Treatments for Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer disease cannot be cured. However, there are various medications and other means that can help to improve the patient’s condition and slow down the progress of the disease. Although there is no drug that can completely cure the patient of Alzheimer’s, yet there are many ways that can help the patient to live a comfortable life.

As this disease progresses, people lose their memory and become dependent on others. The various treatments help in improving or alleviating the symptoms that are suffered by patients of Alzheimer’s disease.

Medications for Alzheimer’s Treatment

There are numerous medications that are instrumental in increasing the amount of acetylcholine in the brain. Acetylcholine is the neurotransmitter that sends messages from one cell to another in the brain area. To maintain the normal functioning of the brain and for normal nerve signals, acetylcholine is important.

There are group of drugs called acetylcholinesterase inhibitors. This group has three drugs:

• donepenzil (Aricept),
• galantamine (Reminyl)
• rivastigmine (Exelon)

These drugs help to improve the passage of nerve signals between brain cells.

Other drugs for prevention and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease are anti-inflammatory drugs, estrogen and antioxidants. It has been observed that the incidence of Alzheimer’s was lower in those who regularly took a certain class of pain killer called Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs. Ibuprofen also decreases the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.

Another drug called Ebixa prevents the excess entry of calcium ions into brain cells, as overdose of calcium in the brain cells damages them and stops them from receiving messages from other brain cells. Ebixa is suitable for patients of middle to later stages of dementia. Side effects of this drug include hallucinations, confusion, tiredness, confusion and headaches.

Other medications used to treat these behavioral and psychiatric symptoms include anti-depressants, antipsychotic and mood stabilizing medications.

Homecare for Alzheimer Patients

Alzheimer’s patients can be treated at home too with love and care. They need proper care and treatment as with the progress of disease, they become more and more dependent on the caretakers. In such a time, patience and tolerance is needed from the caretaker to look after the patients and cater to their needs.

Homecare and daycare will ensure that all the patient’s needs are met. It can help the patient enjoy life for as long as it is possible.  People in the home such as husband/wife, son and daughters and other close relatives are the best choice to take care of an Alzheimer patient as they know about the behavior pattern and the needs of the patient. They can give the loving care that patients need in this condition.

Along with this, nurses or part time attendants can be hired to look after the patient at home. Being at familiar and loving surroundings can help patients cope with this disease.

Areas that can be Improved in Alzheimer’s Disease

• Memory and thinking - Memory loss is early symptom of Alzheimer’s disease and treatments can help with memory and retaining information for longer period.
• Behavior - Alzheimer’s disease effects behavior such as wandering, hallucinations etc. Medication can ease these symptoms and enable the patient to remain at home for longer and delaying the need for full time care.
• Daily Activities - It is difficult for Alzheimer’s patients to fulfill their daily chores and activities such as dressing, preparing meals, money managing etc. Medication can help patients to continue their daily activities and live independently for longer.

Other ways of Treating Alzheimer

There are number of choices in both drugs and nutritional supplements available for patients with Alzheimer’s disease. Your doctor can order the appropriate pathological tests to identify the key supplements that will provide the greatest benefit.

There are some other treatments too that can help to improve the quality of patient’s life and help them live as normal people. They include:

• aroma therapy
• message
• acupuncture
• dietary supplements
• music therapy
• bright light therapy

These treatments only improve the patient’s quality of life as no specific benefits have yet been proven.

It is not necessary that every patient respond to these drugs in the same manner. Some patients remain stable; some continue to become worse while others improve. It cannot be said that these medicines will cure the patient but they can slow the course of this disease and provide temporary relief.

Treatment of Alzheimer’s is still in its early phase, but scientists are confident that in the future, new medications would be available that will completely treat Alzheimer’s disease.