Alzheimer's Disease --
Therapy Options
The U.S. population is getting
older, and as it ages, Alzheimer's
disease is becoming an increasingly
bigger concern. Within the
next 50 years, the incidence
of Alzheimer's is expected
to quadruple, affecting
one in 45 Americans.
Today,
there is still no cure for
Alzheimer's. People with
the disease progressively
lose memory and the ability
to function as Alzheimer's
advances.
Alzheimer's
is a complex disease. Researchers
are still trying to fully
understand how its plaques
and tangles lead to memory
loss and other symptoms
-- and how to reverse those
changes to prevent or stop
the disease. However, there
are treatments available
today that can help patients
manage the symptoms of Alzheimer's
disease and delay its progression.
Although
memory loss is the hallmark
of Alzheimer's disease,
people with the condition
experience a wide range
of other cognitive, behavioral,
and psychiatric symptoms.
Alzheimer's
therapy involves a number
of different treatments
that address each of these
problems. Because symptoms
change over time, doctors
need to adjust their Alzheimer's
patients' therapies as new
problems emerge.
Medications
Several different types
of medications are used
to treat the memory loss,
behavior changes, sleep
problems, and other symptoms
of Alzheimer's disease.
These medications won't
stop the disease, but they
can slow down the symptoms
for a few months or even
years. All of these medications
can have side effects, which
can be even more pronounced
in the elderly.
Four
medications in two classes
are FDA-approved specifically
for Alzheimer's therapy.
Cholinesterase
inhibitors help with the
cognitive symptoms of Alzheimer's.
They work by preventing
the breakdown of a chemical
messenger in the brain called
acetylcholine, which is
important for learning,
memory, and attention.
Three
cholinesterase inhibitors
are approved for Alzheimer's
disease therapy. Donepezil
(Aricept) is approved to
treat mild, moderate, and
severe Alzheimer's. Rivastigmine
(Exelon) and galantamine
(Razadyne) are approved
to treat mild to moderate
Alzheimer's. Exelon is now
also available in a skin
patch, which is easier for
some patients to take.
(Excerpt from WebMD.com)
|
