Alzheimer's Disease: Treatments

[Alzheimer's Disease: Causes, symptoms and evolution] [Alzheimer's Disease: Treatments] [Alzheimer's Disease : Advice for the family]

The medication available today for Alzheimer’s disease do not cure the disease or prevent its onset. Its goal is to:

Control symptoms
Prevent worsening
Temporarily improve the state of the person with the disease
Slow the progression of symptoms

Medication most often used to treat Alzheimer's Disease

Medication can temporarily slow and stabilize the degenerative process as well as temporarily improve the state of the person affected.

	Use	Warnings	Possible side effects
Ebixa® (memantine hydrochloride)	Symptomatic treatment of moderate to severe forms of Alzheimer's disease: NMDA receptor antagonist Amyloid deposits kill brain cells: amyloid increases the production of glutamate, which stimulates NMDA receptors Memantine may also help the brain form new synapses Slows amyloid accumulation	None	Generally well tolerated, fewer than 10 percent): Incontinence Constipation Diarrhea Insomnia Vertigo Headaches
Aricept^TM (donepezil or E2020)	Symptomatic treatment of mild to moderate forms of Alzheimer's disease: Cholinesterase inhibitor Increases acetylcholine in the brain Improves symptoms Stabilization, slowing down of the disease's progression	Aricept may cause bradycardia Contra-indicated in the case of renal or hepatic insufficiency May exaggerate muscle relaxation during anesthesia	Nausea Diarrhea Vomiting Fatigue Emaciation Muscle cramps Falling Insomnia
Exelon^TM (rivastigmine)	Symptomatic treatment of mild to moderate forms of Alzheimer's disease Cholinesterase inhibitor: Increases acetylcholine in the brain Stabilization, slowing down of the disease's progressio	Use caution when there is a history of gastric ulcers Contra-indicated in the case of hepatic insufficiency May exaggerate muscle relaxation during anesthesia	Nausea Vomiting Dizziness Diarrhea Headache Emaciation Stomach pain Fatigue
Reminyl^TM (extended release galantamine hydrobromide)	Symptomatic treatment of mild to moderate forms of Alzheimer's disease: Cholinesterase inhibitor Increases level of acetylcholine in the brain Improves symptoms Stabilization, slowing down of process	May cause bradycardia Increases muscle relaxation during anesthesia Use caution when there is a history of gastric ulcers	Nausea Vomiting Emaciation Diarrhea Weight loss

Other therapies used for Alzheimer's disease

Apart from the drugs, some other therapies have proved successful to slow the onset of Alzheimer's symptoms : cognitive remediation, light therapy, snoezelen and zootherapy.

Recent prevention studies in the United States and Europe show that a mediterranean diet, combined with regular physical exercise, can significantly delay the onset of symptoms.