NMDA receptor antagonists in the treatment of neurological diseases

The paper reviews clinical trials evaluating the efficacy of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists used to treat various neurological diseases: neurodegenerative dementias, vascular cognitive disorders, including post-stroke cognitive impairment. It discusses the possibility of treating cognitive disorders with NMDA receptor antagonists in Parkinson's disease, traumatic brain injury, and some other diseases, as well as the potential possibilities of using drugs of this pharmacotherapeutic group in childhood. The paper describes a clinical case illustrating the use of akatinol memantine in a child with a delay in speech and mental development in the presence of fetal alcohol syndrome. The possibilities of using akatinol memantine in the treatment of childhood cognitive impairments are sure to be of particular interest; however, in view of the small amount of data, this aspect requires further clinical trials.

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