Senile Dementia Treatment

Dementia is a condition with many symptoms having to do with memory, thinking, learning, and perceiving. Many things cause dementia. Some conditions are reversible and are alleviated by treating the underlying cause. Some types of dementia are irreversible. The most common type of this dementia is Alzheimer's disease. The second most common type is vascular or multi-infarct dementia. Lewy body dementia and frontotemporal lobe dementia are also fairly common irreversible dementias. At the present time, treating the symptoms is the only option. Often, people with dementia exhibit problem behavior. Managing this is necessary because these people can be a danger to themselves or others. Without treating these symptoms, geriatric psychiatric facilities would be overloaded.
Many scientists, from all over the world, research new treatments for dementia. Treating dementia has come a long way, but there is still a long way to go before finding a cure.

Underlying Conditions

• There are some conditions causing dementia that are treatable. These ailments include head injuries, chronic drug abuse, removable tumors, normal-pressure hydrocephalus, vitamin B12 and other vitamin deficiencies, malnutrition, hypothyroidism, and hypoglycemia. Treating these conditions will totally or at least partially cure the underlying dementia. The treatments vary depending on the root cause. Some treatments are as simple as eating a healthy diet. Having a complete physical exam by a knowledgeable doctor is the first step in treating senile dementia.
  Some persons with dementia will never be the same because the dementia affecting them causes permanent changes in their brain.

Standard Treatment

• Managing the symptoms of irreversible dementia is the standard treatment because there is no way of curing these dementias.
  At this time, only three drugs are approved for treating the symptoms. They are donepezil (Aricept®), galantamine (Reminyl®), and rivastigmine (Exelon®). Recently there has been some success with patients using the Exelon patch.
  Abnormal proteins and stiff arteries in the brain of those with dementia cause cell death. These drugs work in a similar fashion. They all prevent an enzyme known as acetylcholinesterase from breaking down acetylcholine in the brain. Increased levels of acetylcholine allow for more communication between the remaining nerve cells. Acetylcholine is a chemical messenger. The use of these drugs may temporarily improve or stabilize the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias.
  Some sufferers cannot tolerate the side effects of these drugs.

Sleep Changes

• Those with dementia sleep differently. As we age, changes in sleep patterns occur. These, coupled with a decrease in the circadian cycle length and lack of awareness of the appropriate time to sleep, in those with dementia can affect nighttime sleep.
  Managing the behavior of persons with dementia may help. Here are things that may work: restrict caffeine, stimulant medications, and daytime naps; exercise early in the day; keep their room cool and quiet during the night; and limit evening fluid intake.
  If none of these suggestions work, certain sleep medications such as chloral hydrate, trazodone, or thioridazine may help.

Behavioral Symptoms

• People with dementia may exhibit problem behavior for a number of reasons. Often these behaviors have psychotic features, including hallucinations and delusions. Treat these symptoms with behavior management, if possible.
  Try to identify the trigger to the problem behavior. Sensing the start of a problem behavior is key because you are much more likely to stop it in the early phases. Avoid arguing, as the person with dementia will not likely believe what you are saying. Instead, refocus and redirect their attention.
  If this does not work, then medication is the next option. Using drugs for convulsions, depression, and mood stabilization may be a good option.

Cognitive Retraining

• A relatively new treatment for dementia is cognitive retraining. It provides a way for those with dementia to take preserved skills, procedural knowledge, and motor memory and apply them to cognitive and functional deficits.
  This action may preserve or improve the thinking skills in some people with dementia depending on their deficits and their willingness to participate. Examples of cognitive retraining include association card games that use memory and thinking skills, manipulating objects, using a memory notebook, and making change.

Alternative Treatment

• There are many alternative treatments for dementia, but most are unproven. The caregivers of persons with dementia must be careful about using these treatments. Consult a physician before starting any treatment.
  Some suggest taking nutritional supplements. Omega 3 fish oil is one such supplement. Herbs such as ginkgo biloba may be an option. Homeopathic therapies have had limited success in some people with dementia, so thorough research and proceeding with caution are of the utmost importance when pursuing these avenues of treatment.

Clinical Trials

• In order for new drugs for dementia to be approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), testing must take place. First testing is done on animals, but trying potential drugs on humans is eventually necessary. There are several phases to the clinical trial, and the whole process takes years. Currently there are many ongoing and new clinical trials for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. Participating in one of these trials may help a person with dementia. It will definitely help future sufferers of this condition. Many easily searchable databases match potential dementia participants with appropriate drug trials.