AEIF Newsletter 8: Medications Presently Approved for A.D. and Those Under Further Analysis

1. Medications (Approved) 

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved 5 medications to treat the symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease. “Cholinesterase inhibitors” are a class of drugs which prevent the collapse of important chemical messengers in the brain that aid in learning and memory. Moreover, cholinesterase inhibitors are prescribed to treat A.D. symptoms related to memory, thinking, language, judgment and other thought processes. The FDA has approved 3

cholinesterase inhibitors (indicated below in Figure 1 in pink); donepezil, galantamine and rivastigmine. 

Memantine (indicated in blue), regulates the activity of a different chemical messenger in the brain which is also important for learning and memory. A combination of memantine and donepezil is also commonly prescribed to treat moderate to severe cases of Alzheimer’s Disease.

2. Medications (Under Clinical Study) 

Figure 2. Drugs Currently in Trial 

Aducanumab* is the most recent and promising Alzheimer’s drug currently under trial. The FDA approved clinical trials of the drug in August 2020.13 Aducanumab adheres to beta-amyloid proteins, “reducing clinical decline in patients with early Alzheimer’s Disease”.14 The clinical

trial of the aducanumab; Biogen Study 302 concluded on March 7th, 2021 and the drug was approved by the FDA.