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Basic InformationMore InformationLatest NewsAn ALS Drug Shows Early Promise Against Alzheimer'sAHA News: Dementia Can Complicate Heart Recovery and TreatmentDeaths From Alzheimer's Far More Common in Rural AmericaCould COVID-19 Accelerate Alzheimer's Symptoms?Dementia Cases Will Nearly Triple Worldwide by 2050: StudyFDA Panel Advisor Who Panned New Alzheimer's Drug Speaks Out'Light Flash' Treatment Might Help Slow Alzheimer'sCleaning Up the Air Could Help Prevent Alzheimer'sLong-Term Outlook for Most With Serious Brain Injury Is Better Than ThoughtDrug Shows Promise in Easing Dementia-Linked PsychosisAHA News: Diabetes and Dementia Risk: Another Good Reason to Keep Blood Sugar in Check1 in 20 Cases of Dementia Occurs in People Under 65Could Menopausal Hormone Therapy Reduce Women's Odds for Dementia?Reading, Puzzles May Delay Alzheimer's by 5 Years: StudyTwo Major Health Systems Won't Administer Controversial New Alzheimer's DrugMost Marriages Survive a Spouse's Brain InjuryMedicare Mulls Coverage for Controversial Alzheimer's DrugFDA Head Asks for Investigation Into Alzheimer's Drug ApprovalNew Prescribing Instructions Tighten Use of Controversial Alzheimer's DrugMissing Teeth, Higher Odds for Dementia?AHA News: Smoking Harms the Brain, Raises Dementia Risk – But Not If You QuitHealthy Living Can Lower Your Odds for Alzheimer'sKeeping Same Nurse for All Home Health Care May Be Crucial for Dementia PatientsMost Cases of Dementia in U.S. Seniors Go Undiagnosed: StudyLilly to Seek FDA Approval for New Alzheimer's DrugCould a Type of Statin Raise Dementia Risks?Good News, Bad News From Alzheimer's Vaccine TrialPoor Sleep After Head Injury Could Point to Dementia RiskFDA Approves Alzheimer's Drug Despite Expert Panel's ObjectionsFDA Defends Approval of Controversial Alzheimer's DrugPeople of Color Have Twice the Risk of Dying After Brain Injury, Study FindsIn People With Type 1 Diabetes, Poor Blood Sugar Control Could Raise Dementia RiskThere's Been a Shift in Who's Funding Alzheimer's ResearchHealthy Living Helps Prevent Dementia, Even If It Runs in the FamilyAHA News: Is It Normal Aging or Early Signs of Dementia?Dementia Risk Rises as Years Lived With Type 2 Diabetes IncreasesHead Injury, Alzheimer's Appear to Affect Brain in Similar WaysBrain Injuries Raise Long-Term Risk of StrokeResearch Shows Links Between Gum Disease and Alzheimer'sAssisted Living Centers Can Do More for Dementia Patients, Experts Say6 Steps to Reduce Caregiver StressLoneliness in Mid-Life Linked to Higher Odds for Alzheimer'sDrug Used in Cancer Patients Might Help Treat Alzheimer's'Non-Drug' Approaches Can Fight Depression in People With DementiaSuicide Attempts Spike Soon After Dementia DiagnosisCould a New Drug Help Ease Alzheimer's?AHA News: Dementia May Be a Risk Factor for Infection But Not Death From COVID-19Your Eyes May Signal Your Risk for Stroke, DementiaEven 1 Concussion May Raise Your Odds for Dementia LaterAlzheimer's Patients Are Being Given Too Many Meds Questions and AnswersVideosLinksBook Reviews |
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Research and Prognosis on Alzheimer's DiseaseRudolph C. Hatfield, PhD., edited by Kathryn Patricelli, MATreatment Research
 At the time of this writing there are well over 100 different medications being investigated in research trials for treating Alzheimer's disease. These medications are at different stages in the research process and:
- The majority of these drugs are what are called modifying therapies. These are hoped to be able to change or alter how the disease progresses.
- A smaller number are cognitive enhancers. These are designed to improve cognitive functions like memory or attention.
- An even smaller number are symptomatic agents. This means that they just work on specific symptoms like agitation, hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that are not there), etc.
The process of approving drugs is often lengthy and consists of many steps. Initial steps are designed to test the safety of the drug. Then the next steps test to see if the drug works or does what it is supposed to do. The final two steps continue with evaluating its safety and effectiveness, as well as how it works when released on the market. Even though there are hundreds of drugs currently in development for Alzheimer's disease, it is a good bet that very few of them will get approval.
Other research that may assist in the development of treatment for Alzheimer's disease includes genetic research. This research is consistently uncovering new genetic associations that may lead to the development of Alzheimer's disease in some people. However, the path from understanding how a particular gene contributes to the development of the issues in Alzheimer's disease and in developing a medication to address that issue can take many years.
Prognosis
At the current time, there are only a few medications that are approved for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. It is important to understand that these medications do not reverse or cure the disease. People who have Alzheimer's disease may live between one to twenty years after they are diagnosed with the disorder. The average length of time people live after the diagnosis is made is about eight years. However, there can be quite a bit of variation from person-to-person. Most often people with Alzheimer's disease die from other medical conditions that are complications of the disorder including pneumonia or from other factors such as heart disease.
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