Alzheimer's Disease/Senile Dementia of the Alzheimer Type:
The Role of Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitors
As the United States' population grows older, the chronic degenerative diseases of the elderly have become increasingly important. One condition that has received considerable attention is Alzheimer's disease, otherwise known as Senile Dementia of the Alzheimer Type (AD/SDAT). In recent years, researchers have begun to begun to elucidate the biochemical and physiological mechanisms which characterize this disorder. Moreover, despite the brain's inherent complexity and inaccessibility, several promising therapeutic modalities have emerged. Of these different agents, perhaps the acetylcholinesterase inhibitors exhibit the most potential. At the turn of the century, the average life expectancy in the United States was only 47 years (19:3). By 1989, however, the life expectancy for newborns had reached 75 years. By the year 2030, it is estimated that over 50 million Americans will live to be 65 (29:1). This demographic trend--both in the U.S. and abroad--has focused international attention on the mental disorder known as dementia. With each decade beyond 60 years, the relative number of persons at risk for a dementing illness increases. For example, while dementia afflicts only 5% of people over the age of 65 years, about 15% of those over 80 suffer from the condition (4:1169). In the U.S. alone, over 3 million people have the most common dementing illness, Alzheimer's disease (20:34). Moreover, this incidence is only expected to increase (12:679).
According to Alzheimer's Association President, Edward Truschke, "Alzheimer's disease is draining the resources of this country and its citizens at a greater rate than even we thought." It has been calculated that an average Alzheimer's patient diagnosed today will require over $213,000 in health care resources throughout their remaining years. At present, AD/SDA...