ABSTRACT
Medical practice emphasises treatment based on good evidence and the importance of the doctor-patient relationship in delivering that treatment. After death, examination of a brain damaged by Alzheimer's disease shows some shrinkage and microscopic lesions known as senile plaques and neurofibrillary tangles, often in great abundance. Like any other management, prescription should only follow a careful assessment. It is essential to distinguish between the specific use of a drug to treat or interfere with the processes of a disease and symptomatic use. Drugs that primarily affect the mind are known as psychotropic. Acetylcholine is the main neurotransmitter that is depleted in Alzheimer's disease. Antidepressants mostly act by restoring depleted levels of neurotransmitters. Antipsychotics act mainly on the dopamine neurotransmitter systems in the brain. Anxiolytics, also known as minor tranquillisers and used as sleeping tablets, are commonly prescribed psychotropic drugs. The medical management of dementia demands an accurate diagnosis.
