What are the treatments for dementia?

There is a significant amount of time and money being invested into dementia research but as yet no cure has been identified. However, recent research has identified a new strain of dementia disease, called Late (more available here). Researchers believe that they will now be able to identify the right patients to trial drugs with, by removing those patients who were thought to have Alzeheimers but in fact have Late. 

There is no particular way to stop the full effects of dementia but there are therapies and in some cases drugs that can help to control the symptoms of dementia. Some like exercise are thought to reduce or delay the progression of dementia, although it is not completely avoidable. 

As Alzheimers is the most common form of dementia, impacting over 80% of all dementia diagnoses, it is the one which is the most heavily researched. There are tablets which you can take to manage Alzheimer symptoms, if you are deemed eligible and a right match for them. 

Inhibitors

There are some drugs that are prescribed which interrupt the enzyme which targets a substance in the brain and stops the nerve endings working. By stalling this process, the nerve endings are able to continue to communicate with each other and connect messages from the brain around the body. There are different levels of medication that can support the nerve endings, depending on the stage of dementia that the patient has been diagnosed with. 

Medications to control side effects

One of the side effects of certain dementia diagnoses, such as Lewy Body is hallucinations. Some patients may be prescribed drugs which manage the impact or incidence of these, and other medications will be avoided as they may contribute to hallucinations. In addition, patients may also receive drugs that can support other side effects of dementia such as wandering, aggression and delusions.  

Alternative therapies

There are alternative therapies which are used to support patients with dementia. Therapies can help to reduce their anxiety or relieve some of the symptoms such difficulty communicating.

Music

Music is thought to be a good therapeutic resource for carers of people with dementia. The effects of music in therapy have shown to be beneficial to the patient by reducing their anxiety or depression. Listening to music or making music is something that dementia patients can do with their close family or friends. It also helps to encourage them to engage more. For those patients who have lost the ability to verbally communicate it can help them to open up and get involved, perhaps communicating non verbally. We cover this therapy in full here.

Sensory therapy

This type of therapy is thought to reduce agitation and anxiety and in some cases it is thought that some elements of sensory therapy may help repair certain areas of the brain, although research is ongoing. Sensory therapy involves activities which engage various senses and can include activities for sight, touch, smell, hearing and taste. We have an article that review this therapy here.

Other therapies that can be used are covered in more detail with suggestions, ideas and reasons for their inclusion in dementia care. These activities include:

• Gardening - to support social engagement, promote light exercise and reduce anxiety

• Exercise - to boost cardiovascular function, although this may not be appropriate

• Yoga - to support flexibility and strength as well as boosting mental wellbeing

• Daily walks - to help boost mood and reduce anxiety

• Diet - like a mediterranean diet which has the right balance of nutrients

• Aromatherapy - using lemon oils and lavender which are known to have calming effects.