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Resources Basic Information Introduction & Causes of Cognitive Disorders Introduction to Cognitive DisordersVarious Causes of Cognitive DisordersReversible and Irreversible Cognitive Disorders Dementia DementiaMedical Conditions that May Cause Dementia Alzheimer's Disease Alzheimer's DiseasePrevalence and Causes of Alzheimer's DiseaseCauses of Alzheimer's Disease ContinuedRisk Factors for Alzheimer's DiseaseSymptoms of Alzheimer's DiseaseWarning Signs of Alzheimer's DiseaseDiagnosis of Alzheimer's DiseaseDiagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease - Imaging Procedures and Psychological EvaluationDiagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease - Neuropsychological TestingTreatment of Cognitive and Behavioral Symptoms associated with Alzheimer's DiseaseResearch and Prognosis on Alzheimer's Disease Other Cognitive Disorders Vascular Neurocognitive DisorderVascular Neurocognitive Disorder ContinuedLewy Body DementiaSymptoms of Lewy Body DementiaDiagnosis and Treatment of Lewy Body DementiaReversible Cognitive Disorder - Dementia Syndrome of Depression Neurocognitive Disorder Due to Another Medical ConditionReversible Cognitive Disorder - DeliriumPrevention of Dementia and Other Cognitive Disorders Dementia Coping Skills & Behavior Management Coping Skills for Those With DementiaCoping Skills for Dementia CaregiversServices for Dementia CaregiversCommunication Tips for Dementia CaregiversBehavioral Management for Dementia CaregiversBehavioral Management for Dementia Caregivers ContinuedTips for Dealing with Specific Dementia Problematic BehaviorsTips for Dealing with Specific Dementia Problematic Behaviors Continued Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Traumatic Brain InjuriesTraumatic Brain Injuries ContinuedTreatment of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Conclusion and Resources Cognitive Disorders ConclusionCognitive Disorders Web ResourcesCognitive Disorders Book Resources More Information Dementia: What Gets Damaged; What Gets Saved Latest News Life Span After Alzheimer's Diagnosis: What Factors Matter MostLots of Napping Could Raise a Senior's Odds for Alzheimer'sIs It 'Pre-Alzheimer's' or Normal Aging? Poll Finds Many Americans UnclearMore Evidence That Education May Protect Against DementiaAHA News: These Three Risk Factors May Have the Biggest Impact on Dementia CasesAHA News: Traumatic Brain Injury May Raise Veterans' Long-Term Stroke RiskMore Years Playing Hockey, Higher Odds for CTE Linked to Head InjuryEarly Menopause May Raise a Woman's Odds for DementiaPandemic Caused Rise in Deaths of Alzheimer's PatientsStaying Fit May Keep Alzheimer's at BayConcussion's Impact on Memory, Thinking May Linger More Than a YearBrain Injuries May Be Driving Higher Death Rate for U.S. VeteransHints That Viagra-Like Drugs Might Help Prevent DementiaAHA News: Statistics Report Offers Snapshot of the Nation's Brain Health – And a Guide to Protecting ItKeeping Weight Stable Could Help Save Your BrainMedicare Proposes to Only Cover Alzheimer's Drug Aduhelm for Use in Clinical TrialsAduhelm: Will Medicare Cover the Controversial Alzheimer's Drug?More U.S. Seniors, Especially Women, Are Retaining Healthy Brains: StudyMaker Cuts Price of Controversial New Alzheimer's Drug in HalfCertain Meds Raise Odds for Delirium After SurgeryCould Viagra Help Prevent Alzheimer's?Clearing Out Clutter Might Not Help People With DementiaLifetime Spent With Epilepsy Ages the Brain, Study Finds'Mild Cognitive Impairment' in Older Age Often Disappears, Study FindsMore Years Playing Football, More Brain Lesions on MRI: StudyReminder Apps on Smartphones May Help in Early DementiaNeurologists' Group Issues Guidance to Families on Controversial Alzheimer's DrugTrial Begins of Nasal Vaccine for Alzheimer's DiseaseAlzheimer's Diagnosis May Come With Big Cost to Social LifeCould Estrogen Help Shield Women's Brains From Alzheimer's?Purrfect Pal: Robotic Cats May Help People With DementiaRight Amount of Sleep May Be Important in Early Alzheimer'sAHA News: Hearing Loss and the Link to DementiaDepression in Early Life May Up Dementia Risk LaterScientists Untangle Why Diabetes Might Raise Alzheimer's RiskTracking Key Protein Helps Predict Outcomes in TBI PatientsMIND Diet May Guard Against Alzheimer'sSigns of Early Alzheimer's May Be Spotted in Brain StemCould Cholesterol Help Drive Alzheimer's Disease?Most Alzheimer's Patients Wouldn't Have Qualified for Controversial Drug's Trial: StudyAHA News: What Are Researchers Doing to Stop Dementia?A Mentally Challenging Job Could Help Ward Off DementiaDirty Air, Higher Dementia Risk?An 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's Questions and Answers Problem of Forgetting ThingsHow Do I Handle My Mother's Decline?89 Year Old Mother Dementia vs DeliriumElderly ParentsVoices in his headold age or whatDementia and Depression Videos Overview of Dementia with Lewy Bodies Common Challenges: DrivingDiagnosis and Management of Vascular DementiaDifference Between Alzheimer's and Dementia Why Early Detection of Alzheimer’s Disease MattersLooking Beyond Alzheimer’s Disease: An Overview of Other Major Forms of Neurodegenerative DiseaseNew Definition of Alzheimer’s Changes How Disease Is ResearchedLewy Body Dementia: Most Common Disorder You’ve Never Heard Of Living With Traumatic Brain Injury Early Detection of Alzheimer's Disease Seeing Alzheimer's in a New Way Inside Alzheimer’s disease Alzheimer's Screening Neurology: Testing for Alzheimer's Alzheimer's and Dementia Caregiver Training: Sexually Inappropriate BehaviorsAlzheimer's and Dementia Caregiver Training: Depression/ApathyAlzheimer's and Dementia Caregiver Training: Agitation and AnxietyAlzheimer's and Dementia Caregiver Training: Aggressive Language/BehaviorAlzheimer's and Dementia Caregiver Training: Sleep DisturbancesAlzheimer's and Dementia Caregiver Training: Repetitive Phone CallsAlzheimer's and Dementia Caregiver Training: Home SafetyBest Practices & Emerging Therapies for Patients with Alzheimer’s Disease Recognizing the Early Signs of DementiaEffective Treatments and Prevention of Alzheimer’s Disease: The Time is Now - Research on Aging Dementia – it affects us all Caregiver Training Part I: Introduction Caregiver Training Part II: HallucinationsCaregiver Training Part III: Refusal to BatheCaregiver Training Part IV: Refusal to Take MedicationCaregiver Training Part V: Repetitive BehaviorsCaregiver Training Part VI: Repetitive QuestionsCaregiver Training Part VII: SundowningCaregiver Training Part VIII: WanderingA New Way To Look At Alzheimer'sFalls Prevention in People with DementiaProtecting & Caring for Patients with DementiaDementia 101 in 101 Seconds Normal and Abnormal Aging and the BrainAlzheimer’s Disease and Parkinson’s Disease Aggressive Behavior in People with DementiaDiagnosing Alzheimer’s Signs of Alzheimer’s Practical Tips for Travelling with a Loved One with Alzheimer's Disease Links [1] Articles[3] Associations[5] Government[10] Information[2] Journals[1] Research[43] Videos Book Reviews Alive with Alzheimer'sAlzheimer'sDays With My FatherDecision Making, Personhood and DementiaDementiaDementia Caregivers Share Their StoriesHearing the Person With DementiaHow We Think About DementiaInside Assisted LivingMild Cognitive Impairment and Early Alzheimer's DiseaseMom's OK, She Just ForgetsMy Book about Brains, Change and DementiaNothing about us, without us!Remembering HomeRights, Risk and Restraint-Free Care of Older PeopleSpeaking Our Minds: Revised EditionStill AliceTelling Tales About DementiaThe Almost MoonThe Emotional Journey of the Alzheimer's FamilyThe Enduring Self in People with Alzheimer'sThe Story of My FatherVoices Of Alzheimer'sWhen It Gets DarkWhen Someone You Know Is Living in a Dementia Care CommunityWrinkles

Related Topics Aging & Geriatrics Memory Problems Elder Care

Treatment 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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