Review of donepezil, rivastigmine, galantamine and memantine for the treatment of dementia in Alzheimer's disease in adults with Down syndrome: implications for the intellectual disability population.

The management of dementia in Alzheimer's disease has dramatically changed since the development of anti-dementia drugs. However, there is limited information available regarding the bio-medical aspects of the differing drugs; particularly relating to adults with intellectual disability. Indeed the information available for the intellectual disabled population is limited to adults with Down syndrome. This review highlights the important pharmacological and clinical aspects of donepezil, rivastigmine, galantamine and memantine and supports the view that such drugs play an important part in the management of dementia in adults with intellectual disability. Future clinical and research issues are discussed. Copyright 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.