What are the treatments for the condition?

Even when dementia is incurable, there are things that can be done to treat the patient and help his or her family to cope. Medical care is crucial, both for the patient and to answer questions family may have.

In the early and middle stages of Alzheimer disease, medicine may help. The three medicines currently approved by the Food and Drug Administration for treatment of Alzheimer disease are donepezil, tacrine, and rivastigmine. These medicines are designed to improve memory by increasing the amount of acetylcholine in the body.

Other medicines, such as risperidone or quetiapine, may also be used to help behavioral problems such as hallucinations, delusions, or agitation. Some people with dementia may also need medicines for depression, anxiety, or insomnia.

Eating a healthy diet and practicing healthy lifestyle habits can also help any person to maintain health status. In addition, the person's caregivers should work to maintain a daily routine, help the person to be as active as possible, and maintain social contacts. Memory aids such as posting big calendars, making lists of daily plans, and hanging up written directions for household tasks can help greatly.

Other treatments include support and education for those caring for people with dementia. Individual and family counseling can help. Support groups have also been found to assist caregivers. As the disease progresses, many families are unable to provide home care for the person with dementia, and placement in a special facility is needed.

What are the side effects of the treatments?

Medicines used to treat dementia can damage the liver, so periodic liver function tests are needed. Other side effects may include:

What happens after treatment for the condition?

In most cases, dementia is a progressive disease without a cure. Treatment is lifelong. Because the course of dementia is hard to predict, people with the condition should make plans for end-of-life care while they are still able to think clearly.

Some of the challenges that family members may face include:

How is the condition monitored?

A person with dementia needs to have regular visits to the doctor for evaluation and treatment. From time to time, liver function tests may be ordered if the person is taking one of the medicines that can cause liver damage. Any new or worsening symptoms should be reported to the doctor.