Drugs That Treat Symptoms Cognitive Symptoms (Memory and Thinking)

 

As Alzheimer’s progresses, brain cells die and connections among cells are lost, causing cognitive symptoms to worsen. While these medications do not stop the damage Alzheimer’s causes to brain cells, they may help lessen or stabilize symptoms for a limited time by affecting certain chemicals involved in carrying messages among and between the brain's nerve cells.

 

Treatments at a Glance

 

Cholinesterase (KOH-luh-NES-ter-ays) inhibitors are prescribed to treat symptoms related to memory, thinking, language, judgment and other thought processes. These medications prevent the breakdown of acetylcholine (a-SEA-til-KOHlean), a chemical messenger important for memory and learning. These drugs support communication between nerve cells. Though generally well-tolerated, if side effects occur, they commonly include nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite and increased frequency of bowel movements.

 

Glutamate regulators are prescribed to improve memory, attention, reason, language and the ability to perform simple tasks. This type of drug works by regulating the activity of glutamate, a different chemical messenger that helps the brain process information. Glutamate regulators can cause side effects, including headache, constipation, confusion and dizziness.

 

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Drugs That Treat Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms 

 

 Alzheimer’s affects more than just memory and thinking. A person’s quality of life may be impacted by a variety of behavioral and psychological symptoms that accompany dementia, such as sleep disturbances, agitation, hallucinations and delusions. Some medications focus on treating these noncognitive symptoms for a time, though it is important to try nondrug strategies to manage behaviors before adding medications.

 

Treatments at a Glance

 

Atypical antipsychotics are a group of antipsychotic drugs that target the serotonin and dopamine chemical pathways in the brain. These drugs are largely used to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorder and as add-on therapies for major depressive disorder. The FDA requires that all atypical antipsychotics carry a safety warning that the medication has been associated with an increased risk of death in older patients with dementia-related psychosis. Many atypical antipsychotic medications are used "off-label" to treat dementia-related behaviors, and there is currently only one FDA-approved atypical antipsychotic to treat agitation associated with dementia due to Alzheimer's. It is important to try nondrug strategies to manage noncognitive symptoms — like agitation — before adding medications.

 

The FDA has approved one drug to address symptoms of insomnia that has been tested in people living with dementia. Suvorexant (Belsomra® ): approved for treatment of insomnia and has been shown in clinical trials to be effective for people living with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease. Possible side effects include, but are not limited to: risk of impaired alertness and motor coordination (including impaired driving), worsening of depression or suicidal thinking, complex sleep behaviors (such as sleep-walking and sleep-driving), sleep paralysis and compromised respiratory function.

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CLICK ON WHICH MEDICATIONS USED TO TREAT SYMPTOMS RELATED TO BEHAVIOR THAT YOU WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT