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What are the Available Treatments?
Since there is no available cure at this time, the
treatments for Alzheimer disease focus on delaying the progression
of the disease, managing the behavioral and psychiatric problems
and behavioral and environmental approaches to assist the caregiver
and Alzheimer patient.
Medications and other treatments that delay the
progression of Alzheimer Disease:
Medications that may slow the progression of Alzheimer disease
include a class of drugs called acetylcholinesterase inhibitors
(drugs that increase the amount of the blood chemical acetylcholine)
and anti-oxidants such as vitamin E, selegiline (Deprenyl) and
gingko biloba.
Drugs that increase the blood chemical
acetyl choline (Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitors):
Cognex (Tacrine)
Tacrine was the first drug to have been shown to have an effect
in slowing down the progression of Alzheimer disease. Unfortunately,
it only helps a minority of patients (15-30%). It is also only
helpful in the early stages of the disease. The drug works by
increasing the levels of acetycholine, a brain chemical that is
decreased in Alzheimer patients. Patients taking this drug need
to have regular tests to monitor the effect of the drug on their
liver functions. This medication has to be taken several times
a day.
Aricept (Donezepil)
Aricept acts like tacrine as an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor.
It has the advantages of not requiring liver function testing
and can be given once a day. Like Cognex, it should be used in
the early stages of Alzheimer disease. It a certain percentage
of Alzheimer victims, it will slow the course of the disease,
but it is not a cure for the condition.
Antioxidants
There is preliminary evidence that suggests that antioxidants
vitamin E, selegiline (Deprenyl) and gingko biloba may slow down
the progression of Alzheimer disease. However, these studies do
not show that they are any more effective than Tacrine or Aricept.
Drugs to treat the behavioral and psychiatric
problems associated with Alzheimer disease:
Drugs are used to respond to many of the behavioral
and psychiatric problems encountered in Alzheimer patients such
as delusions, hallucinations, anxiety, insomnia and agitation.
In selecting drugs in Alzheimer disease, it is important to remember
that the metabolism of many drugs changes with aging. Therefore,
lower doses of many drugs are needed to prevent adverse responses.
Environmental modifications:
There are changes that can be made in the home environment
of the Alzheimer victim that will assist both the Alzheimer patient
and the caregiver. These can range from simple memory guides such
as labeling cabinet doors to identify their contents to more complex
landscaping designs to prevent wandering off the premises. To
learn more about home modifications, you can click on the following
link:
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