Chapter 13: Drug Therapy of Neurodegenerative Diseases

INTRODUCTION

This chapter will be most useful after having a basic understanding of the material in Chapter 22, Treatment of Central Nervous System Degenerative Disorders in Goodman & Gilman’s The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, 12th Edition. In addition to the material presented here, the 12th Edition includes:

• A discussion of the selective vulnerabilities of specific CNS neurons

• A detailed discussion of the roll of genetics and environment in neurodegenerative disorders

• The common cellular mechanisms of neurodegeneration

• A detailed discussion of the neural mechanisms and neuroprotective mechanisms of parkinsonism

• A complete discussion of the genetics of Huntington’s disease

• Chemical structures of the drugs used to treat and manage neurodegenerative disorders

• Figure 22-8 Monosynaptic muscle stretch reflex with descending control via inhibitory interneurons

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

• Understand the pathophysiology of neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson’s disease (PD), Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Huntington’s disease (HD), and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

• Understand the role of drugs in the treatment and management of the symptoms of neurodegenerative diseases.

• Know the mechanisms of action and the adverse effects of drugs that are used to treat and manage neurodegenerative diseases.