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Treatment
Your specific treatment for Alzheimer's disease will be determined by your doctor based on:
- Your age, overall health, and medical history
- Extent of the disease
- Your tolerance for specific medicines, procedures, and therapies
- Expectations for the course of the diseas
- Your opinion or preference
At this time, there is no cure for Alzheimer's disease, there is no way of slowing the progression of the disease, and there is no treatment available to reverse its effects. But medicines can help patients with Alzheimer's disease.
In general, healthy lifestyle changes that protect the body from strokes and heart attacks tend to protect the brain from cognitive decline. Older adults who exercise, maintain their normal body weight, avoid head trauma, have no more than one standard alcoholic beverage daily, and stay socially engaged maintain their cognitive abilities best. These recommendations are appropriate at all stages of disease but need to be tailored to the individual's preferences and abilities. Read more about managing Alzheimer's.
Adults in early stages could attend courses at a local community college, take classes at a senior center, or participate in library book clubs. Those with moderate or severe disease may benefit from organized activities in an adult day-care setting. Also, treatment of hypertension is important in protecting the brain against cognitive decline, as are prevention and treatment of diabetes with exercise and medications.
Researchers continue to study drugs and other substances as possible treatments for Alzheimer's disease. Carefully designed and conducted studies are necessary to give a clear picture of safety and effectiveness before any approval may be considered. In addition, clinical trials are being conducted on a vaccine to prevent and possibly reverse plaque formation.
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