Treatment Options
Specific treatment for Alzheimer's disease will be determined by your physician based on:
- Your age, overall health, and medical history
- Extent of the disease
- Your tolerance for specific medications, procedures, or therapies
- Expectations for the course of the disease
- Your opinion or preference
At this time, there is no cure for Alzheimer's, no way of slowing down the progression of this disease, and no treatment available to reverse the deterioration of Alzheimer's disease. New research findings give reason for hope, and several drugs are being studied in clinical trials to determine if they can slow the progress of the disease or improve memory for a period of time.
There are some medications available to assist in managing some of the most troubling symptoms of Alzheimer's disease, including the following:
- Depression
- Behavioral disturbance
- Sleeplessness
In managing the disease, physical exercise and social activity are important, as are proper nutrition, health maintenance, and a calm and well-structured environment.
Medications that Can Treat Alzheimer's Disease
Many people believe that Alzheimer’s disease (AD) can't be treated. The truth is that medications are available that may help slow the progression of symptoms. Although these drugs don’t work for everyone, they offer some hope for the more than 5 million people who have AD.
The FDA has approved five medications to treat Alzheimer’s disease. All the drugs may help prevent some AD symptoms, such as confusion and forgetfulness, from getting worse for a while.
In addition to memory loss and confusion, AD can cause worsening speech and mood swings. In the later stages, the disease destroys a person’s personality and ability to think and function. In some people, AD worsens quickly. In others, it progresses slowly.
Just as the course of AD isn’t clear, neither is treatment. Existing drugs may slow the progression of AD in 10 to 20 percent of people who take them. The drugs are most effective when a person begins taking them as early as possible. It takes two to six weeks before any results appear.
These three drugs are used to treat AD in its early to middle stages:
- Galantamine (Razadyne)
- Rivastigmine (Exelon)
- Tacrine (Cognex)
A medication that can be used for all stages is called Donepezil (Aricept). Another drug, memantine (Namenda), is the only drug approved by the FDA for the later, more severe stages of AD. It can be taken alone or with another drug.
Certain side effects may prevent people from using medication for AD. For example, tacrine may cause liver damage. Donepezil, galantamine, and rivastigmine can cause nausea and vomiting. Memantine may cause dizziness and headache.
Alzheimer's rehabilitation
The rehabilitation program for persons with Alzheimer's differs depending upon the symptoms, expression, and progression of the disease, and the fact that making a diagnosis of Alzheimer's is so difficult. These variables determine the amount and type of assistance needed for the Alzheimer's individual and family.
With Alzheimer's rehabilitation, it is important to remember that, although any skills lost will not be regained, the caregiving team must keep in mind the following considerations:
- In managing the disease, physical exercise and social activity are important, as are proper nutrition and health maintenance.
- Plan daily activities that help to provide structure, meaning, and accomplishment for the individual.
- As functions are lost, adapt activities and routines to allow the individual to participate as much as possible.
- Keep activities familiar and satisfying.
- Allow the individual to complete as many things by himself or herself as possible. The caregiver may need to initiate an activity, but allow the individual to complete it as much as he or she can.
- Provide "cues" for desired behavior (i.e., label drawers/cabinets/closets according to their contents).
- Keep the individual out of harm's way by removing all safety risks (i.e., car keys, matches).
- As a caregiver (full-time or part-time), it is important to understand your own physical and emotional limitations.