Treatment for Alzheimer's symptoms includes:
- medicines to help memory difficulties
- medicines for slowing early Alzheimer's
- medicines to help other symptoms
- therapy and activities that can help with symptoms
You can also get support to help you and your family cope with everyday life.
But there is no treatment that will cure Alzheimer's.
Medicines for memory difficulties
Medicines can help improve your memory or help symptoms. But not everyone responds or continues to respond over time to the medicines.
See the patient information leaflet that comes with your medicine for a full list of side effects.
Non-urgent advice: Find your patient information leaflet
Your patient information leaflet is the leaflet that comes with your medicine. You can find a digital version of the leaflet online.
Report side effects
You can report any suspected side effects to the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA): report an issue - hpra.ie
Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors
These medicines increase the levels of AChE. This is a substance in the brain that helps nerve cells communicate with each other. AChE levels drop as brain cells become damaged and die in Alzheimer's disease.
Types of AChE inhibitors include:
- Donepezil
- Galantamine
- Rivastigmine
These are usually prescribed by a:
- psychiatrist
- geriatrician (a doctor who specialises in the health of older people)
- neurologist (a brain and nervous system expert)
Sometimes they can be prescribed by a GP.
You can keep taking AChE inhibitors as Alzheimer's progresses, if you do not have any side effects from them. There is no difference in how well each of the 3 different AChE inhibitors work. Some people respond better to certain types or have fewer side effects.
Side effects of AChE inhibitors
These can include:
- nausea (feeling sick)
- vomiting (getting sick)
- loss of appetite
The side effects usually get better after 2 weeks of taking the medicine. If not, you may need to swap to another type.
Memantine
Memantine is usually prescribed for moderate to severe Alzheimer's disease.
Side effects are usually temporary and can include:
- headaches
- dizziness
- constipation
Medicines for slowing early Alzheimer's
A disease-modifying therapy (DMT) is a type of medicine.
Scientists and researchers are finding out more about how DMTs slow Alzheimer's disease found at its earliest stages.
If your Alzheimer's disease was diagnosed early using a specialist test ask your healthcare team if there are any clinical trials you can take part in. Clinical trials are research studies that help you access new treatments.
DMTs do not slow other types of dementia.
Medicines to treat other symptoms and behaviour
You may be prescribed antipsychotic medicines, antidepressants or other medicines to treat non-cognitive symptoms of dementia (NCSD).
These medicines are prescribed 'off-label'. This means they are not licensed for that use. It is OK for a doctor to do this but they must give you and anyone who helps you make decisions a reason for prescribing them.
They must also tell you the risks and benefits. They will need to give you and anyone who cares for you information on side effects.
Antipsychotic medicines
Antipsychotic medicines may be prescribed to help someone who shows ongoing aggression or extreme distress.
These are only prescribed for people with moderate to severe Alzheimer's disease where there's a risk of harm to themselves or others.
How antipsychotic medicines work
Antidepressants
Antidepressants are sometimes prescribed if you have severe anxiety as part of your Alzheimer's disease. It's only prescribed if your specialist thinks your anxiety is caused by depression.
Therapy for memory problems
Therapy and activities can play an important role in helping people live well with Alzheimer's.
Cognitive stimulation therapy
Cognitive stimulation therapy involves taking part in activities that help with thinking and memory.
These include:
- talking about past and present events and topics of interest
- word games and puzzles
- music
- baking
- gardening
These are usually done in small groups for around 45 minutes at least twice a week.
Cognitive rehabilitation
Cognitive rehabilitation involves working with a trained professional and a relative or friend.
The aim is to achieve a personal goal, such as learning to use a mobile phone or other everyday tasks.
The focus is not on improving your memory, but helping you to do the things you need to do in your everyday life. It works by getting you to use the parts of your brain that are working to help the parts that are not.
Information and support programmes (courses)
There are information and support programmes (courses) for people with dementia, family carers or both. They give you information and support to better understand and cope with difficulties.
These are usually done in small groups for 2 hours a week, for 4 to 8 weeks.
Therapies and activities that can help support you
The type of therapy or activity will depend on your:
- symptoms
- interests
- stage of dementia
Therapies and activities include:
- music therapy
- art therapy
- aromatherapy
- validation therapy (a type of therapy focusing on your emotions)
- reality orientation
- physical exercise
- multi-sensory stimulation
Reminiscence and life story work
Reminiscence work involves talking about things and events from your past. It usually involves using props such as photos, your favourite music or things you own.
Life story work involves keepsakes from childhood to the present day, such as photos or notes. It can be either a physical book or a digital version.
Help and support
There are other supports in your community that can help you live as well as possible with Alzheimer's.
You can get support from:
- a dementia advisor - your GP can refer you to one
- a dementia social club
- an Alzheimer Cafe
- a day centre
- a memory technology resource room
- respite care
- Understand Together
- Alzheimer Society of Ireland
Content supplied by the NHS and adapted for Ireland by the HSE