Treatment

Because a cure for Alzheimer's disease still has not been found, it is very important that the disease be diagnosed as early as possible. Early diagnosis can ensure a patient's access to the best treatments available, and can help to impact the course of the disease's development in a positive way. The medications now available can help to treat some of the symptoms of the disease. The goal is to provide the person with Alzheimer's disease with the best quality of life with the highest level of function possible before the patient's decline in memory reaches a point to where he or she is no longer capable of making decisions.

Receiving the proper medication in time, together with psycho-social care, is not only highly beneficial for the Alzheimer's disease patient, but also for his or her caregiver and family members. It is very important that the patient feels comfortable and that his or her decreased cognitive abilities will not lead to the exclusion of social activities. However, it is equally important that the care provided for by nurses and caregivers provides an opportunity for the patient to be as independent as possible.

ADDITIONAL THERAPEUTIC MEASURES

The proper physical and psycho-social care provided by nurses and caregivers is important for the patient's well-being. Boredom and being under-challenged can be just as detrimental for the patient as being over stimulated and strained.

In the later stages of the disease, the maintenance of stability and trust are especially important for the patient. The person with Alzheimer's disease should be given the highest degree of independence possible in a comfortable and safe environment. It is often the small successes that bring the most stability and self-confidence.

Mnemonic Training:

This form of therapy is conducted in the initial stage of the disease and aims to slow the speed of the patient's memory loss with the help of concentration exercises. This method is not favored by most experts, as the direct highlighting of the patient's deficiencies might cause further distress and is therefore only rarely in use.

Music therapy:

Music therapy is supposed to activate the patient's brain and also serve as means of communication, if his or her speech is affected by the disease.

Environmental therapy:

This therapy concentrates on organizing the patient's living environment to suit his or her needs and to maintain involvement in everyday activities to the highest extent possible.

Ergo-Therapy:

Ergo-therapy aims at maintaining the patient's ability to execute everyday activities in order to keep him or her as independent as possible for as long as possible. Therefore this therapy is best applied in the early stages of the disease.