A Call for Drug Therapies for the Treatment of Social Behavior Disorders in Dementia: Systematic Review of Evidence and State of the Art

Abstract

Growing evidence supports the presence of social cognition deficits and social behavior alterations in major and minor neurocognitive disorders (NCDs). Even though the ability to identify socio-emotional changes has significantly improved in recent years, there is still no specific treatment available. Thus, we explored evidence of drug therapies targeting social cognition alterations in NCDs. Papers were selected according to PRISMA guidelines by searching on the PubMed and Scopus databases. Only papers reporting information on pharmacological interventions for the treatment of social cognition and/or social behavioral changes in major and/or minor NCDs were included. Among the 171 articles entered in the paper selection, only 9 papers were eligible for the scope of the review. Trials testing pharmacological treatments for socio-emotional alterations in NCDs are poor and of low-medium quality. A few attempts with neuroprotective, psychoactive, or immunomodulating drugs have been made. Oxytocin is the only drug specifically targeting the social brain that has been tested with promising results in frontotemporal dementia. Its beneficial effects in long-term use have yet to be evaluated. No recommendation can currently be provided. There is a long way to go to identify and test effective targets to treat social cognition changes in NCDs for the ultimate benefit of patients and caregivers.

Zika virus infection leads to hormone deficiencies of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis and diminished fertility in mice

“…Oxytocin secreted by the hypothalamus can regulate social behavior ( 26 , 27 ). To determine whether ZIKV infection affects oxytocin production, we used immunostaining for oxytocin.…”

“…In this study, we detected the presence of ZIKV in the hypothalamus, which was consistent with our previous study ( 18 , 37 ). As the center of the neuroendocrine system, the hypothalamus can release hormones to regulate various important physiological processes, such as GnRH regulating reproductive development via the HPG axis ( 38 ) and oxytocin regulating social behaviors ( 26 , 27 ). Both GnRH and oxytocin secreted by the hypothalamus were significantly reduced in ZIKV-infected mice, which was highly correlated with persistent damage of ZIKV infection.…”