Beyond anti-psychotics: the perspective of treating negative and cognitive symptoms with a combination of anti-dementia drugs

Psychiatr Pol. 2025 Oct 5:1-9. doi: 10.12740/PP/OnlineFirst/202253. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Schizophrenia is a severe psychiatric disorder characterised by a broad spectrum of symptoms, including psychotic, negative and cognitive symptoms. Despite advances in antipsychotic treatment, current therapies do not fully alleviate negative and cognitive symptoms, making it difficult for patients to function adequately in society. Recent research suggests that combining anti-dementia drugs, specifically galantamine and memantine, with standard neuroleptic treatment may offer a novel approach to improving these symptoms. This paper explores the mechanisms of action of galantamine and memantine, their potential synergistic effects and their impact on key pathways implicated in schizophrenia, such as the cholinergic, glutamatergic and kynurenine pathways. The combination of these drugs shows promise in enhancing cognitive functions and reducing negative symptoms, potentially leading to better overall outcomes for patients with schizophrenia. However, further clinical trials are needed to validate these findings and optimise treatment protocols.

PMID:41662632 | DOI:10.12740/PP/OnlineFirst/202253