When to use Alzheimer's medication

Caregivers, and healthcare professionals,here is some great information

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The Dementia Caregiver's Little Book of Hope [Kindle Edition]

St. Michael’s study

Alzheimer's drugs are classified as "Cognitive Enhancers". Learn why these medications are NOTfor mild memory problems. Find out why prescribing them for Mild Cognitive Impairment is bad practice. 

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There are 4 FDA-approved Alzheimer's drugs, also known as "Cognitive Enhancers". They help with concentration, memory, alertness and moods. 

When a person's brain is not working properly, though not to the point of being ill, (such as when a person experiences too much forgetfulness, while at the same time, they can still take care of their normal daily activities), doctors diagnose the problem as MCI (Mild Cognitive Impairment) or pre-dementia. 

An important study shows that cognitive enhancers do not improve cognition or function in people with MCI (Mild Cognitive Impairment) in the long term. The study was done by researchers at St. Michael’s Hospital. 

In fact, patients on these medications experienced significantly more nausea,diarrhea, vomiting and headaches, according to the study published today in the Canadian Medical Association Journal. 

“Our findings do not support the use of cognitive enhancers for mild cognitive impairment,” wrote Dr. Andrea Tricco and Dr. Sharon Straus, who are both scientists in the hospital’s Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute. Dr. Straus is also a geriatrician at the hospital. 
  
Mild cognitive impairment is a condition characterized by memory complaints without significant limitations in everyday activity. Between 3 and 42 per cent of people are diagnosed with the condition each year, about 4.6 million people worldwide. Each year about 3 to 17 per cent of people with mild cognitive impairment will develop dementia, such as Alzheimer’s disease. Given the aging population, it’s estimated the number of Canadians with dementia will double to more than 1 million in the next 25 years. 

It has been hypothesized that cognitive enhancers may delay the onset of dementia. Families and patients are increasingly requesting these drugs even though their efficacy for patients with mild cognitive impairment has not been established. In Canada, cognitive enhancers can be obtained only with special authorization. 

Drs. Tricco and Straus conducted a review of existing evidence to understand the efficacy and safety of cognitive enhancers. They looked at eight randomized trials that compared one of four cognitive enhancers (donepezil, rivastigmine, galantamine or memantine) to a placebo among patients diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment. 

While they found short-term benefits to using these drugs on one cognition scale, there were no long-term effects after about a year and a half. No other benefits were observed on the second cognition scale or on function, behaviour, and mortality. As well, patients on these medications experienced significantly more nausea, diarrhea, vomiting and headaches. One study also found a higher risk of a heart condition known as bradycardia (slow heartbeat) among patients who received galantamine. 

“Our results do not support the use of cognitive enhancers for patients with mild cognitive impairment,” the authors wrote. “These agents were not associated with any benefit and led to an increase in harms. Patients and their families should consider this information when requesting these medications. Similarly, health care decision-makers may not wish to approve the use of these medications for mild cognitive impairment, because these drugs might not be effective and are likely associated with harm.”