Treatments for behavioural disorders in neurodegenerative diseases: drug development strategies

Neuropsychiatric symptoms are common in neurodegenerative disorders and their effective pharmacological management represents an unmet medical need.Many classes of compounds have effects on behavioural symptoms in neurodegenerative disorders, including agents used for psychotropic purposes in other disorders, cholinesterase inhibitors, NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate) receptor blockers and antioxidants.Imaging, genetic and autopsy studies reveal the neurobiological basis of behavioural changes in neurodegenerative disorders. These approaches assist in target identification for new classes of psychotropic agents for these conditions.Improved tools that allow the reliable assessment and validation of behavioural changes in patients with neurodegenerative disorders have evolved. The Neuropsychiatric Inventory allows the assessment of behavioural changes. The Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia facilitates the evaluation of mood symptoms.Clinical trials evaluating potential new treatments for neurodegenerative disorders should include behavioural measures to provide insights into the effects of the agents on this important disease manifestation.