How Alzheimer's Disease Is Treated

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsHome Remedies and LifestylePrescriptionsComplementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM)Frequently Asked QuestionsNext in Alzheimer’s GuidePrevention of Alzheimer’s Disease

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Home Remedies and Lifestyle

Prescriptions

Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM)

Frequently Asked Questions

Next in Alzheimer’s Guide

If you or someone you know has been diagnosed withAlzheimer’s disease, you may feel scared, frustrated, and more. While there is no cure for Alzheimer’s at this time, there are many ways to treat thesymptomsand even help manage the disease’s progression.

Treatment options for the behavioral and psychological symptoms of Alzheimer’s include drug therapy and non-drug approaches, such as behavioral and environmental modifications.

SeventyFour / Getty Images

These approaches recognize that behavior is often a way of communicating for those with Alzheimer’s. The goal of non-drug approaches is to understand the meaning of thechallenging behaviorsand why they are present.

Non-drug approaches should generally be attempted before using psychotropic medications since they do not have the potential for side effects or medication interactions.

Behavior Assessment

Identify a particular behavior and note what seems to trigger the behavior.For example, if a shower always makes your loved one agitated, try a bath instead. Or attempt to offer a shower at a different time of day.

Rather than using medication if someone is upset or agitated, a non-drug approach tries to understandwhythey might beagitated. Perhaps they need to use the bathroom, arein pain, or think they lost something.

Note what happens right before the behavior, try something different the next time, and track the results.

Validation Therapy

Validation Therapy for People With Dementia

Meaningful Activities

People living with dementia may feel lonely or bored at times, and they might not be able to clearly verbalize these feelings.Offering opportunities to engage socially with others, to perform familiar tasks such as organizing papers or washing the dishes, or tosing alongwith their favorite songs can improve mood and reduce feelings of restlessness and boredom.

Creative and Meaningful Activities for Dementia

Physical Exercise

Sometimes, challenging behaviors or feelings of frustration in people living with dementia are simply a result of not getting enough physical activity. Getting up and going for a walk, participating in a group aerobic activity class, or doing some stretching exercises can help meet this need.In addition, exercise has the potential to improve cognition for some people.

Regular Aerobic Exercise May Help Your Brain Age Better

Brain Engagement

Other non-drug approaches target the cognitive functioning of the person with Alzheimer’s disease. Stayingmentally active—doing a puzzle or reading a book, for example—has been shown to be helpful in maintaining memory and thinking skills in people with dementia. While these approaches won’t cure the disease of Alzheimer’s—and some may be more possible than others, depending on the stage of disease—they may still provide some limited benefit.

Know What to ExpectThe familiar saying of “knowledge is power” is very true here. Knowing what to expect as Alzheimer’s progresses can help you understand behavior and recognize its source as the disease, rather than the person. This can provide more compassion and reduce frustration.

Know What to Expect

The familiar saying of “knowledge is power” is very true here. Knowing what to expect as Alzheimer’s progresses can help you understand behavior and recognize its source as the disease, rather than the person. This can provide more compassion and reduce frustration.

What Is Alzheimer’s Disease?

Cognitive enhancers are medications that attempt to slow the progression of Alzheimer’s symptoms. While these medications appear to improve thought processes for some people, the effectiveness overall varies greatly.

Cholinesterase Inhibitors

Researchers estimate that for about 50% of people with Alzheimer’s who take cholinesterase inhibitors, progression of Alzheimer’s symptoms is delayed for an average of six to 12 months.

There are three types of cholinesterase inhibitor medications currently approved and prescribed to treat Alzheimer’s disease:

Adlarity, a transdermal formulation of donepezil, is also approved to treat all stages of Alzheimer’s disease.

N-Methyl D-Aspartate (NMDA) Antagonists

Amyloid Beta-Directed Antibody

Combined Drugs

In 2014, the FDA approved Namzaric, which is a combination of donepezil and memantine. It is designated for moderate to severe Alzheimer’s disease.

Cognitive enhancers need to be monitored regularly for side effects and interaction with other medications.

Psychotropics

Psychotropic medications are used at times to treat thebehavioral, psychological, and emotional symptomsof Alzheimer’s disease—what is sometimes referred to as Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia (BPSD).

These symptoms can includeemotional distress, depression, anxiety,insomnia,hallucinations, andparanoia, as well as somechallenging behaviors, so being proactive in identifying and treating them is important.

The classes of psychotropic medications used to manage the behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia include:

These medications can be effective, but can also potentially cause significant side effects. Psychotropics are typically used in conjunction with other non-drug approaches or after attempting non-drug therapies and finding them to be inadequate.

Since medications have had limited benefit in treating Alzheimer’s, many have turned to alternative and complementary treatments. The jury is still out on many of these approaches, and research is ongoing.Some people have reported an improvement in cognition with various supplements, but none have proven successful enough in clinical studies to warrant recommending them for people with Alzheimer’s disease.

Vitamin E supplementation showed the most promise. But according to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Medicine, there was only evidence from a single study that it might slow functional decline in Alzheimer’s disease.

Studies have shown there may be a protective effect of eating more fish and other foods containing omega-3 fatty acids, specifically docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).But giving people supplements of DHA after they have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease has shown no benefit.

Other CAM options that have been studied includeginkgo biloba, which has no conclusive evidence of preventing or slowing Alzheimer’s disease, and curcumin, which doesn’t have enough research yet conducted to support its use.

If you’re interested in trying complementary or alternative treatments, you should discuss them with your healthcare provider, since some have the potential to interact with other medications or may trigger significant side effects.

7 Alternative Dementia Therapies to Help Relieve Symptoms

Although there is no cure yet for Alzheimer’s disease, be encouraged. Researchers are constantly working on finding more effective treatment and prevention methods. Much has been learned about how Alzheimer’s affects the brain, and this increased knowledge continues to spur new thoughts related to the development of a cure, treatment, and prevention.

For people with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s, cholinesterase inhibitors like Aricept (donepezil), Exelon (rivastigmine), and Razadyne (galantamine) are typically used as first-line treatment. These drugs may increase levels of a neurotransmitter called acetylcholine that is central to learning and short-term memory.  In people with Alzheimer’s, acetylcholine levels are almost invariably low.

Treatment may be started once the disease is officially diagnosed, but it can sometimes take years before a person meets the diagnostic criteria for Alzheimer’s. In the early stages, changes to the brain may only be recognized on aPET scan, and any signs ofmild cognitive impairmentmay be dismissed as “signs of aging.”Learn MoreHow Alzheimer’s Disease Is Diagnosed

Treatment may be started once the disease is officially diagnosed, but it can sometimes take years before a person meets the diagnostic criteria for Alzheimer’s. In the early stages, changes to the brain may only be recognized on aPET scan, and any signs ofmild cognitive impairmentmay be dismissed as “signs of aging.”

Learn MoreHow Alzheimer’s Disease Is Diagnosed

A transdermal formulation of donepezil (Adlarity) has also been approved to treat Alzheimer’s disease. This once-weekly patch offers stable skin dosing, benefiting those who have trouble swallowing or experience gastrointestinal (GI) side effects associated with oral donepezil.

To date, there is little evidence that any natural or herbal remedy can alter the course of Alzheimer’s disease. Even so, supplements like caprylic acid,CoQ10 enzyme,coral calcium,Ginkgo biloba,Huperzine A, and omega-3 fatty acids have all been proposed as possible alternative therapies.

There is some evidence that exercise can improve cognition in older adults with Alzheimer’sand that certain cognitive-stimulating “exercises” (like attending lectures, studying, or attending concerts) can preserve memory and cognition in people with early Alzheimer’s.

Coping and Living Well With an Alzheimer’s Diagnosis

17 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Kratz T.The diagnosis and treatment of behavioral disorders in dementia.Dtsch Arztebl Int.2017;114(26):447-54. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2017.0447Tondi L, Ribani L, Bottazzi M, Viscomi G, Vulcano V.Validation therapy (VT) in nursing home: a case-control study.Arch Gerontol Geriatr.2007;44:407-11. doi:10.1016/j.archger.2007.01.057Mendiola-Precoma J, Berumen LC, Padilla K, Garcia-Alcocer G.Therapies for prevention and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.Biomed Res Int.2016;2016:2589276. doi:10.1155/2016/2589276Casey DA, Antimisiaris D, O’Brien J.Drugs for Alzheimer’s disease: are they effective?P T. 35(4):208-11.Corium.Corium receives FDA approval of Adlarity® (donepeziltransdermal system) for treatment of patients with Alzheimer’s disease.Alzheimer’s Association.Aducanumab approved for treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.Törmälehto S, Martikainen J, Bell JS, Hallikainen I, Koivisto AM.Use of psychotropic medications in relation to neuropsychiatric symptoms, cognition and functional performance in Alzheimer’s disease over a three-year period: Kuopio ALSOVA study.Int Psychogeriatr. 2017;29(10):1723-1733. doi:10.1017/S1041610217001090Kelley BJ, Knopman DS.Alternative medicine and Alzheimer disease.Neurologist. 2008;14(5):299-306. doi:10.1097/NRL.0b013e318172cf4dNational Center for Complementary and Integrative Medicine.Dietary supplements and cognitive function, dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease.Cunnane SC, Chouinard-Watkins R, Castellano CA, Barberger-Gateau P.Docosahexaenoic acid homeostasis, brain aging and Alzheimer’s disease: Can we reconcile the evidence?Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids.2013;88(1):61-70. doi:10.1016/j.plefa.2012.04.006National Institute on Aging.How is Alzheimer’s disease treated?Parnetti L, Chipi E, Salvadori N, D’Andrea K, Eusebi P.Prevalence and risk of progression of preclinical Alzheimer’s disease stages: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Alz Res Therapy. 2019;11(1):7. doi:10.1186/s13195-018-0459-7Folch J, Busquets O, Ettcheto M, et al.Memantine for the treatment of dementia: a review on its current and future applications.JAD. 2018;62(3):1223-40. doi:10.3233/JAD-170672Corium.Corium receives FDA approval of Adlarity® (donepeziltransdermal system) for treatment of patients with Alzheimer’s disease.Alzheimer’s Association.Alternative treatments.Jia R, Liang J, Xu Y, Wang Y.Effects of physical activity and exercise on the cognitive function of patients with Alzheimer disease: a meta-analysis.BMC Geriatr. 2019;19(1):181. doi:10.1186/s12877-019-1175-2Schultz SA, Larson J, Oh J, et al.Participation in cognitively-stimulating activities is associated with brain structure and cognitive function in preclinical Alzheimer’s disease.Brain Imaging Behav. 2015;9(4):729-36. doi:10.1007/s11682-014-9329-5Additional ReadingAlzheimer’s Association​.Medications for memory, cognition, and dementia-related behaviors.National Institute on Aging.Alzheimer’s disease medications fact sheet.

17 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Kratz T.The diagnosis and treatment of behavioral disorders in dementia.Dtsch Arztebl Int.2017;114(26):447-54. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2017.0447Tondi L, Ribani L, Bottazzi M, Viscomi G, Vulcano V.Validation therapy (VT) in nursing home: a case-control study.Arch Gerontol Geriatr.2007;44:407-11. doi:10.1016/j.archger.2007.01.057Mendiola-Precoma J, Berumen LC, Padilla K, Garcia-Alcocer G.Therapies for prevention and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.Biomed Res Int.2016;2016:2589276. doi:10.1155/2016/2589276Casey DA, Antimisiaris D, O’Brien J.Drugs for Alzheimer’s disease: are they effective?P T. 35(4):208-11.Corium.Corium receives FDA approval of Adlarity® (donepeziltransdermal system) for treatment of patients with Alzheimer’s disease.Alzheimer’s Association.Aducanumab approved for treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.Törmälehto S, Martikainen J, Bell JS, Hallikainen I, Koivisto AM.Use of psychotropic medications in relation to neuropsychiatric symptoms, cognition and functional performance in Alzheimer’s disease over a three-year period: Kuopio ALSOVA study.Int Psychogeriatr. 2017;29(10):1723-1733. doi:10.1017/S1041610217001090Kelley BJ, Knopman DS.Alternative medicine and Alzheimer disease.Neurologist. 2008;14(5):299-306. doi:10.1097/NRL.0b013e318172cf4dNational Center for Complementary and Integrative Medicine.Dietary supplements and cognitive function, dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease.Cunnane SC, Chouinard-Watkins R, Castellano CA, Barberger-Gateau P.Docosahexaenoic acid homeostasis, brain aging and Alzheimer’s disease: Can we reconcile the evidence?Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids.2013;88(1):61-70. doi:10.1016/j.plefa.2012.04.006National Institute on Aging.How is Alzheimer’s disease treated?Parnetti L, Chipi E, Salvadori N, D’Andrea K, Eusebi P.Prevalence and risk of progression of preclinical Alzheimer’s disease stages: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Alz Res Therapy. 2019;11(1):7. doi:10.1186/s13195-018-0459-7Folch J, Busquets O, Ettcheto M, et al.Memantine for the treatment of dementia: a review on its current and future applications.JAD. 2018;62(3):1223-40. doi:10.3233/JAD-170672Corium.Corium receives FDA approval of Adlarity® (donepeziltransdermal system) for treatment of patients with Alzheimer’s disease.Alzheimer’s Association.Alternative treatments.Jia R, Liang J, Xu Y, Wang Y.Effects of physical activity and exercise on the cognitive function of patients with Alzheimer disease: a meta-analysis.BMC Geriatr. 2019;19(1):181. doi:10.1186/s12877-019-1175-2Schultz SA, Larson J, Oh J, et al.Participation in cognitively-stimulating activities is associated with brain structure and cognitive function in preclinical Alzheimer’s disease.Brain Imaging Behav. 2015;9(4):729-36. doi:10.1007/s11682-014-9329-5Additional ReadingAlzheimer’s Association​.Medications for memory, cognition, and dementia-related behaviors.National Institute on Aging.Alzheimer’s disease medications fact sheet.

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Kratz T.The diagnosis and treatment of behavioral disorders in dementia.Dtsch Arztebl Int.2017;114(26):447-54. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2017.0447Tondi L, Ribani L, Bottazzi M, Viscomi G, Vulcano V.Validation therapy (VT) in nursing home: a case-control study.Arch Gerontol Geriatr.2007;44:407-11. doi:10.1016/j.archger.2007.01.057Mendiola-Precoma J, Berumen LC, Padilla K, Garcia-Alcocer G.Therapies for prevention and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.Biomed Res Int.2016;2016:2589276. doi:10.1155/2016/2589276Casey DA, Antimisiaris D, O’Brien J.Drugs for Alzheimer’s disease: are they effective?P T. 35(4):208-11.Corium.Corium receives FDA approval of Adlarity® (donepeziltransdermal system) for treatment of patients with Alzheimer’s disease.Alzheimer’s Association.Aducanumab approved for treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.Törmälehto S, Martikainen J, Bell JS, Hallikainen I, Koivisto AM.Use of psychotropic medications in relation to neuropsychiatric symptoms, cognition and functional performance in Alzheimer’s disease over a three-year period: Kuopio ALSOVA study.Int Psychogeriatr. 2017;29(10):1723-1733. doi:10.1017/S1041610217001090Kelley BJ, Knopman DS.Alternative medicine and Alzheimer disease.Neurologist. 2008;14(5):299-306. doi:10.1097/NRL.0b013e318172cf4dNational Center for Complementary and Integrative Medicine.Dietary supplements and cognitive function, dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease.Cunnane SC, Chouinard-Watkins R, Castellano CA, Barberger-Gateau P.Docosahexaenoic acid homeostasis, brain aging and Alzheimer’s disease: Can we reconcile the evidence?Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids.2013;88(1):61-70. doi:10.1016/j.plefa.2012.04.006National Institute on Aging.How is Alzheimer’s disease treated?Parnetti L, Chipi E, Salvadori N, D’Andrea K, Eusebi P.Prevalence and risk of progression of preclinical Alzheimer’s disease stages: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Alz Res Therapy. 2019;11(1):7. doi:10.1186/s13195-018-0459-7Folch J, Busquets O, Ettcheto M, et al.Memantine for the treatment of dementia: a review on its current and future applications.JAD. 2018;62(3):1223-40. doi:10.3233/JAD-170672Corium.Corium receives FDA approval of Adlarity® (donepeziltransdermal system) for treatment of patients with Alzheimer’s disease.Alzheimer’s Association.Alternative treatments.Jia R, Liang J, Xu Y, Wang Y.Effects of physical activity and exercise on the cognitive function of patients with Alzheimer disease: a meta-analysis.BMC Geriatr. 2019;19(1):181. doi:10.1186/s12877-019-1175-2Schultz SA, Larson J, Oh J, et al.Participation in cognitively-stimulating activities is associated with brain structure and cognitive function in preclinical Alzheimer’s disease.Brain Imaging Behav. 2015;9(4):729-36. doi:10.1007/s11682-014-9329-5

Kratz T.The diagnosis and treatment of behavioral disorders in dementia.Dtsch Arztebl Int.2017;114(26):447-54. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2017.0447

Tondi L, Ribani L, Bottazzi M, Viscomi G, Vulcano V.Validation therapy (VT) in nursing home: a case-control study.Arch Gerontol Geriatr.2007;44:407-11. doi:10.1016/j.archger.2007.01.057

Mendiola-Precoma J, Berumen LC, Padilla K, Garcia-Alcocer G.Therapies for prevention and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.Biomed Res Int.2016;2016:2589276. doi:10.1155/2016/2589276

Casey DA, Antimisiaris D, O’Brien J.Drugs for Alzheimer’s disease: are they effective?P T. 35(4):208-11.

Corium.Corium receives FDA approval of Adlarity® (donepeziltransdermal system) for treatment of patients with Alzheimer’s disease.

Alzheimer’s Association.Aducanumab approved for treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.

Törmälehto S, Martikainen J, Bell JS, Hallikainen I, Koivisto AM.Use of psychotropic medications in relation to neuropsychiatric symptoms, cognition and functional performance in Alzheimer’s disease over a three-year period: Kuopio ALSOVA study.Int Psychogeriatr. 2017;29(10):1723-1733. doi:10.1017/S1041610217001090

Kelley BJ, Knopman DS.Alternative medicine and Alzheimer disease.Neurologist. 2008;14(5):299-306. doi:10.1097/NRL.0b013e318172cf4d

National Center for Complementary and Integrative Medicine.Dietary supplements and cognitive function, dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease.

Cunnane SC, Chouinard-Watkins R, Castellano CA, Barberger-Gateau P.Docosahexaenoic acid homeostasis, brain aging and Alzheimer’s disease: Can we reconcile the evidence?Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids.2013;88(1):61-70. doi:10.1016/j.plefa.2012.04.006

National Institute on Aging.How is Alzheimer’s disease treated?

Parnetti L, Chipi E, Salvadori N, D’Andrea K, Eusebi P.Prevalence and risk of progression of preclinical Alzheimer’s disease stages: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Alz Res Therapy. 2019;11(1):7. doi:10.1186/s13195-018-0459-7

Folch J, Busquets O, Ettcheto M, et al.Memantine for the treatment of dementia: a review on its current and future applications.JAD. 2018;62(3):1223-40. doi:10.3233/JAD-170672

Alzheimer’s Association.Alternative treatments.

Jia R, Liang J, Xu Y, Wang Y.Effects of physical activity and exercise on the cognitive function of patients with Alzheimer disease: a meta-analysis.BMC Geriatr. 2019;19(1):181. doi:10.1186/s12877-019-1175-2

Schultz SA, Larson J, Oh J, et al.Participation in cognitively-stimulating activities is associated with brain structure and cognitive function in preclinical Alzheimer’s disease.Brain Imaging Behav. 2015;9(4):729-36. doi:10.1007/s11682-014-9329-5

Alzheimer’s Association​.Medications for memory, cognition, and dementia-related behaviors.National Institute on Aging.Alzheimer’s disease medications fact sheet.

Alzheimer’s Association​.Medications for memory, cognition, and dementia-related behaviors.

National Institute on Aging.Alzheimer’s disease medications fact sheet.

Meet Our Medical Expert Board

Share Feedback

Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit

Was this page helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit

What is your feedback?