Treatments for Alzheimer's Disease

Treatment list for Alzheimer's Disease: The list of treatments mentioned in various sources for Alzheimer's Disease includes the following list. Always seek professional medical advice about any treatment or change in treatment plans.

Mental stimulation
Tacrine (THA, Cognex)
Aricept (donepezil) - reversible acetylcholinesterase inhibitors
Exelon (rivastigmine) - reversible acetylcholinesterase inhibitors
Supportive care
Nursing homes

Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease: medical news summaries: The following medical news items are relevant to treatment of Alzheimer's Disease:

Treatments of Alzheimer's Disease discussion: There is no cure for AD and no way to slow the progression of the disease. For some people in the early or middle stages of the disease, medication such as tacrine may alleviate some cognitive symptoms. Aricept (donepezil) and Exelon (rivastigmine) are reversible acetylcholinesterase inhibitors that are indicated for the treatment of mild to moderate dementia of the Alzheimer's type. Also, some medications may help control behavioral symptoms such as sleeplessness, agitation, wandering, anxiety, and depression. These treatments are aimed at making the patient more comfortable. ¹

There is no cure for AD. Doctors may prescribe certain medication in an attempt to slow the progression of the disease. People with AD should go to their doctor regularly. The doctor will check to see how the disease is progressing and treat any other illnesses that occur. The doctor and other health professionals also can offer help and support to patients and their families. Currently, there is on-going research into preventing and curing Alzheimer’s Disease.²

No treatment can stop AD. However, for some people in the early and middle stages of the disease, the drug tacrine (also known as THA or Cognex) may alleviate some cognitive symptoms. Also, some medications may help control behavioral symptoms of AD such as sleeplessness, agitation, wandering, anxiety, and depression. Treating these symptoms often makes patients more comfortable and makes their care easier for caregivers. ³

For some people in the early and middle stages of Alzheimer's disease, the drug tacrine (also known as Cognex or THA) is prescribed to possibly delay the worsening of some of the disease's symptoms.⁴

In 1996, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved donepezil hydrochloride (Aricept) to help treat some mild to moderate symptoms in some AD patients and delay progression for from 6 to 12 months. Aricept (also known as epsilon2020) is the second drug approved by the FDA to treat AD. The first drug, tacrine (Cognex), has been marketed since 1993. AD is marked by the loss of neurons that produce acetylcholine, a key neurotransmitter in cognitive functioning. Both Aricept and Cognex act by inhibiting acetylcholinesterase, an enzyme that normally breaks down acetylcholine. However, neither drug stops nor reverses the progression of AD. Occasional side effects of Aricept include diarrhea and nausea. The drug also can cause an irregular heartbeat, especially in patients with heart conditions. Fainting spells have been reported in some patients. However, Aricept seems not to affect liver enzymes, an effect that prevented many patients from taking Cognex. Most researchers agree that neither Aricept nor Cognex works for all, or even most, AD patients so that the drugs' effects and duration of usefulness are limited. ⁵

Footnotes:
1. excerpt from NINDS Alzheimer's Disease Information Page: NINDS
2. excerpt from Aging - Women Getting Older: NWHIC
3. excerpt from Alzheimer's Disease: NWHIC
4. excerpt from Forgetfulness It's Not Always What You Think - Age Page - Health Information: NIA
5. excerpt from NIA's Progress Report on Alzheimer's Disease, 1998: NIA

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