Revisión

Glutamate-related excitoxicity neuroprotection with memantine, an uncompetitive antagonist of NMDA-glutamate receptor, in Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementiadisease and vascular dementia

A. Tanovic, V. Alfaro [REV NEUROL 2006;42:607-616] PMID: 16703529 DOI: https://doi.org/10.33588/rn.4210.2005252

OPEN ACCESS

Volumen 42 | Number 10 | Nº of views of the article 38.899 | Nº of PDF downloads 2.207 | Article publication date 16/05/2006

Download PDF Castellano Citation Search in PubMed

Share in:

Go to another issue

ABSTRACT

AIM To review the therapeutic efficacy of memantine, an uncompetitive antagonist of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-glutamate receptor. DEVELOPMENT. Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disorder and cause of dementia with ageing worldwide. The main AD symptoms are a gradual loss of cognitive function and a functional impairment. Glutamatergic excitatory neurotransmission, an important process in learning and memory, is severely disrupted in AD, probably due to the oxidative stress associated with the β-amyloid peptide (1-42) increase. The glutamate-related excitotoxicity, mainly mediated by NMDA subtype of the glutamate receptors, is a common clue of pathogenesis for neurodegenerative disorders.

CONCLUSIONS Memantine, a moderate-affinity, voltage-dependent, uncompetitive antagonist of NMDA receptor, shows neuroprotective effects in patients with moderate-to-severe AD. Memantine is a drug with neuroprotective and cognition-enhanced properties, which can be combined with other treatments for AD. Thus, memantine does not stop or reverse AD, but its moderating effect in protecting the brain from the toxic levels of calcium, allows normal signaling among brain neurons. The efficacy and safety profile of memantine have been reported in several clinical trials for treatment of AD and vascular dementia. KeywordsAlzheimer’s disease Memantine NMDA receptor Uncompetitive antagonist Vascular dementia CategoriesDemencia Neurodegeneración Neuropsiquiatría Patología vascular

FULL TEXT (solo disponible en lengua castellana / Only available in Spanish)

Acceso directo al último número

Último Podcast

Revisión

Glutamate-related excitoxicity neuroprotection with memantine, an uncompetitive antagonist of NMDA-glutamate receptor, in Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementiadisease and vascular dementia