Sunday, March 14, 2010
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia, a neurological disease characterized by loss of mental ability severe enough to interfere with normal activities of daily living, lasting at least six months, and not present from birth. AD usually occurs in old age, and is marked by a decline in cognitive functions such as remembering, reasoning, and planning.A person with AD usually has a gradual decline in mental functions, often beginning with slight memory loss, followed by losses in the ability to maintain employment, to plan and execute familiar tasks, and to reason and exercise judgment. Communication ability, mood, and personality may also be affected. Most people who have AD die within eight years of their diagnosis, although that interval may be as short as one year or as long as 20 years. AD is the fourth leading cause of death in adults after heart disease, cancer, and stroke.
Common Alzheimer's Treatments
Currently, there is no cure for Alzheimer's disease. However, there are medications that can help control its symptoms. In addition, treatments are also available to help manage agitation, depression or psychotic symptoms (hallucinations or delusions) which may occur as the disease progresses. Consult a physician before taking any medications.
- Cholinesterase Inhibitors
- Namenda
- Treatment for Anxiety, Depression and Psychosis
Although there is no cure for Alzheimer's disease, there are four drugs, called cholinesterase inhibitors, approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that are designed to regulate its symptoms and delay its course. Those suffering from Alzheimer's disease have low levels of acetylcholine, an important brain chemical involved in nerve cell communication.
Cholinesterase inhibitors slow the metabolic breakdown of acetylcholine, and make more of this chemical available for communication between cells. This helps slow the progression of cognitive impairment and can be effective for some patients in the early to middle stages.
The four FDA-approved cholinesterase inhibitors are:
- Razadyne (galantamine)
- Exelon (rivastigmine)
- Aricept (donepezil)
- Cognex (tacrine)
Namenda (memantine) was the first drug approved by the FDA to treat the symptoms of moderate to severe Alzheimer's disease. It appears to protect the brain's nerve cells against excess amounts of glutamate, a messenger chemical released in large amounts by cells damaged by Alzheimer's (and some other neurological disorders).
When glutamate attaches to cell surface "docking sites" called N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors, this permits calcium to flow freely into the cell, which in turn may lead to cell degeneration. Namenda may prevent this destructive sequence by adjusting the activity of glutamate. Namenda is generally well tolerated; the most common side effects are dizziness, confusion, headache and constipation.
Treatment for Anxiety, Depression and Psychosis
An Alzheimer's disease progresses, people experience depression, agitation and psychotic symptoms (paranoid thoughts, delusions or hallucinations).These behaviors may be manifested verbally (screaming, repetitive questions, etc.) or physically (hoarding, pacing, etc.), and they can sometimes lead to aggression, hyperactivity or combativeness.
The symptoms may have an underlying medical origin such as a drug interaction or physical pain, and if this is a suspected cause a physician should be consulted. Agitation or psychotic behavior may also be triggered by something different in the person's environment. Often, a change in routine, caregivers or surroundings can cause fear, anxiety or fatigue and lead to agitation. The individual may be unable to communicate, be frustrated by his or her limitations, misunderstand what is happening or simply forget how to respond appropriately.
In these cases, non-medical intervention is recommended to determine the source of the problem, modify the environment and change the behavior. If non medical intervention does not work or the person becomes a danger to himself or others, a physician should be consulted to evaluate the need for medical treatments for depression, psychosis or anxiety.
posted by emedinfo
@11:04 PM
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