Alzheimer’s cure & treatment

How Is Alzheimer’s Disease Treated?

There is currently no cure for Alzheimer’s, though there are several medicines approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that can help manage some symptoms of the disease along with coping strategies to manage behavioral symptoms. In 2021, FDA provided accelerated approval for a new medication, aducanumab, that targets the protein beta-amyloid, which accumulates abnormally in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s. The new medication helps to reduce amyloid deposits, but has not yet been shown to affect clinical symptoms or outcomes, such as progression of cognitive decline or dementia.

Most medicines work best for people in the early or middle stages of Alzheimer’s. Researchers are exploring other drug therapies and nondrug interventions to delay or prevent the disease as well as treat its symptoms.
Alzheimer’s is complex, and it is therefore unlikely that any one drug or other intervention will successfully treat it in all people living with the disease. Scientists are exploring many avenues to delay or prevent the disease as well as to treat its symptoms. In ongoing clinical trials, scientists are developing and testing several possible interventions. Under study are drug therapies aimed at a variety of disease interventions, as well as nondrug approaches such as physical activity, diet, cognitive training, and combinations of these. Just as we have many treatments for heart disease and cancer, we will likely need many options for treating Alzheimer’s. Precision medicine — getting the right treatment to the right person at the right time — will likely play a major role. Current approaches to treating Alzheimer’s focus on helping people maintain mental function, treating the underlying disease process, and managing behavioral symptoms. Medications To Maintain Mental Function Several medications are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat symptoms of Alzheimer’s. Donepezil, rivastigmine, and galantamine are used to treat the symptoms of mild to moderate Alzheimer’s. Donepezil, memantine, the rivastigmine patch, and a combination medication of memantine and donepezil are used to treat moderate to severe Alzheimer’s symptoms. All of these drugs work by regulating neurotransmitters, the chemicals that transmit messages between neurons. They may help reduce symptoms and help with certain behavioral problems. However, these drugs don’t change the underlying disease process. They are effective for some but not all people and may help only for a limited time. Medications To Treat the Underlying Disease Process Aducanumab is the first disease-modifying therapy approved by the FDA to treat Alzheimer’s disease. The medication helps to reduce amyloid deposits in the brain and may help slow the progression of Alzheimer’s, although it has not yet been shown to affect clinical outcomes such as progression of cognitive decline or dementia. A doctor or specialist will likely perform tests, such as a PET scan or analysis of cerebrospinal fluid, to look for evidence of amyloid plaques and help decide if the treatment is right for the patient. Aducanumab was approved through the FDA’s Accelerated Approval Program. This process requires an additional study after approval to confirm the anticipated clinical benefit. If the follow-up trial fails to verify clinical benefit, the FDA may withdraw approval of the drug. Results of the phase 4 clinical trial for aducanumab are expected to be available by early 2030. Several other disease-modifying
medications are being tested in people
with mild cognitive impairment or early
Alzheimer’s as potential treatments.

Support for Families and Caregivers

Caring for a person with Alzheimer’s can have
significant physical, emotional, and financial
costs. The demands of day-to-day care,
changes in family roles, and decisions about
placement in a care facility can be difficult.
NIA supports efforts to evaluate programs,
strategies, approaches, and other research to
improve the quality of care and life for those
living with dementia and their caregivers.
Becoming well-informed about the disease
is one important long-term strategy.
Programs that teach families about the
various stages of Alzheimer’s and about
ways to deal with difficult behaviors and
other caregiving challenges can help.
Good coping skills, a strong support
network, and respite care are other things
that may help caregivers handle the stress
of caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s.
For example, staying physically active
provides physical and emotional benefits.
Some caregivers have found that joining
a support group is a critical lifeline.
These support groups enable caregivers
to find respite, express concerns, share
experiences, get tips, and receive emotional
comfort. Many organizations sponsor
in-person and online support groups,
including groups for people with early-stage
Alzheimer’s and their families