Treating dementia with pharmacological options requires careful consideration of the potential benefits and risks

Dementia is a progressive disorder characterized by changes in behaviour, executive function, language, memory, personality and reasoning. Current therapeutic options [acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors and memantine] are unable to slow or reverse disease progression, and the cognitive function and behavioural, functional and global benefits they provide are small. Moreover, AChE inhibitors are associated with significant adverse events, including weight loss and syncope, which could be detrimental in the elderly. © 2015, Springer International Publishing Switzerland.