The treatment approach to managing patients with dementia caused by Alzheimer’s disease AD is only through symptom control. The pathophysiology is not entirely known, and there is no drug available to prevent or cure the disorder. All FDA-approved drugs work by modulating neurotransmitters, either acetylcholine or glutamate. The two basic classes of drugs used to manage symptoms of AD are acetylcholinesterase inhibitors AcHEI and partial N-methyl-D-aspartate NMDA receptor antagonists. In addition, medications to control mood and behavior are used. These drugs are used to relieve depression, agitation, and insomnia, and include antidepressants, neuroleptics, anxiolytics, and anticonvulsants. As more research is completed and data collected, possible links to genetics, nutrition, and chemical entities may provide insight into future modes of therapy. The treatment approach to managing patients with dementia caused by Alzheimer’s disease AD is only through symptom control. The pathophysiology is not entirely known, and there is no drug available to prevent or cure the disorder. All FDA-approved drugs work by modulating neurotransmitters, either acetylcholine or glutamate. The two basic classes of drugs used to manage symptoms of AD are acetylcholinesterase inhibitors AcHEI and partial N-methyl-D-aspartate NMDA receptor antagonists. In addition, medications to control mood and behavior are used. These drugs are used to relieve depression, agitation, and insomnia, and include antidepressants, neuroleptics, anxiolytics, and anticonvulsants. As more research is completed and data collected, possible links to genetics, nutrition, and chemical entities may provide insight into future modes of therapy. There is no drug available to prevent or cure Alzheimer’s disease AD. The only treatment approach to managing patients is symptom control. The FDA-approved drugs for AD work by modulating neurotransmitters, either acetylcholine or glutamate, and include acetylcholinesterase inhibitors AcHEI and partial N-methyl-D-aspartate antagonists. Current treatment options do not cure AD, stop or reverse the disease process, or prolong life. The available medications may only reduce symptoms for a period of time before the disease eventually progresses. Primary goals of treatment include symptom management and preserving the patient's function for as long as possible. A variety of potential therapies have been proposed for AD. These include anti-inflammatory agents, lipid-lowering agents, vitamin E therapy, estrogen therapy, ginkgo biloba, huperzine alpha, and polyphenols. Although current evidence is mostly conflicting, further studies are needed to clarify the role of these agents. There is no drug available to prevent or cure Alzheimer’s disease AD. The only treatment approach to managing patients is symptom control. The FDA-approved drugs for AD work by modulating neurotransmitters, either acetylcholine or glutamate, and include acetylcholinesterase inhibitors AcHEI and partial N-methyl-D-aspartate antagonists. Current treatment options do not cure AD, stop or reverse the disease process, or prolong life. The available medications may only reduce symptoms for a period of time before the disease eventually progresses. Primary goals of treatment include symptom management and preserving the patient's function for as long as possible. A variety of potential therapies have been proposed for AD. These include anti-inflammatory agents, lipid-lowering agents, vitamin E therapy, estrogen therapy, ginkgo biloba, huperzine alpha, and polyphenols. Although current evidence is mostly conflicting, further studies are needed to clarify the role of these agents. There is no drug available to prevent or cure Alzheimer’s disease AD. The only treatment approach to managing patients is symptom control. The FDA-approved drugs for AD work by modulating neurotransmitters, either acetylcholine or glutamate, and include acetylcholinesterase inhibitors AcHEI and partial N-methyl-D-aspartate antagonists. Current treatment options do not cure AD, stop or reverse the disease process, or prolong life. The available medications may only reduce symptoms for a period of time before the disease eventually progresses. Primary goals of treatment include symptom management and preserving the patient's function for as long as possible. A variety of potential therapies have been proposed for AD. These include anti-inflammatory agents, lipid-lowering agents, vitamin E therapy, estrogen therapy, ginkgo biloba, huperzine alpha, and polyphenols. Although current evidence is mostly conflicting, further studies are needed to clarify the role of these agents. There is no drug available to prevent or cure Alzheimer’s disease AD. The only treatment approach to managing patients is symptom control. The FDA-approved drugs for AD work by modulating neurotransmitters, either acetylcholine or glutamate, and include acetylcholinesterase inhibitors AcHEI and partial N-methyl-D-aspartate antagonists. Current treatment options do not cure AD, stop or reverse the disease process, or prolong life. The available medications may only reduce symptoms for a period of time before the disease eventually progresses. Primary goals of treatment include symptom management and preserving the patient's function for as long as possible. A variety of potential therapies have been proposed for AD. These include anti-inflammatory agents, lipid-lowering agents, vitamin E therapy, estrogen therapy, ginkgo biloba, huperzine alpha, and polyphenols. Although current evidence is mostly conflicting, further studies are needed to clarify the role of these agents. There is no drug available to prevent or cure Alzheimer’s disease AD. The only treatment approach to managing patients is symptom control. The FDA-approved drugs for AD work by modulating neurotransmitters, either acetylcholine or glutamate, and include acetylcholinesterase inhibitors AcHEI and partial N-methyl-D-aspartate antagonists. Current treatment options do not cure AD, stop or reverse the disease process, or prolong life. The available medications may only reduce symptoms for a period of time before the disease eventually progresses. Primary goals of treatment include symptom management and preserving the patient's function for as long as possible. A variety of potential therapies have been proposed for AD. These include anti-inflammatory agents, lipid-lowering agents, vitamin E therapy, estrogen therapy, ginkgo biloba, huperzine alpha, and polyphenols. Although current evidence is mostly conflicting, further studies are needed to clarify the role of these agents.
