[Symptomatic antidementia drugs: methodological considerations and clinical relevance in the population]

The clinical pertinence of score variations on the measurement scales for Alzheimer disease remains uncertain. The metrological qualities of these scales are often uncertain. The population included in clinical trials is different from the population with the disease. Long-term tolerance of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors is not yet known in very elderly subjects who may be taking multiple drugs or psychotropic drugs or have cardiovascular disease, or any combination thereof. The long-term value of these drugs is unknown. Nonpharmacologic management remains the primary treatment option for elderly patients with cognitive decline, even though its results have not yet been assessed in depth.