2010: Alzheimer's Facts and Figures (part 3):Treatment and Prevention of Alzheimer's Disease

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Alzheimer's Association


Treatment and Prevention of
Alzheimer’s Disease

No treatment is available to slow or stop the deterioration
of brain cells in Alzheimer’s disease. The U.S. Food
and Drug Administration has approved five drugs that
temporarily slow worsening of symptoms for about six
to 12 months, on average, for about half of the individuals
who take them. Researchers have identified
treatment strategies that may have the potential to
change its course. Approximately 90 experimental
therapies aimed at slowing or stopping the progression
of Alzheimer’s are in clinical testing in human volunteers.
Despite the current lack of disease-modifying therapies,
studies have consistently shown that active medical
management of Alzheimer’s and other dementias can
significantly improve quality of life through all stages of
the disease for diagnosed individuals and their caregivers.
Active management includes appropriate use of
available treatment options, effective integration of
coexisting conditions into the treatment plan, coordination
of care among physicians and others involved in
maximizing quality of life for people with Alzheimer’s or
other dementia and use of such supportive services as
counseling, activity and support groups and adult day
center programs.
A growing body of evidence suggests that the health of
the brain — one of the body’s most highly vascular
organs — is closely linked to the overall health of the
heart and blood vessels. Some data indicate that
management of cardiovascular risk factors, such as high
cholesterol, Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure,
smoking, obesity and physical inactivity may help avoid
or delay cognitive decline.(1-9) Many of these risk factors
are modifiable — that is, they can be changed to
decrease the likelihood of developing both cardiovascular
disease and the cognitive decline associated with
Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. More limited
data suggest that a low-fat diet rich in fruits and vegetables
may support brain health, as may a robust social
network and a lifetime of intellectual curiosity and
mental stimulation.