Complications (1)
- Alzheimer's: Managing sleep problems
Definition (1)
- Early-onset Alzheimer's: When symptoms begin before 65
Risk factors (2)
- Alzheimer's: Is it in your genes?
- Diabetes and Alzheimer's linked
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- Alzheimer's stages: How the disease progresses
- Memory loss: When to seek help
- Alzheimer's or depression: Could it be both?
Tests and diagnosis (3)
- Diagnosing Alzheimer's: An interview with a Mayo Clinic specialist
- SPECT scan
- Positron emission tomography (PET) scan
Treatments and drugs (3)
- Alzheimer's: Getting the most from medical appointments
- Alzheimer's drugs slow progression of disease
- Alzheimer's treatments: What's on the horizon?
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continued:
Alzheimer's drugs slow progression of disease
Memantine for later stages
Memantine (Namenda) is the first drug to be approved by the FDA for treatment of moderate to severe Alzheimer's disease. It works by regulating the activity of glutamate, a messenger chemical involved in all brain function — including learning and memory. Its most common side effect is dizziness.
People with moderate Alzheimer's may experience even better results by taking memantine along with a cholinesterase inhibitor.
When to discontinue Alzheimer's drugs
It often is difficult to tell if Alzheimer's drugs are providing any benefit, because no one knows how quickly the disease would have progressed without the medications. If a person experiences a sudden decline in abilities after an Alzheimer's drug is discontinued, it may be best to contact your doctor about restarting the drug.
Until researchers find a cure — or can halt the progression of Alzheimer's — slowing the downward spiral remains the only benefit drugs can offer. But even temporary improvements in memory or thinking ability can help extend the amount of quality time a person with Alzheimer's has with his or her family.
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- Press D, et al. Cholinesterase inhibitors in the treatment of dementia. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed April 23, 2009.
- FDA-approved treatments for Alzheimer's. Alzheimer's Association. http://www.alz.org/national/documents/topicsheet_treatments.pdf. Accessed May 5, 2009.
- Alzheimer's disease medications: Fact sheet. National Institute on Aging. http://www.nia.nih.gov/NR/rdonlyres/5178456B-4E16-4A71-A704-46637C6FE61B/11938/84206ADEARFactsheetMedicationsFINAL09FEB11.pdf. Accessed May 5, 2009.
- Loy C, et al. Galantamine for Alzheimer's disease and mild cognitive impairment. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2006:CD001747.
