Alzheimer’s Disease treatment

As previously stated, there is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease. However, there are things that can be done to try and mitigate the disease and the complications associated with it.

• Medication¹⁸: There are many drugs that are approved for the treatment of Alzheimer’s. Talk to your provider about finding the right one for you. Some commonly prescribed medications include donepezil, galantamine, memantine, and rivastigmine.

Donepezil: This is a cholinesterase inhibitor that is prescribed to treat the symptoms of mild, moderate, and severe Alzheimer’s. It prevents the total breakdown of acetylcholine in the brain.

Galantamine: This is a cholinesterase inhibitor that is prescribed to treat mild to moderate Alzheimer’s. It prevents the breakdown of acetylcholine and stimulates the brain’s nicotinic receptors to release greater amounts of acetylcholine to the entire organ.

Rivastigmine: Another cholinesterase inhibitor, this medication can be used for mild, moderate, and severe symptoms. It prevents the breakdown of both acetylcholine and butyrylcholine in the brain.

• Regular healthcare visits: Being checked up on and having consistent care and advice is one of the best ways to monitor and treat Alzheimer’s disease.
• Taking care of the other complications: Making sure you treat the cognitive skill loss and behavioral changes (including the development of depression) that may come with Alzheimer’s is critical to keeping a patient as comfortable as possible.
• Creating a safe and stable environment: It’s important to make sure that the environment of a person with Alzheimer’s is free from potentially dangerous items, such as sharp objects, power tools, or even car keys, when necessary. It’s also a good idea to make sure that things like finances, medications, and scheduling are set up for a loved one with Alzheimer’s. Supporting a patient through the help of other people is crucial to making sure that daily life is as stress-free as possible.

Alzheimer’s disease medication

There is currently no cure available to treat, prevent, or slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. The medications listed below can help minimize the symptoms associated with Alzheimer’s.

Alzheimer’s disease prevention

Alzheimer’s cannot be fully prevented, but through control of personal risk factors and following some of the steps below¹⁹, you can help decrease your chances of developing Alzheimer’s (or slow the onset or progression of the disease).

• Regular exercise: As mentioned previously, heart health is directly linked to Alzheimer’s. Making sure your entire body is healthy is key for preventing Alzheimer’s.
• Social engagement: Many people with Alzheimer’s withdraw socially out of fear of embarrassment or simply forgetting those closest to them. Try (or help a loved one with Alzheimer’s) to maintain relationships, leave the house, and stay social in a way that is comfortable and accessible.
• Healthy diet: This goes hand-in-hand with exercise. It’s important that patients with Alzheimer’s eat a healthy diet. This may mean getting lean protein, a lot of fruit and vegetables, and avoiding nitrates, heavy fats, and sugars.
• Mental stimulation: Whether it’s doing the crossword every morning, playing your favorite puzzle game on your phone, or using a mental cognition website, it is critical to keep your brain engaged.
• Quality sleep: Getting a sufficient amount of sleep²⁰ is critical for healthy brain function.

• Stress management: It is important to find an outlet for stress, whether it is talking to someone or finding an activity or hobby to enjoy.

• Not smoking

• Regular exercise: As mentioned previously, heart health is directly linked to Alzheimer’s. Making sure your entire body is healthy is key for preventing Alzheimer’s.

• Social engagement: Many people with Alzheimer’s withdraw socially out of fear of embarrassment or simply forgetting those closest to them. Try (or help a loved one with Alzheimer’s) to maintain relationships, leave the house, and stay social in a way that is comfortable and accessible.

• Healthy diet: This goes hand-in-hand with exercise. It’s important that patients with Alzheimer’s eat a healthy diet. This may mean getting lean protein, a lot of fruit and vegetables, and avoiding nitrates, heavy fats, and sugars.

• Mental stimulation: Whether it’s doing the crossword every morning, playing your favorite puzzle game on your phone, or using a mental cognition website, it is critical to keep your brain engaged.

• Quality sleep: Getting a sufficient amount of sleep²⁰ is critical for healthy brain function.

• Stress management: It is important to find an outlet for stress, whether it is talking to someone or finding an activity or hobby to enjoy.
• Not smoking