Some people are confused about dementia and Alzheimers, and whether they can be treated, unfortunately, there is no cure for dementia or Alzheimers.
With different treatment options, the symptoms can be managed, it can slow the progression of the disease, and it can improve the quality of life through the 7 stages of dementia.
Slowing Dementia With Treatment Options
For the best results in treating dementia, it is a combination of lifestyle changes, therapies, different symptom strategies, and medications.
Lifestyle changes include eating healthy with a healthy diet like the Mediterranean diet, exercising, quitting smoking, and limiting alcohol consumption.
Having a healthy heart, and healthy blood vessels will lower the risk of your getting dementia, as they say, a healthy heart, healthy mind, and this is true when it comes to dementia.
Medication To Manage Cognitive Function
Medications can give some relief and they can help to manage dementia, it will not cure it, but they can help to improve dementia symptoms and cognitive function.
- Cholinesterase inhibitors, including donepezil (Aricept), rivastigmine (Exelon), and galantamine (Razadyne), attempt to slow the rate of memory decline in dementia patients.
- These drugs work by preventing the breakdown of acetylcholine, a chemical that helps brain cells communicate with each other.
- This type of medication is most often used to treat people with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease. Side effects of cholinesterase inhibitors include weight loss and digestive problems, such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
- Memantine (Namenda, Ebixa) helps protect against further brain cell damage in patients who have vascular dementia. This drug regulates glutamate, a chemical messenger in the brain associated with learning and memory.
- Dizziness is a common side effect of memantine. Memantine is approved for the treatment of moderate to severe Alzheimer’s disease.
Treatment for Dementia
With treating dementia, it is important to have structure, dementia behaviors, such as mood changes, aggression, and sleep issues, are easier to manage in a more structured environment.
Learning or being familiar with what triggers aggressive behaviors, it is important to redirect the senior’s attention to avoid these reactions and improve their moods.
Using medication is difficult because of the side effects, some medications can help with the symptoms, but with medications for mood stabilizers, sleep aids, antidepressants, anxiety drugs, or antipsychotics, but there can be some serious side effects, so they are not always the answer.
Therapies for Dementia
There are different alternative therapy that can help to manage dementia, and improve the quality of life.
- Cognitive rehabilitation will help seniors with early stages of dementia, this will help to maintain cognitive and memory function for as long as possible, this will help to slow down the effects of dementia.
- Physical therapy can help to improve the mood of seniors with dementia. It can also help to reduce depression, with light exercise, on a regular schedule, it will help with the overall daily tasks for the seniors.
- Occupational therapy will help seniors with moderate dementia, these strategies will help them to manage their memory loss and their cognitive decline, it can also help with their behavioral mood swings.
- Music therapy helps to reduce agitation and aggression.
- Pet therapy helps with loneliness and will help to reduce anxiety, agitation, aggression, and depression. Many memory care facilities provide pet therapy.
- Aromatherapy will help to relieve agitation, creating a soothing environment will help with relaxation.
- Massage therapy will help with relaxation and reduce agitation, it has also been shown to improve seniors’ appetite.
- Art therapy can help to slow the cognitive decline and help with the overall mood of the senior, improving their life, and living happier.
Supplements for Dementia
Studies have not shown any significant improvement when seniors with dementia take supplements such as Ginko Biloba, Vitamin B, and omega 3 fatty acids, but they may help the side-effects of the other drugs for dementia.
Early Diagnosis For Denmentia
Early diagnosis is the most important thing to have the most effective treatment, as dementia is a progressive disease, but with early diagnosis it can greatly improve the live of the senior, and the treatments are more effective.
Recognising the early signs of dementia is import for the family to be aware of, catching the early symptoms, can help them to get the right therapy as soon as possible, so the condition can stabilize, and your loved one can be more comfortable.
Medication is not the cure for dementia, and the side effects can outweigh the benefits for some seniors, so it is important to have the medications reevaluated freequently.
There are some dementia organizations that you can receive help and support from, its important to know there are other families going through the same things as you.
As the dementia progresses, it might be too much to take care of them at home, as they may need 24 hour sepeciized care, so it is important to know what would be the best memory care home for your loved one.
We are here for you and we have a large referral network, we will be able to find you the memory care facility to take care of your loved one, contact us today, we are here for you.
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