Abstract
Until recently, cholinesterase inhibitors have been the only available option in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). This review is devoted to the role of glutamatergic system in the pathogenesis and therapy of AD, with a focus on a new drug – an NMDA receptor antagonist, memantine – and its place in the therapeutic strategy of AD. In this paper we give an overview of memantine’s mechanism of action in a broader context of glutamatergic dysfunction in AD, and review data on the influence of memantine on cognitive functions, behavioural disturbances and functional status of AD patients. The aspect of tolerance and safety of memantine use in the elderly is also included.