Is There Any Medication For Dementia

Questions To Ask The Doctor

If your loved one’s doctor prescribes a new medication, you could ask:

• What is its name? Does it go by any other names?
• Why have you prescribed this?
• Do they have to take this medication? Are there any alternatives?
• How often and at what time of day should they take it?
• Should they take it with food or on an empty stomach?
• Are there any side effects that I should watch for?
• How much does it cost? Are there less costly or free alternatives?

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What Are The Causes Of Dementia

Dementia is caused by damage to your brain. Dementia affects your brains nerve cells, which destroys your brains ability to communicate with its various areas. Dementia can also result from blocked blood flow to your brain, depriving it of needed oxygen and nutrients. Without oxygen and nutrients, brain tissue dies.

Damage to your brain results in different symptoms, depending on the area of your brain affected. Some dementias arent reversible and will worsen over time. Other dementias are due to other medical conditions that also affect your brain. Another group of health issues can result in dementia-like symptoms. Many of these conditions are treatable, and the dementia symptoms are reversible.

All of the possible causes of dementia are discussed in the question, Are there different types of dementia?

Research Shows How Low Should You Go

Lower is not necessarily better when it comes to blood pressure. A 2013 study published in the journal JAMA Neurology found that people with heart disease or stroke who had lower-than-normal blood pressure were more likely to show changes in the brain that can affect cognition and memory. National guidelines recommend people with hypertension who are 60 and older aim for a goal of less than 150/90 mm Hg, while those ages 30 through 59 aim for a diastolic goal of less than 90 mm Hg. Younger people should aim for a goal of less than 140/90 mm Hg. Consult with your doctor about the best target for you.

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What Are The Side Effects

The most common side-effects are feeling sick, loss of appetite, tiredness, diarrhoea, muscle cramps and sometimes poor sleep. These may be reduced or avoided by increasing the dose slowly, or taking the medicine after food.

The side-effects usually fade after a few weeks and will go away if the medicine is stopped. More information about side-effects can be obtained from your doctor or by reading the leaflet that comes with the tablets.

What Drugs Are Used To Calm Dementia Patients

Many different drugs are used to calm individuals with dementia and their symptoms, with medication regimens based on the type of dementia each individual has. Some of the most common include painkillers like buprenorphine, antipsychotic medications and benzodiazepines.

There is no cure for dementia and, as a progressive disease, it gets worse over time, often resulting in mood swings, anxiety, anger or other emotions that are hard for individuals and their families to deal with.

But that doesnt mean you have to deal with frustration and other difficult emotions without help. There are many ways to calm individuals with dementia and help them find the support they need for a happy, productive life and ease the stress on their family and friends.

Medication is just one of those techniques, and its often combined with other tools, such as music therapy, to create a calm, positive environment.

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Medications For The Treatment Of Alzheimers Disease

There are two types of medications: acetylcholinesterase inhibitors and NMDA receptor antagonists. The two types work in different ways.

Below we provide details of both types of dementia medication, how they are administered, as well as who may benefit from them, and any side effects to look out for.

Do Medicines For Dementia Work

Alzheimer’s disease: medicines can’t cure Alzheimer’s disease, but they may slow it down for a while and make it easier to live with.

• Cholinesterase inhibitors may be used in people with mild to moderate Alzheimers disease or mixed dementia. These may give temporary help with memory, motivation, concentration and daily tasks.
• Memantine may be useful in the moderate or severe stages of Alzheimers disease, to help with attention and daily tasks, and possibly ease distressing or challenging behaviours.

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What Effects Can These Drugs Have

They can improve memory. They can also have general benefits including improving alertness and motivation.

It may take some months for there to be a noticeable improvement or slowing down of memory loss. Some people feel brighter in their mood and will be able to do things that were too hard for them, such as going shopping.

Other Conditions With Dementia

People with dementia may have other medical problems or conditions. These may or may not be related to dementia. Each person is unique. The way these medical problems are managed might be different from the way they would be managed for someone who does not have dementia.

NPS MedicineWise and Dementia Australia have written a fact sheet. It discusses how to manage other conditions along with dementia. It can help people with dementia and their families, friends and carers.

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Questions To Ask Your Doctor

It is vital that you understand your medicines, the risks and benefits, and other treatment options available to you. Here are some questions to help you discuss your medicines with your doctor or pharmacist.

• Why do I need to take this medicine?
• What are the likely benefits of taking the medicine?
• Will the medicine help me achieve my treatment goals?
• What risks, such as side effects, should I be aware of?
• Will I be able to tell if the medicine is working or causing harm?
• How do I take the medicine? How long should I take it for?
• If the medicine needs to be stopped, will this be safe and easy to do?
• What would happen if I didnt take this medicine?
• What are my other treatment options?
• Which option has the best balance of benefits to risks for me?

New Research Links Certain Medications To Dementia Risk

A new study raises the possibility that certain medications may contribute to the risk of developing dementia.

The focus of this study was on medications with “anticholinergic” effects. These are drugs that block a chemical messenger called acetylcholine, which affects muscle activity in the digestive and urinary tracts, lungs, and elsewhere in the body. Its also involved in memory and learning.

Many medications have at least some anticholinergic effects, and its estimated that up to half of older adults in the US take one or more of these medications. Common examples include:

• amitriptyline, paroxetine, and bupropion
• oxybutynin and tolterodine
• diphenhydramine .

In this new study, researchers collected detailed information from more than 300,000 adults ages 65 and older, and compared medication use among those diagnosed with dementia with those who were not. Those who had taken any medication with anticholinergic activity were 11% more likely to be eventually diagnosed with dementia for those drugs with the most anticholinergic effects, the risk of dementia was 30% greater. The largest impact was found for drugs commonly taken for depression, bladder problems, and Parkinsons disease for antihistamines, and some other anticholinergic drugs, no increased risk of dementia was observed.

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What Medications Are Available To Manage Dementia

Drugs approved for the most common form of dementia, Alzheimers disease, include:

• Cholinesterase inhibitors, including donepezil , rivastigmine and galantamine .
• NMDA receptor antagonist memantine .
• Anti-amyloid antibody aducanumab .

Healthcare providers use these drugs to treat people with some of the other forms of dementia.

Cholinesterase inhibitors and the NMDA receptor antagonist affect different chemical processes in your brain. Both drug classes have been shown to provide some benefit in improving or stabilizing memory function in some people with dementia.

Cholinesterase inhibitors manage the chemicals in your brain that allow messages to be sent between brain cells, which is needed for proper brain function. Memantine works similarly to cholinesterase inhibitors except it works on a different chemical messenger and helps the nerve cells survive longer.

Aducanumab targets amyloid proteins, which build up into the plaques seen in the brains of people with Alzheimers disease.

Although none of these drugs appear to stop the progression of the underlying disease, they may slow it down.

If other medical conditions are causing dementia or co-exist with dementia, healthcare providers prescribe the appropriate drugs used to treat those specific conditions. These other conditions include sleeping problems, depression, hallucinations and agitation.

Other Medicines For Alzheimer’s Disease

Memantine

Memantine works by blocking a certain type of receptor called NMDA receptors in the brain. They are involved in sending nerve signals in the brain, eg, in learning and memory. Memantine protects these receptors from a chemical called glutamate, which might be adding to brain degeneration.

Antipsychotics

Antipsychotics work by changing the effect of certain chemicals in the brain. These include dopamine, serotonin, noradrenaline and acetylcholine. These chemicals can impact how you behave, your mood and how you feel. There are many different antipsychotics. They are split into two types the newer or atypical antipsychotics, and the older typical antipsychotics.

Antidepressants

Antidepressants are thought to work by raising certain chemicals in the brain. These include serotonin and noradrenaline. They are linked to your mood and how you feel.

Anxiolytics

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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.

How Is Dementia Diagnosed

Confirming a diagnosis of dementia can be difficult. Many diseases and conditions can cause or lead to dementia. In addition, many of its symptoms are common to many other illnesses.

Your healthcare provider will:

• Ask about the course of your symptoms.
• Ask about your medical history.
• Review your current medications.
• Ask about your family history of disease including dementia.

They may also order tests, including laboratory tests, imaging tests and neurocognitive tests .

Neurologists and geriatricians may assist in making the diagnosis of dementia.

Laboratory tests

Laboratory tests rule out other diseases and conditions as the cause of dementia, such as infection, inflammation, underactive thyroid and vitamin deficiency .

Sometimes, healthcare providers order cerebrospinal fluid tests to evaluate autoimmune conditions and neurodegenerative diseases, if warranted.

Imaging tests

Your healthcare provider may order the following imaging tests of your brain:

Neurocognitive testing

During neurocognitive testing, your healthcare provider uses written and computerized tests to evaluate your mental abilities, including:

• Problem solving.

Psychiatric evaluation

A mental health professional may check for signs of depression, mood changes or other mental health issues that might cause memory loss.

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What Are The Symptoms Of Dementia

Early symptoms of dementia include:

• Forgetting recent events or information.
• Repeating comments or questions over a very short period.
• Misplacing commonly used items or placing them in unusual spots.
• Not knowing the season, year or month.
• Having difficulty coming up with the right words.
• Experiencing a change in mood, behavior or interests.

Signs that dementia is getting worse include:

• Your ability to remember and make decisions further declines.
• Talking and finding the right words becomes more difficult.
• Daily complex tasks, such as brushing your teeth, making a cup of coffee, working a TV remote, cooking and paying bills become more challenging.
• Lessening of rational thinking and behavior and your ability to problem-solve.
• Sleeping pattern changes.
• Increases or worsening of anxiety, frustration, confusion, agitation, suspiciousness, sadness and/or depression.
• Needing more help with activities of daily living, such as grooming, toileting, bathing and eating.
• Experiencing hallucinations .

These symptoms are general symptoms of dementia. Each person diagnosed with dementia has different symptoms, depending on what area of their brain is damaged. Additional symptoms and/or unique symptoms occur with specific types of dementia.

Find The Dementia Care Regimen That Works For You

No instance of dementia is the same. Individuals react differently to the disease and the medication used to treat it. It can take time to create a combination of drug and behavioral treatments that work.

Many times, the best, most calming way to approach dementia is to find a comfortable, secure dementia care community. At The Cabana at Jensen Dunes, we know just how important a comfortable home is for individuals with dementia. Thats why weve designed our Florida memory care community to include all the comforts of home with the safety and security needed when dealing with dementia.

At The Cabana, youll find spacious hallways, relaxing routines and dementia care programs designed to help individuals with memory impairments engage and improve cognition. Youll also find highly trained staff that can help with medication management, ensuring your relative or friend takes their medication in the correct dose at the correct time every day.

For more information on memory care communities like The Cabana, or contact us online. Our team will be happy to answer your questions and help you learn more about how a comfortable home can work with dementia medication to improve the quality of life for the people you care about most.

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Can Some Medications Cause Dementia Symptoms

Long-term use of some types of medication can cause problems with memory and thinking. They can slow down some of the chemical signals in your brain, so if you have any cognitive problems it can sometimes make these worse. The impact on brain chemicals is known as an anticholinergic effect. Several types of medication have an anticholinergic effect. They include some types of strong antihistamines, anti-depressants and muscle relaxants. They are used in treatments for conditions like depression, allergies, insomnia, and bladder and bowel problems.

The effect of each medication varies between individuals, and also depends on how long you use them. Your GP or pharmacist can help you understand the pros and cons of any treatment you need. Dont stop taking any medication without speaking to your GP.

What The Data Show

The late-stage development program for Aduhelm consisted of two phase 3 clinical trials. One study met the primary endpoint, showing reduction in clinical decline. The second trial did not meet the primary endpoint. In all studies in which it was evaluated, however, Aduhelm consistently and very convincingly reduced the level of amyloid plaques in the brain in a dose- and time-dependent fashion. It is expected that the reduction in amyloid plaque will result in a reduction in clinical decline.

We know that the Peripheral and Central Nervous System Drugs Advisory Committee, which convened in November 2020 to review the clinical trial data and discuss the evidence supporting the Aduhelm application, did not agree that it was reasonable to consider the clinical benefit of the one successful trial as the primary evidence supporting approval. The option of Accelerated Approval was not discussed by the Advisory Committee. As mentioned above, treatment with Aduhelm was clearly shown in all trials to substantially reduce amyloid beta plaques. This reduction in plaques is reasonably likely to result in clinical benefit. After the Advisory Committee provided its feedback, our review and deliberations continued, and we decided that the evidence presented in the Aduhelm application met the standard for Accelerated Approval. We thank the Advisory Committee for its independent review of the data and valuable advice.

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Types Of Medication For Difficult Behaviors In Dementia

Most medications used to treat difficult behaviors fall into one of the following categories:

1.Antipsychotics. These are medications originally developed to treat schizophrenia and other illnesses featuring psychosis symptoms.

Commonly used drugs: Antipsychotics often used in older adults include:

• For a longer list of antipsychotics drugs, see this NIH page.

Usual effects: Most antipsychotics are sedating, and will calm agitation or aggression through these sedating effects. Antipsychotics may also reduce true psychosis symptoms, such as delusions, hallucinations, or paranoid beliefs, but its rare for them to completely correct these in people with dementia.

Risks of use: The risks of antipsychotics are related to how high the dose is, and include:

• Increased risk of falls
• Increased risk of stroke and of death this has been estimated as an increased absolute risk of 1-4%
• A risk of side-effects known as extrapyramidal symptoms, which include stiffness and tremor similar to Parkinsons disease, as well as a variety of other muscle coordination problems
• People with Lewy-body dementia or a history of Parkinsonism may be especially sensitive to antipsychotic side-effects in such people, quetiapine is considered the safest choice

2. Benzodiazepines. This is a category of medication that relaxes people fairly quickly. So these drugs are used for anxiety, for panic attacks, for sedation, and to treat insomnia. They can easily become habit-forming.