How Alzheimer's Disease Is Treated

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsMedication to Improve SymptomsMedication to Slow Disease ProgressionPsychotherapyTreatment EffectivenessNext in Alzheimer’s Disease GuideCoping With Alzheimer’s Disease

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Medication to Improve Symptoms

Medication to Slow Disease Progression

Psychotherapy

Treatment Effectiveness

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Alzheimer’s diseaseis a brain condition that is extremely complex in nature. The scientific community still doesn’t fully understand what causes it and believes it is a variety of factors, including genetics, lifestyle, and environment.

In previous years, Alzheimer’s could only be definitively diagnosed after death. Today, tools such as testing cerebrospinal fluid, PET scans, and blood work help make an accurate diagnosis.

Unfortunately, there is still no cure for this condition; however, researchers are working around the clock to find the best treatments to slow the progression and help patientscope with the symptomsof Alzheimer’s disease.

While medication can’t cure the condition, it can help people living with Alzheimer’s disease maintain their independence and dignity for longer. It can also make it easier for family, friends, and caregivers to care for the person.

Different types of medications can help treat the cognitive and behavioral symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease.

These medications can treat the manifestations of the disease but do not affect the underlying disease process, saysRichard Marottoli, MD, MPH, a geriatrician at Yale Medicine who specializes in treating Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.

Patients are often given low doses of medication at first and then monitored to see how well they respond to it. The dosage is gradually increased depending on how well they tolerate it. While higher doses can sometimes be more effective, they can also result in stronger side effects.

Discuss any symptoms and side effects you or a loved one are experiencing with a healthcare provider, so they can determine the best course of treatment and adjust medication if required.

Cholinesterase Inhibitors

There is a group of drugs known as cholinesterase inhibitors that can help with the cognitive and behavioral symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease.

Acetylcholineplays an important role in cognitive functions like thinking, planning, and remembering. Low acetylcholine levels are responsible for some of the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease, likememory loss.

By blocking the enzyme and inhibiting the breakdown of acetylcholine, these medications can help with some of the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease, including memory loss.

Cholinesterase inhibitors include:

These three drugs work in a similar fashion; however, the patient may respond better to one drug over another.

These medications can cause side effects such as fatigue, nausea, vomiting, indigestion, diarrhea, reduced appetite, weight loss, muscle cramps, dizziness, and headaches.

Cholinesterase inhibitors are primarily used in the early and middle stages of Alzheimer’s disease because as the condition progresses, the brain produces less acetylcholine, so these medications may not be effective anymore.

NMDA Antagonist

This medication can help people with Alzheimer’s disease independently perform daily tasks such as eating, walking, bathing, dressing, and using the toilet in the late stages of the disease or for several more months than they would otherwise have been able to.

Side effects of memantine include dizziness, headaches, constipation, diarrhea, and nausea.

Since this drug works differently than cholinesterase inhibitors, it is sometimes used in combination with cholinesterase inhibitors.Namzaricis a medication that combines donepezil and memantine.

Medication for Behavioral and Mood Symptoms

As Alzheimer’s disease progresses, it can cause several behavioral and mood symptoms, such as wandering, restlessness, sleeplessness, aggression, agitation, anxiety, anddepression.

These symptoms can take a toll on the patient as well as their caregivers. Treating these symptoms can make patients more comfortable and easier to care for.

These are some of the types of medication that can help:

However, these medications can cause severe side effects in people with Alzheimer’s disease. Side effects can include confusion, dizziness, sleepiness, mood swings, and increased chances of falling.

Because of their side effects, it is only advisable to use these medicines occasionally or for short periods of time. They are often used as a last resort after carefully considering the risks and side effects and only if other strategies have failed.

Warning about Antipsychotic MedicationsAntipsychotic drugs, in particular, should only be used if your healthcare provider agrees that the symptoms are serious, as the side effects are severe. These medications can increase the risk of death in some older people with Alzheimer’s disease, and they need to be closely monitored.

Warning about Antipsychotic Medications

Antipsychotic drugs, in particular, should only be used if your healthcare provider agrees that the symptoms are serious, as the side effects are severe. These medications can increase the risk of death in some older people with Alzheimer’s disease, and they need to be closely monitored.

Living With Someone With Mental Illness

There are also newer medications that may be able to reduce the rate of cognitive decline and slow down the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) gaveaccelerated approvalfor a drug known as ​​aducanumab (brand name Aduhelm) in 2021,andtraditional approvalfor lecanamab (brand name Leqembi) in 2023.

Aduhelm Discontinued

Nevertheless, the FDA approved the drug, against expert advise, and Biogen set an egregiously high price tag on this groundbreaking new drug on the market.

In the end, the manufacturing of Aduhelm was discontinued in 2024 as Leqembi proved to have more promising outcomes and is more cost-effective.

Fortunately, the clinical trials for Leqembi showed a significant and meaningful reduction in the rate of cognitive decline when taking this medication, and the results were consistent across trials.

Are We Close to an Alzheimer’s Cure?

Being diagnosed with a progressive, terminal illness can cause a lot of distress to patients and their loved ones. Therapy can help you accept the situation and developcoping skillsto navigate it.

As Alzheimer’s disease progresses, it can make it difficult for you to manage daily chores, personal tasks, and finances without assistance. Losing your independence and agency can be painful andembarrassing. Therapy can help you process your feelings, ask for help, and build the kind of support you will need to cope with this condition.

Richard MarottoliTherapy can also be effective for dealing with mood or affective components that may accompany cognitive changes associated with Alzheimer’s disease.

Richard Marottoli

Therapy can also be effective for dealing with mood or affective components that may accompany cognitive changes associated with Alzheimer’s disease.

You can seek either individual therapy or group therapy. Individual therapy can offer a safe space for you to discuss your feelings and concerns in private, whereasgroup therapycan help you connect with others who are living with the same condition you are.

Various forms of psychotherapy are available for people experiencing symptoms of dementia, regardless of which type. A few examples are:

How to Make Your Treatment Most Effective

These are some steps you can take to help make your treatment most effective and maintain your quality of life for as long as possible:

Coping With Alzheimer’s Disease

4 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Alzheimer’s Association.Medications for memory, cognition and dementia-related behaviors.U.S. Food and Drug Administration.FDA’s decision to approve new treatment for Alzheimer’s disease.U.S. Food and Drug Administration.FDA converts novel Alzheimer’s disease treatment to traditional approval.Sukhawathanakul P, Crizzle A, Tuokko H, Naglie G, Rapoport MJ.Psychotherapeutic interventions for dementia: a systematic review.Can Geri J. 2021;24(3):222-236. doi:10.5770%2Fcgj.24.447Additional ReadingNational Institute on Aging.How is Alzheimer’s disease treated?Stanford Healthcare.Alzheimer’s disease treatments.

4 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Alzheimer’s Association.Medications for memory, cognition and dementia-related behaviors.U.S. Food and Drug Administration.FDA’s decision to approve new treatment for Alzheimer’s disease.U.S. Food and Drug Administration.FDA converts novel Alzheimer’s disease treatment to traditional approval.Sukhawathanakul P, Crizzle A, Tuokko H, Naglie G, Rapoport MJ.Psychotherapeutic interventions for dementia: a systematic review.Can Geri J. 2021;24(3):222-236. doi:10.5770%2Fcgj.24.447Additional ReadingNational Institute on Aging.How is Alzheimer’s disease treated?Stanford Healthcare.Alzheimer’s disease treatments.

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Alzheimer’s Association.Medications for memory, cognition and dementia-related behaviors.U.S. Food and Drug Administration.FDA’s decision to approve new treatment for Alzheimer’s disease.U.S. Food and Drug Administration.FDA converts novel Alzheimer’s disease treatment to traditional approval.Sukhawathanakul P, Crizzle A, Tuokko H, Naglie G, Rapoport MJ.Psychotherapeutic interventions for dementia: a systematic review.Can Geri J. 2021;24(3):222-236. doi:10.5770%2Fcgj.24.447

Alzheimer’s Association.Medications for memory, cognition and dementia-related behaviors.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration.FDA’s decision to approve new treatment for Alzheimer’s disease.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration.FDA converts novel Alzheimer’s disease treatment to traditional approval.

Sukhawathanakul P, Crizzle A, Tuokko H, Naglie G, Rapoport MJ.Psychotherapeutic interventions for dementia: a systematic review.Can Geri J. 2021;24(3):222-236. doi:10.5770%2Fcgj.24.447

National Institute on Aging.How is Alzheimer’s disease treated?Stanford Healthcare.Alzheimer’s disease treatments.

National Institute on Aging.How is Alzheimer’s disease treated?

Stanford Healthcare.Alzheimer’s disease treatments.

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