Treatment Options
Though there is no cure for Alzheimer's, there are treatments and actions you can take to better manage life with the disease. At each stage of the disease, there are medical and care-related options that need to be considered, as well as safety issues.
Medical Treatment
There is no cure for Alzheimer's, but there are medicines that may improve quality of living and delay some symptoms. Counseling and other therapies may also be recommended.
Currently there are 4 drugs approved by the U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat the symptoms of the disease for some time, but they cannot stop the disease itself. Not every drug will be helpful for every person with dementia.
Information about the 4 currently approved drugs — and about treatments that we know do NOT work — is found on these sites:
- NIH Alzheimer's Disease Education and Referral Center has an overview of currently approved drugs, how they work and their potential side effects.
- The Alzheimer's Association
has resources on drug and non-drug treatments, and advancements in research.
Behavioral Changes
As the disease progresses, a person with dementia may experience a variety of problems, like sleeplessness, agitation, wandering, anxiety, anger, and depression. Drug and non-drug treatments are available to manage these symptoms. Treating behavioral symptoms often makes people with Alzheimer's more comfortable and helps caregivers keep them safe.
- The NIH Alzheimer's Disease Education and Referral Center has details on types of treatment, approved medications, and current research.
- The Alzheimer's Association has information on behavioral changes, their symptoms, what triggers them, and ways to cope and treat these symptoms.
Important Links
NIH Alzheimer's Disease Education and Referral Center:
Medications Fact SheetNIH Alzheimer's Disease Education and Referral Center:
Information on participating in clinical trials and studies, as well as a listing of Alzheimer's trials you can search by geographic area.Alzheimer's Association:
Information and links to additional clinical trials that are not federally funded.
