[Current antidementive therapy]

Current antidementive treatment can delay further progress of the symptoms of dementia and should therefore be initiated as early as possible and be of adequate duration. Wherever possible, maximum permissible doses should be given. The efficacy of current antidementive drugs in Alzheimer's disease has been sufficiently documented by relevant studies. The acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, donepezil, galantamine and rivastigmine have been approved for the treatment of mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's dementia, the NMDA inhibitor memantine is approved for moderate-to-severe Alzheimer's disease. Ginkgo biloba or piracetam are alternatives for patients with mild-to-moderate dementia, in whom acetylcholinesterase inhibitors cannot be used.