how do Alzheimer’s and dementia drugs help? What do they do in a patient’s “head”?

Question

how do Alzheimer’s and dementia drugs help? What do they do in a patient’s “head”?

In: Biology

Answer 1

Neurotransmitters are released from neurons to stimulate the next neuron. Afterwards the neurotransmitter is broken down by an enzyme. In Alzheimer’s they have limited function of neurons and not enough of the neurotransmitter to trigger the next. The drugs inhibit the enzyme that breaks down that neurotransmitter, this allows a concentration of the neurotransmitter to help the neurons “fire” thus stimulating better function.