Alzheimer’s Disease: Current Therapeutic Status
By Israel Hanin, PhD
Awareness of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and its prevalence in the aging population resurged about 40 years ago. Since then, research into the causes and possible cures associated with this disease has grown exponentially. Only five agents are FDA-approved for the treatment of AD patients in the U.S. Four of these are acetylcholinesterase inhibitors; one is an NMDA receptor antagonist. All of these are palliative at best. There presently is no definitive cure for AD. Investigators in the sphere of AD research are covering a broad spectrum of experimental targets, in an attempt to identify the cause of AD, to alleviate the symptoms of this disease state, to hopefully prevent further disease progression and, most importantly, to arrest it before it is able to infect the patient. Scientists from a broad spectrum of disciplines are involved in AD research, each approaching the subject matter from their unique perspective and experiences, thus providing a global and comprehensive overview of AD.
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Invited Insights
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How to increase dopamine levels via MAO-B inhibition: Combine it with MAO-A inhibition
Find out the difference between MAO-A and MAO-B inhibition!
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Back to Basics
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The Potential Role of a Corticotropin-Releasing Factor Receptor-1 Antagonist in Psychiatric Disorders (Part 1 of 2)
By Stephen Stahl, MD, PhD
Stress and psychiatric disorders often go hand in hand. The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis plays an integral mediating role in the stress response of humans. The corticotropin-releasing factor type 1 receptor (CRFR-1) is the gatekeeper for this response, and may be implicated in several mood and cognitive disorders. Thus, a CRFR-1 antagonist may be useful in treating or preventing consequences of CRF-mediated stress in depression.
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Essential PsychopharmaSTAHLogy
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Tranylcypromine
Tranylcypromine: Dosing Tips and Prescribing Pearls
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Tips and Pearls
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Therapeutic Actions of Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)
By Jamie Maguire, PhD
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are a class of antidepressants typically used in the treatment of depression, anxiety disorders, and occasionally personality disorders. Recent advances in our understanding of the actions of SSRIs on neurosteroids and their effects on ion channels have extended the therapeutic potential of SSRIs. The action of SSRIs on neurosteroidogenesis has the potential to be therapeutic in the treatment of many additional neuropsychiatric disorders, from premenstrual syndrome to epilepsy. The identification of the mechanisms of action — both direct and indirect — of psychoactive agents such as SSRIs will enable scientists and physicians to accurately determine the effects of these agents in both the healthy and diseased brain. Many extant drugs may thus prove beneficial in the treatment of disorders for which they are not typically prescribed.
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