From the Guidelines
Medications that can enhance memory include cholinesterase inhibitors, such as donepezil, rivastigmine, and galantamine, as well as the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist, memantine.
Key Medications
- Donepezil: has been shown to improve cognition and global function assessment in patients with Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia, with a dose of 10 mg/d being the most effective 1
- Rivastigmine: has been associated with small improvements in measures of cognitive function, but with fewer side effects compared to donepezil 1
- Galantamine: has been shown to improve cognition and global function assessment, ranking second in terms of benefit and side effects 1
- Memantine: has been associated with small improvements in measures of cognitive function in individuals with vascular dementia 1
Important Considerations
- These medications are primarily used to treat dementia, but may also be prescribed for patients with mild cognitive impairment or post-stroke cognitive deficits 1
- The effectiveness of these medications can vary depending on the stage of disease and individual patient characteristics 1
- Adverse events, such as gastrointestinal problems, are common with cholinesterase inhibitors and are dose-related 1
From the Research
Medications for Memory Enhancement
- The following medications have been studied for their potential to enhance memory:
- Stimulant medications, such as methylphenidate and dextroamphetamine/amphetamine combination, have been shown to improve working memory in individuals with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) 2
- Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors and memantine are standard treatments for Alzheimer's disease and have been shown to improve cognitive function in these patients 3
- Galantamine has been reported to improve cognitive function in patients with schizophrenia 3
- Dopaminergic medications have been found to improve language function in patients with Parkinson's disease 3
- N-methyl-d-aspartate glutamate receptor (NMDAR) enhancers have been shown to improve cognitive function in patients with chronic schizophrenia and may also have benefits in patients with Alzheimer's disease or Parkinson's disease 3
- Raloxifene, a selective estrogen receptor modulator, has been demonstrated to have beneficial effects on attention, processing speed, and memory in female patients with schizophrenia 3
- Complementary medications, such as gingko biloba, vitamin E, bacopa (brahmi), and folic acid/B vitamins, are also used by some individuals to enhance memory, although the evidence for their effectiveness is limited 4
- The development of memory-enhancing drugs is an active area of research, with studies investigating the use of various medications to improve cognitive function in individuals with neurological and psychiatric disorders 5, 6, 3