| Alzheimer's disease is a group disorders involving | | | | agitation and depression. But only two varieties of |
| the parts of the brain that control thought, | | | | medications have been proved to slow the |
| memory, and language. It is marked by | | | | cognitive decline associated with Alzheimer's. |
| progressive deterioration, which affects both the | | | | Cholinesterase inhibitors |
| memory and reasoning capabilities of an individual. | | | | This group of medications which includes |
| Causes and Risk Factors | | | | donepezil (Aricept), rivastigmine (Exelon) and |
| Scientists do not yet fully understand what | | | | galantamine (Reminyl) works by improving |
| causes Alzheimer's disease. There probably is not | | | | the levels of neurotransmitters in the brain. |
| one single cause, but several factors that affect | | | | Donepezil has been approved by the Food and |
| each person differently. Age is the most | | | | Drug Administration for the treatment of mild, |
| important known risk factor for Alzheimer's | | | | moderate and severe Alzheimer's disease. |
| disease. The number of people with the disease | | | | Donepezil also appears to delay the onset of |
| doubles every 5 years beyond age 65. | | | | Alzheimer's for about a year in people who have |
| Symptoms | | | | mild cognitive impairment (MCI). People who have |
| Memory and the ability to think clearly are | | | | MCI have more memory problems than other |
| gradually lost over time. There may also be a | | | | people their age, but they are not demented. |
| change in personality. Someone who used to be a | | | | Cholinesterase inhibitors don't work for everyone. |
| calm person may become agitated or upset more | | | | As many as half the people who take these |
| easily, for example. Behaviour problems and | | | | drugs show no improvement. Other people may |
| communication difficulties may also occur. | | | | choose to stop taking the drugs because of the |
| People with severe Alzheimer's may find it difficult | | | | side effects, which include diarrhea, nausea and |
| to perform everyday tasks, such as dressing, | | | | vomiting. |
| washing and eating. As time passes they may not | | | | Memantine (Namenda) |
| recognise people or their surroundings, so it's | | | | The first drug approved to treat moderate to |
| common for them to go for a walk and get lost. | | | | severe stages of Alzheimer's, memantine |
| Other problems, such as depression, may also | | | | (Namenda), protects brain cells from damage |
| develop. | | | | caused by the chemical messenger glutamate. It |
| Treatments and drugs | | | | sometimes is used in combination with a |
| Currently, there's no cure for Alzheimer's disease. | | | | cholinesterase inhibitor. Memantine's most common |
| Doctors sometimes prescribe drugs to improve | | | | side effect is dizziness, although it also appears to |
| symptoms that often accompany Alzheimer's, | | | | increase agitation and delusional behavior in some |
| including sleeplessness, wandering, anxiety, | | | | people. |