How Is Alzheimer's Treated Today? A Brief Guide For Families

November 1st, 2017 by admin

Receiving a dementia diagnosis can be very emotional for most families. Although two-thirds of Alzheimer's patients in the U.S. are women, these memory diseases can affect virtually anyone as they age. Unfortunately, Alzheimer's is a disease that cannot be prevented, cured, or slowed. However, the symptoms can be treated in order to improve quality of life.

Advancements are being made in this field all the time, and there are many reasons to be hopeful for the future. Currently, treatment for Alzheimer's typically focuses on medications and therapies (both of which Alzheimer's care centers may provide) that may help patients to maintain mental function, manage behavior, and delay the onset of certain symptoms. Below, we'll take a brief look at modern dementia care and, specifically, the current types of treatment for Alzheimer's disease.

Medications are used to slow down symptoms

Again, it's important to note that there is currently no medication available that will slow down or cure the disease itself. However, there are medications that can keep symptoms from presenting themselves for a period of time. This can allow your loved one to lead a more comfortable life, particularly during the early to middle stages of the disease. For patients in these stages, cholinesterase inhibitors may be prescribed to delay the onset of symptoms or to keep existing ones form becoming worse. These effects are not permanent; they work only for a limited time. Scientists don't even fully know why these medications work as a treatment for Alzheimer's disease, but experts think they may slow the breakdown of a brain chemical called acetylcholine, which aids the brain in memory in thinking. As dementia diseases progress, the brain produces less of this chemical altogether, which could cause these medications to stop working.

For those with moderate to severe Alzheimer's, a medication known as memantine may be used in treatment to help a patient maintain daily functions (like being able to independently use the bathroom) for a longer period of time. This medication is also believed to regulate a brain chemical. This chemical, called glutamate, may lead to brain cell death if it's produced excessively. For many dementia patients, they may have too little acetylcholine but too much glutamate. Fortunately, these medications can actually be prescribed together.

But medication is not the only option

Sometimes, more conventional medications may be used to reduce wandering, aggression, agitation, anxiety, and depression. However, most experts agree that these medications should be used only when non-medicinal treatments have been tried with no success. Every medication comes with its own set of side effects, so in many cases, other types of treatment for Alzheimer's will be more appropriate. So-called "alternative treatments" should not be used in substitution to doctor-recommended treatments, of course, but many types of therapy may prove beneficial. Many senior memory care facilities offer music therapy and art therapy in conjunction with other treatments, as they can allow a patient to be engaged and creative even when the disease has progressed.

With so much we have yet to understand about dementia, treatment plans are never going to be completely straightforward. It's important that your loved one has access to a compassionate and knowledgeable team of doctors and facility staff members who can design a plan for their everyday care. That way, your loved one will be more comfortable for a longer period of time.

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