Treatment for Dementia
As you look into dementia, the question that arises almost immediately is wether or not it is treatable. I think a tremendous amount depends upon what exactly you mean by treatable. Are you asking: Is dementia reversable through medication? Can a progressive form of dementia be slowed with treatment? Or, can the patient's symptoms be mitigated through medical treatment? Unfortunately, I'm not finding a single answer to any of those questions. It appears that "it depends" is a common aspect of the answers.
1. Is dementia reversable through medication?
If the dementia symptoms are the result of a treatable condition, then the answer is quite favorable. For example, if the patient is actually depressed and the depression is presenting symptoms very similar to dementia, then yes, medication may well help the patient return to full cognitive abilities. If the symptoms are the result of a hypoactive thyroid, the replacing the thyroid horomones would have a marked improvement on the patient's dementia-like symptoms. However, if the dementia is a result of brain injury or brain disease, the dementia will not be reversed with medication.
2. Can a progressive form of dementia be slowed with treatment?
Much of this answer depends upon the type of disease which is causing the dementia symptoms. For example, if the patient has vascular dementia resulting from a stroke or other blockage of the blood flow in the brain, the doctor works to reduce the risk of another event. They may ask the patient to take medicine for high blood pressure, for example. With Alzheimer's Disease, doctors may prescribe cholinesterase inhibitors "slow the breakdown of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine." These drugs seem to stabilize the person's cognitive abilities for a time but do not stop the progress of the disease.
3. Can the patient's symptoms be mitigated through medical treatment?
Some of the patient's dementia symptoms may be mitigated through medical treatment. For example, antipsychotic drugs and sedatives are prescribed to control a patient's increasing agitation. However, a recent study's finding is suggestive that the agitation may be eased with the use of pain relieving medicines.
This is just a mere highlight of this topic. Please be sure to read the additional information sources.
Additional Information Sources:
US Dept of Health & Human Services's Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality - Pharmacological Treatment of Dementia
"Treatment of Dementia and Agitation: A Guide for Families and Caregivers" - UC Davis
University of Maryland Medical Center
1. Is dementia reversable through medication?
If the dementia symptoms are the result of a treatable condition, then the answer is quite favorable. For example, if the patient is actually depressed and the depression is presenting symptoms very similar to dementia, then yes, medication may well help the patient return to full cognitive abilities. If the symptoms are the result of a hypoactive thyroid, the replacing the thyroid horomones would have a marked improvement on the patient's dementia-like symptoms. However, if the dementia is a result of brain injury or brain disease, the dementia will not be reversed with medication.
2. Can a progressive form of dementia be slowed with treatment?
Much of this answer depends upon the type of disease which is causing the dementia symptoms. For example, if the patient has vascular dementia resulting from a stroke or other blockage of the blood flow in the brain, the doctor works to reduce the risk of another event. They may ask the patient to take medicine for high blood pressure, for example. With Alzheimer's Disease, doctors may prescribe cholinesterase inhibitors "slow the breakdown of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine." These drugs seem to stabilize the person's cognitive abilities for a time but do not stop the progress of the disease.
3. Can the patient's symptoms be mitigated through medical treatment?
Some of the patient's dementia symptoms may be mitigated through medical treatment. For example, antipsychotic drugs and sedatives are prescribed to control a patient's increasing agitation. However, a recent study's finding is suggestive that the agitation may be eased with the use of pain relieving medicines.
This is just a mere highlight of this topic. Please be sure to read the additional information sources.
Additional Information Sources:
US Dept of Health & Human Services's Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality - Pharmacological Treatment of Dementia
"Treatment of Dementia and Agitation: A Guide for Families and Caregivers" - UC Davis
University of Maryland Medical Center
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