Are There Medications For Dementia

Alternatives To Pharmaceutical Treatments

There have been many natural remedies to aging-related memory issues throughout history, and European and Eastern countries continue to refer patients experiencing memory loss-related troubles to a variety of holistic treatments, including:

• Huperzia serrata, a moss, is a traditional Chinese medicine. It is now being researched in pharmacology as the drug Huperzine A. Its been shown as both a powerful AChE inhibitor, as well as a protectant against further cellular damage due to various functions of dementia-type diseases. This supplement should not be taken in conjunction with other AChE inhibitors, for risk of serious side effects.

• Dietary changes like increasing the intake of healthy foods such as avocados, blueberries, and the spice turmeric, have been researched and shown to slow the cognitive decline brought about by dementia

• Exercise has been shown to produce a hormone known to battle dementia, named brain-derived-neurotrophic-factor, or BDNF, that greatly improves cognitive ability. Recent studies show that people with higher levels of BDNF have 33% less cognitive defects than those with lower levels of the hormone. See our list of the top 25 exercise videos and equipment for seniors to find tools to help you increase your BDNF levels safely at home, alone or with company.

How Carers Can Help With Medicine Management

Dementia can affect a persons memory, mood, communication and behaviour. This can make it harder for a person with dementia to manage their medicines well on their own. Families, friends and carers can use strategies to help the person with dementia take their medicines in the right way.1

• Create a routine by keeping the same medicine times each day.
• Put medicines out at the same time as meals, eg, morning medicines with breakfast.
• If the person does not want to take their medicines, do something else for a short time. Try to give the medicines again a little later.
• The person may struggle to take more than one medicine at the same time. Try giving the medicines in two or more separate groups.
• The person may not like the taste or look of their medicines, or have trouble swallowing medicines. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if the medicines can be crushed. They can also give you a different formula, such as a liquid or skin patch.

How Well Do Dementia Treatments Work

It is thought that about half the people treated with a cholinesterase inhibitor will see an improvement in symptoms which affect thinking and memory. Whether they help with other symptoms such as aggression and agitation has still not been confirmed. The improvement in symptoms is usually only seen for about 6-12 months.

For memantine, some studies have shown that it can slow down the progression of symptoms in some cases.

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Treating The Accompanying Symptoms Of Dementia

Dementia often causes a number of behavioural and psychological symptoms which can be very distressing.

These may include depression, anxiety, sleeplessness, hallucinations, ideas of persecution, misidentification of relatives or places, agitation and aggressive behaviour. These symptoms may respond to reassurance, a change in the environment or removal of the source of any distress such as pain. However, sometimes medication may be required for relief.

Major tranquillisers

Major tranquillisers, also known as neuroleptics or anti-psychotics, are used to control agitation, aggression, delusions and hallucinations. Haloperidol is one commonly used drug. In modest doses this drug tends to cause symptoms similar to Parkinsons disease such as stiffness, shuffling gait and shakiness, and older people are very prone to these side effects. Some are unable to tolerate even low doses of Haloperidol.

Newer tranquillisers such as Risperidone have fewer Parkinsons like side effects and have been studied more intensively in people with dementia than Haloperidol has. Risperidone appears to be helpful for the treatment of aggression and psychosis, but may be associated with a slight increase in risk of stroke.

Olanzapine and Quetiapine are sometimes used, but have been less comprehensively studied in the treatment of dementia, and there is some evidence that Olanzapine may also be associated with increased risk of stroke.

Drugs for treating depression

Drugs for treating anxiety

Finding Memory Care Near You

The early challenges posed by dementia-related memory decline can be taken care of at home relatively easy, up until it becomes a struggle to remember daily tasks like eating, or when to take your medication. If unpaid bills and chores begin to pile up, it can pose a health and financial risk that is truly necessary when there are so many community options available now to help aging people live in a healthy and safe environment. For those interested in seeking out dementia-friendly communities with access to medical staff and lifestyle amenities like meals and chore services, visit assistedliving.org to find out more information about memory care facilities near you. If you need assistance paying for memory care or other aging-related expenses, you might qualify for a Medicaid waiver.

Also Check: What Causes Dementia To Progress Quickly

Treatment For Frontotemporal Disorders

As with Lewy body dementia, frontotemporal disorders, also known as frontotemporal dementia, are complicated and potentially involve a team of medical experts as well as speech, language, and occupational therapists.

Certain antidepressants, such as trazodone , may somewhat relieve behavioral symptoms, such as social disinhibitions and impulsive behavior. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors , such as sertraline and fluvoxamine , may also help.

As with Lewy body dementia, doctors need to prescribe antipsychotics with caution.

Cholinesterase inhibitors have been studied in clinical trials to see if they might be effective in treating frontotemporal disorders. Results have been mixed. In some cases, these drugs have made symptoms worse.

Can Dementia Be Prevented

Because the causes of dementia are not yet fully known, there is no sure way to prevent dementia. However, you can reduce the risk of dementia by caring for your:

• Heart health Whats good for your heart is good for your brain. Have a healthy diet and stop smoking.
• Body health Regular physical activity increases blood flow to the brain. Keep an active lifestyle.
• Mind health An active mind helps build brain cells and strengthens their connections. Stay social, play games like puzzles and crosswords, and take up new hobbies and languages.

Read Also: Is Alzheimer’s A Type Of Dementia

Medications For Vascular Dementia

Vascular dementia is treated a little bit differently than other types of the condition. Vascular dementia typically occurs after a patient has suffered a stroke. This form of dementia can also be brought about due to extremely high blood pressure, unchecked thyroid problems, high cholesterol, issues with blood sugar, and even vitamin deficiencies. It can be disheartening to know that these issues could lead to vascular dementia, but it is very treatable.

Vascular dementia can be treated by prescribing high blood pressure medications, cholesterol medications, vitamins, diabetes medications, and much more. Essentially, to prevent vascular dementia, you will need to eliminate or improve the conditions that caused it in the first place. This can involve getting your blood pressure under control, eating a healthy diet, and maintaining proper blood sugar levels.

Treating this type of dementia is easier because you can affect the results with your actions. This is very good as it gives you a chance to alleviate the problems that you are facing. Most types of dementia are not like this, though. Alzheimer’s and various other dementia conditions are completely different from their vascular dementia cousin.

Therapies Can Help Too

Coping With Dementia

Types Of Dementia Medications

Several prescription medications are approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat symptoms of dementia caused by AD. These drugs can provide short-term relief from cognitive dementia symptoms. Some can also help slow the progression of AD-related dementia.

While these drugs are approved to treat symptoms of AD, theyre not approved to treat symptoms of other types of dementia. However, researchers are exploring off-label uses of these medications for people with non-AD dementias.

OFF-LABEL DRUG USE

Off-label drug use means that a drug thats been approved by the FDA for one purpose is used for a different purpose that hasnt been approved. However, a doctor can still use the drug for that purpose. The FDA regulates the testing and approval of drugs, but not how doctors use drugs to treat their patients. So, your doctor can prescribe a drug however they think is best for your care.

According to the Alzheimers Association, some AD medications may benefit people with Parkinsons disease dementia and vascular dementia.

Some of the most commonly prescribed medications used to treat symptoms of AD are cholinesterase inhibitors and memantine.

Cholinesterase inhibitors work by increasing acetylcholine, a chemical in your brain that aids in memory and judgment. Increasing the amount of acetylcholine in your brain may delay dementia-related symptoms. It may also prevent them from worsening.

The more common side effects of cholinesterase inhibitors include:

Recommended Reading: Is Lewy Body Dementia Painful

How Is Alzheimer’s Disease Treated

Alzheimers disease is complex, and it is therefore unlikely that any one drug or other intervention will ever successfully treat it in all people living with the disease. Still, in recent years, scientists have made tremendous progress in better understanding Alzheimers and in developing and testing new treatments, including several medications that are in late-stage clinical trials.

Several prescription drugs are already approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to help manage symptoms in people with Alzheimers disease. And, on June 7, 2021, FDA provided accelerated approval for the newest medication, aducanumab, which helps to reduce amyloid deposits in the brain and may help slow the progression of Alzheimers, although it has not yet been shown to affect clinical symptoms or outcomes, such as progression of cognitive decline or dementia.

Most medicines work best for people in the early or middle stages of Alzheimers. However, it is important to understand that none of the medications available at this time will cure Alzheimers.

How Is Dementia Diagnosed

An early diagnosis allows someone to get support quickly, or in some cases identify a treatable condition. Referral to a neurologist, a neuropsychologist and/or a geriatrician may also be appropriate.

Diagnosing dementia requires a full medical and psychological assessment. This may include:

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Tips For Taking Medicines For Dementia

The person with dementia may need support to manage their medications. You may find it helpful to do the following:

• Develop a routine for giving the medication: ask the pharmacist if medications should be taken at a certain time of day or with our without food. Then create a daily ritual. This might involve taking medications with breakfast or right before bed.
• Pill boxes or blister packs: ask your pharmacist about aids to help you to give medication as prescribed, eg, using pill boxes or blister packs. Read more about remembering to take your medicine.
• Swallowing difficulties: if swallowing is a problem, talk to your pharmacist or doctor. Read more about difficulty swallowing medicines.
• Side effects: ask your doctor or pharmacist about what side effects might occur with the medication and what you should do if you get them. Some dementia medicines may make the symptoms worse, so it’s important to be aware of this and let your doctor know. Read more about medicines and side effects.
• Get the treatment reviewed regularly: a medicine which is useful may not continue to be effective indefinitely because of the progressive changes to the brain caused by dementia.
• Keep a record of all medications, including over-the-counter medicines such as pain relievers, cold medicines and antacids. Also include creams or eye ointments, vitamins, herbal supplements and complementary medicines. Take this record to medical appointments.

What To Expect From Your Doctor

There are many things that can cause dementia like symptoms. Periods of memory loss can often be due to a lack of sleep, increased anxiety, and even certain medications. Becoming more forgetful can also be part of the normal ageing process too.

However if youre over the age of 65 and find yourself struggling with memory day to day, its important to speak to a doctor as soon as possible. This is especially important if you are also experiencing changes in the way you speak or behave.

The earlier dementia is diagnosed the more likely it is that youll be able to start a treatment that may slow its progression. And, if its not dementia, your doctor will be able to check for other causes of your symptoms and rule out anything serious.

Theres not set test for diagnosing dementia your GP is likely to do a range of medical tests and assessments to understand more about your cognitive function. Theyll usually start by asking you more about your symptoms and the impact they are having on your daily activities.

Thisll likely be followed by an in-depth review of your family history, current health, and medications including any vitamins or supplements youre taking.

Some conditions can make symptoms of dementia worse, so understanding and treating these first is crucial. These often include conditions that affect your cardiovascular health such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

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No Easy Solutions But Improvement Is Usually Possible

As many of you know, behavior problems are difficult in dementia in large part because there is usually no easy way to fix them.

Many probably too many older adults with Alzheimers and other dementias are being medicated for their behavior problems.

If your family is struggling with behavior problems, I know that reading this article will not quickly solve them.

But I hope this information will enable you to make more informed decisions. This way youll help ensure that any medications are used thoughtfully, in the lowest doses necessary, and in combination with non-drug dementia behavior management approaches.

To learn about non-drug management approaches, I recommend this article: 7 Steps to Managing Difficult Dementia Behaviors

And if you are looking for a memory care facility, try to find out how many of their residents are being medicated for behavior. For people with Alzheimers and other dementias, its best to be cared for by people who dont turn first to chemical restraints such as antipsychotics and benzodiazepines.

This article was first published in 2016, and was last updated by Dr. K in May 2022.

Medicines To Manage Distress Symptoms

You can manage emotional stress by addressing your mood or distress symptoms. Simple strategies and changes in the delivery of care is recommended.1 If you need medical treatment, your doctor will tailor treatment to your needs. For instance, they may prescribe antidepressants for moderate to severe depression.2

Your health professional should review your medicines often. When this happens depends on the medicine you are taking. Talk to the doctor or other health professional about adding medicine reviews into a care plan. Using a medicines list can help you manage your medicines. Talk to the doctor or other health professionals. They can tell you about the active ingredient and brand names of the medicines you are taking.

You can read about groups of medicines that may help reduce the symptoms of distress below.1,3,4

Anticholinesterases

Some of the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease are thought to result from a lack of acetylcholine. This is a chemical that sends signals in the brain. These medicines help increase the amount of this chemical in the brain. This can help with the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease.

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Reminiscence And Life Story Work

Reminiscence work involves talking about things and events from your past. It usually involves using props such as photos, favourite possessions or music.

Life story work involves a compilation of photos, notes and keepsakes from your childhood to the present day. It can be either a physical book or a digital version.

These approaches are sometimes combined. Evidence shows that they can improve mood and wellbeing. They also help you and those around you to focus on your skills and achievements rather than on your dementia.

You’ll find more details about these treatments in the Alzheimer’s Society’s dementia guide.

Ways To Reduce The Risk Of Dementia

There is no way to prevent all types of dementia however, having a healthy lifestyle and managing chronic conditions help improve overall health and reduce the risk.

Studies suggest that about a third of dementia cases might be delayed or prevented by addressing potentially modifiable risk factors.

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Who Are These Medications For And What Are The Benefits

These medications are prescribed for people with mild to moderate Alzheimers disease. Studies show that between 40 70% of people taking the drugs benefit from them with symptoms improving temporarily for between 6-12 months.

The impact of taking cholinesterase inhibitor medications can include: reduced anxiety, improvements in memory and concentration daily activities such as personal care, dressing and shopping.

Trials to determine if these drugs also bring benefits for behavioural changes such as agitation or aggression are inconclusive, with mixed results. Unfortunately the impact of these medications gradually reduces with symptoms then gradually worsening.

Other Less Targeted Dementia Medications

There are several types of dementia, and each person will be affected differently by their specific disease as well as the side effects that might be present. While not designed with the intention to treat dementia, many medications are available that treat the often-debilitating effects of dementia. There are many symptoms associated with dementia, as well as associated with the medications taken to stall the progression of dementia, such as pain, nausea, insomnia, or general fatigue.

Its important to go over every possible side effect of medications you are considering taking, and carefully weighing the risks versus the benefits of using that drug. While it may seem like a juggling act, the good news is that there is a wealth of options available to treat any symptoms of dementia or medication-related side effect, so no matter your unique body chemistry, your doctor will be able to help you figure out the best way to improve your overall quality of life while living with dementia.

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