Browsing by Author "Henčić, Boris (57195604277)"

Recently, pharmacological research has shifted from pathophysiological causes of diseases associated with cognitive disorders such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and schizophrenia, to cognitive enhancement potential of certain drugs in healthy individuals-“smart drugs”. Studies have shown that some of the current drugs for mental illness also show modest cognitive improvement in healthy individuals. The list of potential drugs that may enhance memory and/or attention is rather extensive, including substances acting on neurotransmitters, hormones, transduction systems, and brain perfusion and metabolism. While reports suggest that cognitive enhancers possess the potential to provide benefits in healthy population, their effectiveness and safety are still under investigation. Furthermore, age is a factor associated with cognition decline so the potential use of these drugs in healthy and young population could lower the rate of cognition decline with age. However, such drugs are often misused and abused. In this chapter, we will focus on the pharmacological properties of cognition-enhancing drugs and their safety profile, including current/potential clinical benefits and encouraging research strategies. © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Recently, pharmacological research has shifted from pathophysiological causes of diseases associated with cognitive disorders such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and schizophrenia, to cognitive enhancement potential of certain drugs in healthy individuals-“smart drugs”. Studies have shown that some of the current drugs for mental illness also show modest cognitive improvement in healthy individuals. The list of potential drugs that may enhance memory and/or attention is rather extensive, including substances acting on neurotransmitters, hormones, transduction systems, and brain perfusion and metabolism. While reports suggest that cognitive enhancers possess the potential to provide benefits in healthy population, their effectiveness and safety are still under investigation. Furthermore, age is a factor associated with cognition decline so the potential use of these drugs in healthy and young population could lower the rate of cognition decline with age. However, such drugs are often misused and abused. In this chapter, we will focus on the pharmacological properties of cognition-enhancing drugs and their safety profile, including current/potential clinical benefits and encouraging research strategies. © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune, chronic, inflammatory, and demyelinating disease of the central nervous system (CNS). The etiology of MS is most likely multifactorial; it is dependent on genetic, autoimmune, and environmental factors, with a variable course among patients. The two main clinical events that characterize MS are relapses and progression. In recent years, diagnosis and treatment of pediatric MS has drawn attention of the scientific community. Management of pediatric MS focuses on reducing relapses and symptoms via administration of disease-modifying drugs (DMDs) and specific symptomatic treatment. A multidisciplinary approach to pediatric MS treatment is preferred, which aims at alleviating and preventing the accumulation of neurological deficits. MS therapy should be based on DMDs, that is, immunomodulatory drugs. These drugs, which sequester immune system activity, are further subdivided into two categories: first-line and second-line immunomodulatory therapy. First-line immunomodulatory therapy (interferon beta-1a, interferon beta-1b, and glatiramer acetate) is ineffective (either no response or partial response) in roughly 30% of patients. Patients with a poor response to first-line therapy require second-line immunomodulatory therapy (natalizumab, mitoxantrone, fingolimod, teriflunomide, azathioprine, rituximab, dimethyl fumarate, daclizumab, alemtuzumab, and ocrelizumab). In addition to immunomodulatory drugs, treatment of relapses also involves the use of high intravenous doses of corticosteroids, administration of intravenous immunoglobulins, and plasmapheresis. © The Authors.