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Home > Alzheimer's Disease Treatment Information

Alzheimer's Disease Treatment Information

In this section, you will learn how Alzheimer's disease is treated. Because there is no cure, managing the disease usually involves medications to control symptoms, in combination with various non-drug strategies designed to ease the suffering of the person afflicted as well as his or her family and caregiver.

We'll tell you what medications might be used and what clinical trials are underway to improve drug treatment of Alzheimer's. We'll also describe the critical role of the caregiver, give you tips for communicating and actively engaging a person with the disease, explain how home modifications may impact Alzheimer's, and describe how diet, exercise and complementary health approaches fit into overall care.

Click the links below for more information on each topic, or select a question from the list.

Treatment

 Alzheimer's Treatment Overview
 Drug Treatment
 Clinical Trials
 Family Support & Education
 Communicating with a Person who has Alzheimer's Disease
 Therapeutic Activities
 Modifying the Home
 Diet, Exercise & Complementary Health
 10 Tips for Traveling with Your Loved One
 Fact Sheets


 Alzheimer's Treatment Overview

Treatments and therapies available for Alzheimer’s sufferers.

 Is There a Cure for Alzheimer's Disease?
 How is Alzheimer's Disease Treated?
 What Are The Goals Of Alzheimer's Disease Treatment?
 How is Alzheimer's Disease Treatment Paid For?


 Drug Treatment

Current and potential Alzheimer’s drugs and the importance of Alzheimer’s research.

What drugs are used to treat Alzheimer's symptoms?
What research is being conducted to develop treatments for AD?
What potential new Alzheimer's drugs are being tested in clinical trials?
What other types of Alzheimer's drugs might a person diagnosed need to take?


 Clinical Trials

Protocol and information on clinical trials as well as links to find the trials currently available.

 Alzheimer's Disease Clinical Trials
 What is a clinical trial?
 What is a protocol?
 What are clinical trial phases?
 What protections are there for people who participate in clinical trials?
 What is informed consent?
 Who can participate in a clinical trial?
 Who sponsors clinical trials?
 What happens during a clinical trial?
 What is a placebo?
 What is a control or control group?
 What is a blinded or masked study?
 What is a double-blind or double-masked study?
 What are side effects and adverse reactions?
 What are the benefits and risks associated with clinical trials?
 What should I know before I join a clinical trial?
 How should I prepare for the meeting with the research coordinator or doctor?
 What questions should I ask?
 Should I continue working with my primary health care provider if I participate in a trial?
 Can I leave a clinical trial after it has begun?
 Will I be paid for participating in a clinical trial?



 Family Support & Education

The role of the caregiver, how to be prepared and keep your own health in check.

 What is the role of the family and caregiver in Alzheimer's treatment?
 What can I do to be better prepared to help my loved one with Alzheimer's disease?
 What types of caregiver education programs are beneficial?
 Should caregivers be concerned about their personal health?



 Communicating with a Person who has Alzheimer's Disease

Tips and techniques for a caring conversation with an Alzheimer’s sufferer and how to deal with aggressive behavior.

 How can I communicate better with my loved one who has Alzheimer's?
 What are some tips for communicating better?
 What communication techniques work best?
 How do I deal with aggressive behavior?


 Therapeutic Activities

From pet therapy to learning a new talent, or planting a garden, these activities are beneficial for everyone.

 How can therapeutic activities help manage the symptoms of Alzheimer's?
 What kinds of therapeutic activities are best?
 Where can I learn more about beneficial activities?


 Modifying the Home

How to make and maintain a safe home for a person with Alzheimer’s disease.

 What does it mean to modify the home environment?
 How can modifying the home help the person with Alzheimer's?
 What types of modifications are beneficial?
 What can be done to make the home safer for the person with Alzheimer's?
 At what point should a person with Alzheimer's not be allowed to drive?
 How can wandering be managed?
 Where can I learn more about home modifications?
 What can be done to help manage incontinence?


 Diet, Exercise & Complementary Health

You are indeed what you eat, and Alzheimer’s and dementia patient’s can improve their quality of life by implementing simple diet and exercise habits.

 How can overall health and well-being be maintained in a person suffering from Alzheimer's disease?
 Do people with Alzheimer's need to follow a special diet?
 Is it important for a person who has Alzheimer's to exercise?
 What kinds of complementary health approaches might benefit a person with Alzheimer's?
 Ginkgo biloba
 Acupuncture
 Massage


 10 Tips for Traveling with Your Loved One

Make trips and the holidays merrier by being prepared

 Bring along an identification tag
 Keep things as familiar as possible
 Be prepared
 Plan your itinerary well in advance
 Be realistic
 Limit the length of plane or car rides
 If you are driving
 If you are traveling by air
 If you are staying in a hotel
 Have a back up plan.


 Fact Sheets

Plan Activities for persons with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia

 Activities for People with Alzheimer's
 Communicating with An Alzheimer's Patient
 Facts About Alzheimer's Disease
 The Importance of Pre-Planning: Alzheimer's Disease and Health Care Proxies
 Steps to Healthy Aging
 Warning Signs and Symptoms of Alzheimer's Disease



 
 
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© 2008 The Fisher Center for Alzheimer's Research Foundation, a 501c3 not for profit, Tax ID # 13-3859563.

This project was supported, in part, by a grant, number 90AZ2791, from the Administration on Aging, Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, D.C. 20201. Grantees undertaking projects under government sponsorship are encouraged to express freely their findings and conclusions. Points of view or opinions do not, therefore, necessarily represent official Administration on Aging policy.