Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is one of the commonest problems faced by old people. This disease slowly and gradually takes over your mind to leave you as blank as a clean slate. Alzheimer’s disease is a brain disorder and one of the most common causes of dementia. Dementia damages the brain’s basic functionality of memory, thinking, behavioral pattern and emotion. It is one of the most common forms of irreversible dementia. With the increasing age your chances increases too, to get affected by this condition. Once you cross 60 you become more susceptible to this disease. Though you will find young people getting affected too but, that is a rare case.

AD is a complex disease, and no single “magic bullet” is likely to prevent or cure it. That’s why current treatments focus on several different issues, including helping people maintain mental function, managing behavioral symptoms, and slowing AD.

No treatment has been proven to stop AD. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved four drugs to treat AD. For people with mild or moderate AD, donepezil (Aricept®), rivastigmine (Exelon®), or galantamine (Razadyne®) may help maintain cognitive abilities and help control certain behavioral symptoms for a few months to a few years. Donepezil can be used for severe AD, too. Another drug, memantine (Namenda®), is used to treat moderate to severe AD. However, these drugs don’t stop or reverse AD and appear to help patients only for months to a few years.

There are a number of problems with the behaviors of people with Alzheimer’s disease. These include depression, paranoia, wandering, hallucinations (seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there), restlessness, irritability, uncharacteristic cursing, threatening language, and confusion. These problems can interfere with normal daily activity and sleep and may increase the risk of harm to the person with Alzheimer’s and their caregiver.

Medications often used to treat agitation include:

• Antipsychotics.
• Antidepressants.
• Anti-anxiety medications.

Alternative Treatments

A growing number of herbal remedies, vitamins and other dietary supplements are promoted as memory enhancers or treatments to delay or prevent Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders. Claims about the safety and effectiveness of these products, however, are based largely on testimonials, tradition and a rather small body of scientific research. These dietary supplements include:

• Coenzyme Q10
• Coral calcium
• Ginkgo biloba
• Huperzine A
• Omega-3 fatty acids
• Phosphatidylserine
• Tramiprosate