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ALZHEIMER DISEASE

Disease modification is not all — we need symptomatic therapies for Alzheimer disease

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A new study found methylphenidate to be effective in treating apathy in individuals with Alzheimer disease. At a time when the recent aducanumab approval is focusing attention on the promise of disease-modifying therapies, the new findings highlight the importance of developing better symptomatic treatment options for individuals with psychiatric disorders of Alzheimer disease.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Chambers-Grundy Center for Transformative Neuroscience, Department of Brain Health, School of Integrated Health Sciences, University of Nevada Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV, USA

    Jeffrey Cummings

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  1. Jeffrey Cummings
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Correspondence to Jeffrey Cummings.

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Competing interests

J.C. has provided consultation to Acadia, Alkahest, Behren Therapeutics, Biogen, Cassava, Cortexyme, EIP Pharma, Eisai, GemVax, Genentech, Green Valley, Grifols, Janssen, Karuna, LSP, Merck, Novo Nordisk, Otsuka, ReMYND, Resverlogix, Roche, Signant Health, Vaxxinity, and Unlearn AI pharmaceutical and assessment companies. J.C. owns the copyright of the Neuropsychiatric Inventory. J.C. has the following research support: NIGMS P20GM109025; NINDS U01NS093334; NIA R01AG053798; NIA P20AG068053; and NIA R35AG71476.

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Cummings, J. Disease modification is not all — we need symptomatic therapies for Alzheimer disease. Nat Rev Neurol 18, 3–4 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41582-021-00591-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41582-021-00591-9

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