Alzheimer’s and Dementia Treatments and Research

Republished from: https://www.alz.org/help-support/i-have-alz/treatments-research?WT.mc_id=enews2019_07_01&utm_source=enews-aff-28&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=enews-2019-07-01

By Alzheimer’s Association

The more you know about Alzheimer's medications, the better prepared you will be to discuss them with your physician, make informed choices about your treatment plan, and effectively cope with symptoms of the disease.

Medications
While there is no cure, prevention or treatment to slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease, there are five prescription medications approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat its symptoms.

Treatments-at-a-glance: Medication, Brand Name, Approved, Possible Side Effects

Donepezil

Aricept®             

All stages                           

Nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite and increased frequency of bowel movements.

Galantamine

Razadyne®        

Mild to moderate          

Nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite and increased frequency of bowel movements.

Memantine

Namenda®       

Moderate to severe     

Headache, constipation, confusion and dizziness.

Rivastigmine                

Exelon®             

Mild to moderate          

Nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite and increased frequency of bowel movements.

Memantine + Donepezil                       

Namzaric®                         

Moderate to severe       

Nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, increased frequency of bowel movements, headache,

constipation, confusion and dizziness.

The first three drugs are called cholinesterase inhibitors. These drugs prevent the breakdown of a chemical messenger in the brain important for learning and memory. These medications treat symptoms related to memory, thinking, language, judgment and other thought processes.

The fourth drug, memantine, regulates the activity of a different chemical messenger in the brain that is also important for learning and memory. Both types of drugs help manage symptoms, but work in different ways.

Tips from people living with Alzheimer's: Medication safety

1. Keep a calendar and check off each dose as it's taken.
2. Set up a pill box each night for use the next day.
3. Set the alarm on your cell phone or schedule dosing around meal times.

Before beginning a new medication, make sure your physician, pharmacist and care team are aware of any over-the-counter and alternative remedies you are taking to prevent drug interactions and unwanted side effects. Be sure to discuss all medications you take with your doctor to understand why they were prescribed and how to take them.

Treating sleep changes
Alzheimer's or another dementia may change your sleep patterns. You may have difficulty sleeping, take daytime naps, and/or experience other shifts in your sleep pattern. Researchers are not sure why these sleep changes occur. There are non-drug treatments and medications that may help improve your sleep.

Alternative treatments
There are remedies, supplements and “medical foods” that are often referred to as alternative treatments. Alternative treatments are not regulated and do not need to adhere to the same standards as FDA-approved treatments. Claims about their safety and effectiveness are based largely on testimonials, tradition or a small body of scientific research.

If you are considering taking an alternative treatment, talk openly with your physician. It is important to be aware of any risks so you can make an informed decision. Even if advertised as “natural,” alternative treatments can involve potentially powerful substances that have not met the FDA standards for effectiveness or safety, and some alternative medicines can cause unintended reactions when taken with prescription medications.

Here is a list of questions to ask when considering an alternative treatment or supplement:

Did the FDA test the product? If so, what were the results?
The FDA may have tested a product, but found it to be ineffective for the intended purpose. The company may still release the product as a medical food, either with or without changes.

Has any non-FDA testing been done? If so, what were the results?
Does the testing entity have a vested interest in the outcomes? For example, was testing done only by the company developing the product? If so, the results may not be entirely reliable.

Does the developer of the product or the person recommending it to you have a potential financial gain from the use of the medication?
If so, use extreme caution. Check with your care team to see if they have any questions or concerns with your plan to use it.

Is the product compatible with the other medications you are taking or with your diagnoses?
Be sure to check with your doctor or pharmacist to find out whether the product could cause negative outcomes given your diagnoses and any medications you are taking.

Does use of the product have any known risks?
Ask your doctor or the pharmacist if the product has any known side effects.

Research into tomorrow's treatments
Researchers are conducting studies to find new interventions and treatments that can prevent Alzheimer's, diagnose the disease earlier, slow its progression or stop it in its tracks.

Many drugs in development aim to interrupt the disease process itself by impacting one or more of the brain changes associated with Alzheimer’s. These changes offer potential "targets" for new drugs to slow or stop the progress of the disease. These promising targets include beta-amyloid and tau protein (hallmarks of Alzheimer's brain abnormality) and inflammation.

Researchers believe successful treatment will eventually involve a combination of medications aimed at several targets, similar to current treatments for many cancers and AIDS.

Participate in clinical trials
Recruiting and retaining trial participants is now the greatest obstacle, other than funding, to developing the next generation of Alzheimer's treatments. You can help change this by participating in a clinical research study.

To find a clinical trial, use Alzheimer's Association TrialMatch® or call 800.272.3900 (press 1 for clinical trials).

TrialMatch is a free, easy-to-use clinical studies matching service that connects individuals with Alzheimer's or another dementia, caregivers, healthy volunteers and physicians with current studies.