Alzheimer's Disease (cont.)
Potential and future therapies for Alzheimer's disease
A variety of clinical research trials are underway with agents that try
either to decrease the amount of Aβ1-42 produced or increase the amount of
Aβ1-42 removed. It is hoped that such therapies may slow down the rate of
progression of Alzheimer's disease. As of June 2007, it is not known how well such therapies may
work.
Caring for the caregiver and Alzheimer's disease resources
Caring for the caregiver is an essential element of managing the patient with
Alzheimer's disease. Caregiving is a distressing experience. On the other hand, caregiver
education delays nursing home placement of Alzheimer's disease patients. The 3Rs -
Repeat,
Reassure, and Redirect - can help caregivers reduce troublesome behaviors and
limit the use of medications. The short-term educational programs are well liked
by family caregivers and can lead to a modest increase in disease knowledge and
greater confidence among caregivers. Educational training for staffs of
long-term care facilities can decrease the use of antipsychotics in Alzheimer's
disease patients.
Caregivers should be directed to support services, particularly the
Alzheimer's Association (1-800-272-3900, www.alz.org/chapter/).
Alzheimer's Disease At A Glance
- Alzheimer's disease is a brain disease of unknown cause that leads to
dementia.
- Most patients with Alzheimer's disease are over 65 years of age.
- There are 10 classic warning signs of Alzheimer's disease: memory loss, difficulty performing familiar tasks, problems with
language, disorientation to time and place, poor or decreased judgment, problems
with abstract thinking, misplacing things, changes in mood or behavior, changes
in personality, and loss of initiative.
- Patients with symptoms of dementia should be thoroughly evaluated before
they become inappropriately or negligently labeled Alzheimer's disease.
- Although there is no cure for Alzheimer's disease, treatments are available
to alleviate many of the symptoms that cause suffering.
- The management of Alzheimer's disease consists of medication based and non-medication based
treatments organized to care for the patient and family. Treatments aimed at
changing the underlying course of the disease (delaying or reversing the
progression) have so far been largely unsuccessful. Medicines that restore the
defect, or malfunctioning, in the chemical messengers of the nerve cells have
been shown to improve symptoms. Finally, medications are available that deal
with the psychiatric manifestations of Alzheimer's disease.
Reference: Alzheimer's Association
Last Editorial Review: 7/17/2007
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