Brain & Nervous System Alzheimer's Treatment Alzheimer's Guide Alzheimer's Guide Symptoms Causes Diagnosis Treatment Coping Prevention How Alzheimer's Disease Is Treated By Esther Heerema, MSW facebook twitter linkedin Esther Heerema, MSW, shares practical tips gained from working with hundreds of people whose lives are touched by Alzheimer's disease and other kinds of dementia. Learn about our editorial process Esther Heerema, MSW Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD on September 30, 2019 Steven Gans, MD, is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn about our Medical Review Board Steven Gans, MD Updated on October 02, 2019 Print If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, you may feel scared, frustrated, and more. While there is no cure for Alzheimer's at this time, there are many ways to treat the symptoms and even help manage the disease's progression. Treatment options for the behavioral and psychological symptoms of Alzheimer's include drug therapy and non-drug approaches, such as behavioral and environmental modifications. SeventyFour / Getty Images Home Remedies and Lifestyle Non-drug approaches focus on treating the behavioral, psychological, and emotional symptoms of Alzheimer's by changing the way you understand and interact with the person with the disease. These approaches recognize that behavior is often a way of communicating for those with Alzheimer's. The goal of non-drug approaches is to understand the meaning of the challenging behaviors and why they are present. Non-drug approaches should generally be attempted before using psychotropic medications since they do not have the potential for side effects or medication interactions. Behavior Assessment Identify a particular behavior and note what seems to trigger the behavior. For example, if a shower always makes your loved one agitated, try a bath instead. Or attempt to offer a shower at a different time of day. Rather than using medication if someone is upset or agitated, a non-drug approach tries to understand why they might be agitated. Perhaps they need to use the bathroom, are in pain, or think they lost something. Note what happens right before the behavior, try something different the next time, and track the results. Validation Therapy You can often avoid escalating troubling behaviors by changing your own perspective. For example, if your loved one is asking to see his mother (who may have been deceased for many years), ask him to tell you about her, rather than force him to confront her death. This is validation therapy, and it can be very effective in calming the person who is upset. Using Validation Therapy for People With Dementia Meaningful Activities People living with dementia may feel lonely or bored at times, and they might not be able to clearly verbalize these feelings. Offering opportunities to engage socially with others, to perform familiar tasks such as organizing papers or washing the dishes, or to sing along with their favorite songs can improve mood and reduce feelings of restlessness and boredom. Creative and Meaningful Activities for Dementia Physical Exercise Sometimes, challenging behaviors or feelings of frustration in people living with dementia are simply a result of not getting enough physical activity. Getting up and going for a walk, participating in a group aerobic activity class, or doing some stretching exercises can help meet this need. In addition, exercise has the potential to improve cognition for some people. 6 Ways That Exercise Helps Alzheimer's Disease Brain Engagement Other non-drug approaches target the cognitive functioning of the person with Alzheimer's disease. Staying mentally active—doing a puzzle or reading a book, for example—has been shown to be helpful in maintaining memory and thinking skills in people with dementia. While these approaches won't cure the disease of Alzheimer's—and some may be more possible than others, depending on the stage of disease—they may still provide some limited benefit. Know What to Expect The familiar saying of "knowledge is power" is very true here. Knowing what to expect as Alzheimer's progresses can help you understand behavior and recognize its source as the disease, rather than the person. This can provide more compassion and reduce frustration. Prescriptions Cognitive enhancers are medications that attempt to slow the progression of Alzheimer's symptoms. While these medications appear to improve thought processes for some people, the effectiveness overall varies greatly. Two classes of medication have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treatment of the cognitive symptoms of Alzheimer's. They include cholinesterase inhibitors and N-methyl D-aspartate (NMDA) antagonists. Cholinesterase Inhibitors Cholinesterase inhibitors act by preventing the breakdown of acetylcholine in the brain. Acetylcholine is a chemical that facilitates nerve cell communication in the areas of memory, learning, and other thought processes. Scientific research has found lower levels of acetylcholine in the brains of individuals with Alzheimer's, so the hope is that by protecting or increasing the acetylcholine levels through use of these medications, brain functioning will stabilize or improve. Researchers estimate that for about 50% of people with Alzheimer's who take cholinesterase inhibitors, progression of Alzheimer's symptoms is delayed for an average of six to 12 months. There are three cholinesterase inhibitor medications currently approved and prescribed to treat Alzheimer's disease: Aricept (donepezil): Approved for mild, moderate, and severe Alzheimer'sExelon (rivastigmine): Approved for mild to moderate Alzheimer'sRazadyne (galantamine): Approved for mild to moderate Alzheimer's Of note, Cognex (tacrine) had been previously FDA-approved for mild to moderate Alzheimer's; however, it is not marketed by its manufacturer anymore because it caused some significant side effects. N-Methyl D-Aspartate (NMDA) Antagonists Namenda (memantine) is the only drug in this class, and it is approved for moderate to severe Alzheimer's. Namenda appears to work by regulating levels of glutamate, an amino acid, in the brain. Normal levels of glutamate facilitate learning, but too much can cause brain cells to die. Namenda has been somewhat effective in delaying the progression of symptoms in later Alzheimer's disease. Combined Drugs In 2014, the FDA approved Namzaric, which is a combination of donepezil and memantine—one drug from each class above. It is designated for moderate to severe Alzheimer's disease. Cognitive enhancers need to be monitored regularly for side effects and interaction with other medications. Psychotropics Psychotropic medications are used at times to treat the behavioral, psychological, and emotional symptoms of Alzheimer's disease—what is sometimes referred to as Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia (BPSD). These symptoms can include emotional distress, depression, anxiety, insomnia, hallucinations, and paranoia, as well as some challenging behaviors, so being proactive in identifying and treating them is important. The classes of psychotropic medications used to manage the behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia include: AntidepressantsAnti-anxiety medicationsAntipsychoticsMood stabilizersMedications for insomnia (sometimes called sleeping pills or hypnotics) These medications can be effective, but can also potentially cause significant side effects. Psychotropics are typically used in conjunction with other non-drug approaches or after attempting non-drug therapies and finding them to be inadequate. Complementary Alternative Medicine (CAM) Since medications have had limited benefit in treating Alzheimer's, many have turned to alternative and complementary treatments. The jury is still out on many of these approaches, and research is ongoing. Some people have reported an improvement in cognition with various supplements, but none have proven successful enough in clinical studies to warrant recommending them for people with Alzheimer's disease. Vitamin E supplementation showed the most promise. But according to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Medicine, there was only evidence from a single study that it might slow functional decline in Alzheimer's disease. Studies have shown there may be a protective effect of eating more fish and other foods containing omega-3 fatty acids, specifically docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). But giving people supplements of DHA after they have been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease has showed no benefit. Other CAM options that have been studies include ginkgo biloba, which has no conclusive evidence of preventing or slowing Alzheimer's disease, and curcumin, which doesn't have enough research yet conducted to support its use. If you're interested in trying complementary or alternative treatments, you should discuss them with your doctor, since some have the potential to interact with other medications or may trigger significant side effects. Complementary and Alternative Treatments for Dementia A Word From Verywell Although there is no cure yet for Alzheimer's disease, be encouraged. Researchers are constantly working on finding more effective treatment and prevention methods. Much has been learned about how Alzheimer's affects the brain, and this increased knowledge continues to spur new thoughts related to the development of a cure, treatment, and prevention. Coping and Living Well With an Alzheimer's Diagnosis Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! When it comes to Alzheimer's, the MIND diet has shown promise in reducing risk and promoting brain health. Sign up for our Alzheimer’s and Dementia Newsletter and get your free recipe guide today. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Kratz T. The Diagnosis and Treatment of Behavioral Disorders in Dementia. Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2017;114(26):447-454. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2017.0447 Tondi L, Ribani L, Bottazzi M, Viscomi G, Vulcano V. Validation therapy (VT) in nursing home: a case-control study. Arch Gerontol Geriatr. 2007;44 Suppl 1:407-11. doi:10.1016/j.archger.2007.01.057 Mendiola-precoma J, Berumen LC, Padilla K, Garcia-alcocer G. Therapies for Prevention and Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease. Biomed Res Int. 2016;2016:2589276. doi:10.1155/2016/2589276 Casey DA, Antimisiaris D, O'brien J. Drugs for Alzheimer's disease: are they effective? P T. 2010;35(4):208-11. Törmälehto S, Martikainen J, Bell JS, Hallikainen I, Koivisto AM. Use of psychotropic medications in relation to neuropsychiatric symptoms, cognition and functional performance in Alzheimer's disease over a three-year period: Kuopio ALSOVA study. Int Psychogeriatr. 2017;29(10):1723-1733. doi:10.1017/S1041610217001090 Kelley BJ, Knopman DS. Alternative medicine and Alzheimer disease. Neurologist. 2008;14(5):299-306. doi:10.1097/NRL.0b013e318172cf4d National Center for Complementary and Integrative Medicine. Dietary Supplements and Cognitive Function, Dementia, and Alzheimer’s Disease. Updated June 15, 2017. Cunnane SC, Chouinard-watkins R, Castellano CA, Barberger-gateau P. Docosahexaenoic acid homeostasis, brain aging and Alzheimer's disease: Can we reconcile the evidence? Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids. 2013;88(1):61-70. doi:10.1016/j.plefa.2012.04.006 Additional Reading Alzheimer's Disease Medications Fact Sheet. National Institute on Aging. Dietary Supplements and Cognitive Function, Dementia, and Alzheimer's Disease: What the Science Says. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. June 2017. Medications for Memory. Alzheimer's Association. How Is Alzheimer's Disease Treated? National Institutes on Aging. Cunnane SC, Chouinard-Watkins R, Castellano CA, Barberger-gateau P. Docosahexaenoic Acid Homeostasis, Brain Aging and Alzheimer's Disease: Can We Reconcile the Evidence? Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids. 2013;88(1):61-70. doi:10.1016/j.plefa.2012.04.006