RESUMEN
Alzheimer's disease is increasingly common in elderly population with a large socioeconomic burden. Current available drugs for Alzheimer's disease are acetylcholinesterase inhibitors and N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist. Much effort is directed towards not just symptomatic treatments but disease-modifying treatments. Several drugs with differing targets and mechanisms of action are under development for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Phase III trials of dimebon, Ginkgo biloba, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, phenserine, statins, semagacestat, tarenflurbil, tramiprosate, valproate, xaliproden have been completed without demonstrating adequate efficacy. Encouraging results would be expected from ongoing phase III trials of bapineuzumab and solanezumab. The clinical trials for the disease-modifying treatment of Alzheimer's disease have resulted in both promise and disappointment.