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- Use
of medications to treat cognitive decline and memory loss
- Referral
to appropriate activities such as exercise and recreation
- Appropriate
treatment of underlying medical or physical conditions that may affect
mood or personality
Medications
The FDA has approved four medications for the treatment
of Alzheimer’s disease
- Tacrine
(also known as Cognex™)
- Donepezil
hydrochloride (also known as Aricept™)
- Rivastigmine
(also known as Exelon™)
- Galantamine
hydroromide (Reminyl™)
These medications
are recommended for the early stages of Alzheimer’s and do not stop
or cure the disease, but have been shown to slow the progression of the
symptoms.
Cognex is the first drug the FDA approved for the treatment
of Alzheimer’s disease. With the advance of other approved drugs,
Cognex is not often prescribed by physicians due to its high prevalence
of side effects.
Aricept is a drug that can improve memory, reasoning
and other cognitive symptoms for some individuals with mild to moderate
Alzheimer’s. It works by increasing the availability of acetylcholine,
a specialized nerve communication chemical that is deficient in the Alzheimer’s
brain.
Exelon inhibits acetyl cholinesterase and butyrlcholinesterase,
two enzymes that break down acetylcholine. This inhibition increases the
amount of available acetycholine, which may improve cell-to-cell communication
and relieve some symptoms of Alzheimer’s. This improvement leads
to better memory and intellectual function. However, Exelon does not affect
the unknown factors that damage and kill nerves
Reminyl is another medication for early to moderate stage
of dementia. The medication has shown beneficial effects on patient’s
daily functions and ability to think.
Other drug therapies include Vitamin E, Gingko biloba and Estrogen therapy
for women. For current research on Alzheimer’s, contact the National
Alzheimer's Association
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