmitters are also involved. Memantine’s action differs from the cholinesterase inhibitors. It is a partial NMDA receptor blocker and appears to work by restoring a proper balance in the glutamate-NMDA system. NMDA is an easier to remember abbreviation for N-methyl-D-aspartate. NMDA receptors are heavil

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