Rivastigmine

Abstract

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative dementing disease characterized by slowly increasing impairment in memory, cognition, speech, and behavioral functions, such as the recognition of objects and people, as a result of neuronal cell death. Acetylcholine (ACh) is a neurotransmitter that is implicated in several processes, including learning and regulation of cognitive functions. To date, there is no cure for AD; all available treatments aim merely to alleviate the symptoms of this condition. This can be achieved by improving neurotransmission by inhibiting the breakdown of ACh, thus improving attention, memory, learning, and cognitive functions. In this chapter, we will provide an overview of rivastigmine, an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor ratified by the Food and Drug Administration to control mild to moderate stages of AD.