Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease
There currently exists no cure for Alzheimer’s disease; however, managing this disorder is possible. A number of treatments are available to treat the symptoms. Unfortunately, the treatment options do not slow the progression of the disease but merely mask the symptoms that result. Therefore, any improvement made only lasts for six to 12 months before worsening. Current treatments for Alzheimer’s disease can be divided into three parts: pharmaceutical, therapy, and caregiving.
Four medications for the treatment of Alzheimer’s currently exist that are approved by the US Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicines Agency, which can aid in treating the side effects of Alzheimer’s disease. Three are acetylcholinesterase inhibitors and the last is memantine. These four drugs reduce the rates at which ACh is concentrated in the brain, a chemical that causes the death of neurons in high concentrations. Aricept, Razadyne, Exelon, and the Exelon patch are all effective in treating mild to moderate Alzheimer’s, although these drugs lose their effectiveness in the advanced stages of Alzheimer’s disease.
As Alzheimer’s begins to progress, social ability begins to break down and behaviors which humans normally restrict, such as aggression, can become prevalent. Antipsychotic medications can help treat aggression and anger, so that the Alzheimer’s patient does not hurt himself or others. These drugs may or may not be an option depending on the individual, as the side effects can be severe.
Therapy, also called psychosocial intervention, can also be helpful when used in conjunction with pharmaceutical treatment. These therapy sessions try to identify problem behaviors and create workarounds to ensure that a patient with Alzheimer’s has a normal level of functioning. Currently, there is a lack of data on the effectiveness of these therapies, and as such they are highly criticized in some circles.
Reminiscence therapy involves talking about past experiences in a group or individual setting with the aid of familiar photographs, music, and sound recordings, which can help in concentration and memory recall. Simulated presence therapy involves playing the voice recordings of relatives of the person with Alzheimer’s disease. At the very least, if not improving the functioning of an individual suffering from Alzheimer’s, these therapy sessions can have a very soothing effect on their mood.
Once Alzheimer’s progresses past the mild stage, intensive care giving is required. Most individuals suffering from the disease require daily assistance in carrying out normal activities, even to the extent of helping them go to the bathroom, get dressed, and take a shower. Typically, the married spouse will aid in this process; however, since the disease typically strikes at an older age, one elderly person taking care of another can be a daunting proposition. For this reason, there are special training classes and therapy groups that can help in learning the role of the caregiver. Caregiving provided by a member of the family who is familiar to the sufferer will provide a sense of familiarity in the face of memory loss.