How is Alzheimer's disease treated?

Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
Updated on September 11, 2024
00:00
00:00

Senile dementia, also known as Alzheimer's disease, is the most common neurodegenerative disease worldwide. The pathogenesis of this disease is not particularly clear so far and may be related to genetic and environmental factors. Multiple factors act on neurons causing irreversible and progressive death of neuronal cells. Currently, the treatment of this disease mainly includes two aspects. The first aspect is general treatment, mainly including family care. Family members must pay attention to the care of the patient, prevent the patient from accidentally wandering off, prevent the patient from falling, and prevent some accidents that cause injuries. In addition, it is important for the patient to listen to music, interact with others, and exercise more, all of which can delay the progression of senile dementia. The second aspect is pharmacological treatment, mainly using drugs that inhibit the reduction of acetylcholine. These drugs can increase the content of acetylcholine and improve the cognitive functions of patients to a certain extent, but so far, these treatments cannot reverse senile dementia.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
51sec home-news-image

Is senile dementia hereditary?

The disease referred to as dementia mainly refers to Alzheimer's disease. Only a very small number of cases are hereditary, where patients have a certain family history caused by genetic mutations, thus having some hereditary traits. However, the vast majority of Alzheimer's cases are sporadic, unrelated to genetic mutations, and these sporadic cases are not hereditary, so there is no need to worry about transmitting it to offspring. Nevertheless, it is important to note that, with the progression of population aging, the incidence of this disease remains relatively high, especially for those over the age of 65, who need to pay close attention to this disease. If a patient exhibits a decline in memory function, do not assume it is just forgetfulness; it is crucial to visit a hospital for diagnosis and timely treatment.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
1min 9sec home-news-image

Causes of Alzheimer's Disease in the Elderly

The causes of dementia in the elderly are not currently completely clear. Dementia in the elderly is mainly divided into familial and sporadic types. Familial dementia shows autosomal dominant inheritance, which is caused by a gene mutation on chromosome 21 leading to the accumulation of some toxins, resulting in the death of neurons and causing dementia fundamentally due to genetic mutations. However, most cases of dementia are sporadic and do not have a clear family history. The mechanisms and reasons for disease onset are not particularly clear. Some believe that abnormalities in cerebral vascular function may lead to neuronal cell functional disorders, resulting in decreased ability to clear certain cell toxins, thus leading to neuronal apoptosis and death, and consequently impaired cognitive functions. In addition, factors such as oxidative stress, inflammatory mechanisms, excessive fatigue, and emergency stress may also cause cell death. Overall, the causes of dementia in the elderly are not particularly clear.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
51sec home-news-image

What to do about senile dementia?

For patients with dementia, if the diagnosis is confirmed, the recommended treatment is as follows: First, it is very important to pay attention to nursing care. Patients with dementia often get lost, which can lead to a series of dangers, so it is necessary to take good care of them to prevent getting lost. Secondly, for the improvement of cognitive functions, it is recommended to use some cholinesterase inhibitors, which can increase the level of acetylcholine in the brain and improve the patient's cognitive functions to a certain extent. Third, symptomatic treatment should also be provided. Since patients with dementia often exhibit psychiatric symptoms, such as visual and auditory hallucinations, appropriate antipsychotic medications can be used for treatment. (Please use medication under the guidance of a professional physician.)

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
1min 10sec home-news-image

Late-stage symptoms of dementia

In the later stages of dementia, symptoms become very severe. Patients experience significant impairment in memory function, forgetting not only recent events but also events from the past. Additionally, patients show obvious impairments in visuospatial abilities, having trouble locating the bathroom in their own home, and often getting lost when they go out. There is also a noticeable change in behavior, with patients exhibiting aggression, cursing, and inappropriate actions like urinating or defecating in random places. Some patients may experience recurrent visual and auditory hallucinations. As the disease progresses, elderly patients may eventually become bedridden for life, not interacting with anyone, remaining silent, and refusing to eat. They ultimately may die from complications such as lung infections, urinary tract infections, malnutrition, and bedsores. Therefore, the symptoms of dementia in its later stages are quite severe, with cognitive impairments, abnormal mental and behavioral symptoms, and various infections all posing serious threats to the health of the elderly.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
1min 7sec home-news-image

What can be done about senile dementia?

Once a patient is diagnosed with dementia, it is crucial to promptly visit a hospital for treatment. The doctor will conduct some auxiliary examinations based on the patient's medical history to rule out other diseases. If the diagnosis confirms dementia, firstly, family members must pay attention to care. The living abilities of patients with dementia decline significantly, and they may experience wandering, thus enhancing caregiving to prevent any accidents in the elderly; Secondly, it is essential to encourage the patient to engage in physical activities. Exercise can slow down the progression of aging and delay the further deterioration of dementia; Thirdly, it is vital to enhance communication for the patient, encouraging them to converse more with others, as interaction can slow down the progression of dementia; Fourthly, some specific medications should be administered for treatment. These drugs mainly include acetylcholinesterase inhibitors and NMDA receptor antagonists, which current research confirms can alleviate certain symptoms of dementia.