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Alzheimer's Disease Cure

Alzheimer's disease is a degenerative disease that causes the brain to shrink and plaques and tangles of protein to develop in the brain, resulting in progressive dementia and inability to function independently. In the mild to moderate stage (2 to 10 years), patients are forgetful and have trouble managing personal affairs (paying bills, keeping appointments) and understanding current events. In the moderate to severe stage (1 to 5 years), they may be increasingly confused, disoriented, unable to do basic personal care; they may also exhibit marked behavioral changes (pacing, wandering, violent outbursts) and eventually become bedridden. Although drugs can help slow the progression of the disease, and a number of clinical trials are evaluating the effectiveness of new drugs to treat Alzheimer's disease, there is no cure.

  1. Medications (Mild to Moderate Disease)

    • According to the National Institute on Aging, cholinesterase inhibitors (Exelon, Aricept, Razadyne) treat mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease, and patients should start a drug as early as possible. It's hard to measure effectiveness. Some discontinue the medication because of side effects (nausea, vomiting, hallucinations, paranoia), some show no response (but progression may slow), and others show modest improvement of functioning for up to 2 years. Another drug (Cognex) has severe side effects and is rarely used.

    Medication (Moderate to Severe Disease)

    • The FDA has approved memantine (Namenda) for moderate to severe Alzheimer's disease. While cholinesterase inhibitors target a neurotransmitter (brain chemical) called acetycholine, Namenda targets glutamate, so patients will usually take both types of drugs (such as Namenda and Aricept) as the disease progresses and the effectiveness of the first drug wanes.

    Antipsychotic Drugs

    • Some physicians prescribe potent antipsychotic drugs to control agitation and abnormal behavior, but the Alzheimer's Research Trust (2009) reported a study in England that looked at the results of ant-psychotic drugs and found that the 24-month survival rate of those receiving the drug was half as high as those receiving a placebo (fake drug). These drugs often replace one set of symptoms with another, and even short-term use has been linked to strokes, pneumonia and other adverse effects.

    Behavioral/Environmental Modification

    • Sometimes the only effective treatment for Alzheimer's disease is to keep the patient safe and manage the behavior. This includes putting alarms and sliding locks on doors, disguising exits (hanging sheet over door), monitoring, walking regularly with the person to reduce wandering, removing unsafe items (knives, scissors), reducing clutter, limiting choices (which can increase confusion), distracting the person and identifying triggers to disruptive behavior.

    MediAlert Safe Return Program

    • The Alzheimer's Association and MedicAlert sponsor a Safe Return program in response to the wandering behavior common with Alzheimer's disease. This national database helps to identify and locate those who wander. The patient must register with the program and wear an MedicAlert ID (bracelet or pendant). The program will usually notify the local police departments and send a picture and information to help the police locate people who wander away.

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