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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 Brain's Iron Stores May Be Key to Alzheimer'sHormones May Explain Greater Prevalence of Alzheimer's in WomenMiddle-Age Obesity Linked to Higher Odds for DementiaCould Crohn's, Colitis Raise Dementia Risk?5 Healthy Steps to Lower Your Odds for Alzheimer'sCOVID-19 Brings New Challenges to Alzheimer's CaregivingAlzheimer's Gene Linked to Severe COVID-19 RiskHealthier Heart, Better Brain in Old AgeAHA News: Hearing Loss and the Connection to Alzheimer's Disease, DementiaBrain Plaques Signal Alzheimer's Even Before Other Symptoms Emerge: StudyCertain Gene Might Help Shield At-Risk People From Alzheimer'sHow to Connect With Nursing Home Patients in QuarantineHow to Ease Loved Ones With Alzheimer's Through the PandemicCaring for Dementia Patient During Pandemic? Try These Stress-Busting TipsRecovery From Mild Brain Trauma Takes Longer Than Expected: StudyDaily Aspirin Won't Stop Dementia, Study FindsStudy Ties Brain Inflammation to Several Types of DementiaHeart Drug Combos Might Also Lower Your Dementia Risk: StudyU.S. Primary Care Docs Unprepared for Surge in Alzheimer's CasesMaria Shriver Sounds the Alarm on Women and Alzheimer'sTraumatic Brain Injuries Raise Risk of Psychiatric Ills in SoldiersGrowing Up in U.S. 'Stroke Belt' Bad for the Brain Later in LifeTwo Experimental Drugs Disappoint With Inherited Alzheimer'sGene Variant Ups Dementia Risk in Parkinson's Patients: StudyGene Variation May Protect Against Alzheimer's: StudyWhen Dementia Harms Speech, Native Language MattersEven 1 Night's Bad Sleep Can Raise Levels of a Brain 'Marker' for Alzheimer'sAHA News: Worried About Dementia? Check This Blood Pressure NumberStudy Might Point Alzheimer's Research in Whole New DirectionMore Doubt That Plaques in the Brain Cause Alzheimer'sObesity in Middle Age Could Raise Odds for Alzheimer's LaterCan Air Pollution Take a Toll on Your Memory?Animal Study Offers Hope for Treating Traumatic Brain InjuriesAlmost Half of Older Americans Fear Dementia, Try Untested Ways to Fight ItPeople Who Can't Read Face 2-3 Times Higher Dementia RiskEducation a Buffer Against Alzheimer's Among Blacks: StudyDown Syndrome Carries Raised Risk of Dementia by 55A Gene Kept One Woman From Developing Alzheimer's -- Could It Help Others?Number of Americans With Dementia Will Double by 2040: ReportIs Head Injury Causing Dementia? MRI Might ShowFamily Can Help Keep Delirium at Bay After SurgeryPro Soccer Players More Likely to Develop Dementia: StudyDrug Limits Damage of Brain InjuryYour Personality as a Teen May Predict Your Risk of DementiaWhat Helps Calm Agitated Dementia Patients?AHA News: Growing – and Aging – Hispanic Population at Risk for DementiaAHA News: Yo-Yoing Blood Pressure Could Be Bad for Those With Alzheimer'sGive Seniors a Memory Check at Annual Checkups, Experts SayFor People at High Risk, Evidence That Exercise Might Slow Alzheimer'sDementia Caregivers Often Face Sleepless Nights 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: DrivingTreating Traumatic Brain Injuries Diagnosis and Management of Vascular DementiaHelping Loved Ones with Memory Loss Difference Between Alzheimer's and Dementia Alzheimer’s Disease and Sleep PatternsDevelopments to Alzheimer’s Research 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 Disease Facts and FiguresAlzheimer's Screening Neurology: Testing for Alzheimer's Early Detection of Alzheimer’s Disease 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 New Approaches to Alzheimer’s DiseasesRecognizing the Early Signs of DementiaEffective Treatments and Prevention of Alzheimer’s Disease: The Time is Now - Research on Aging Dementia – it affects us all Falls Prevention in People with DementiaCaregiver 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: WanderingThe Benefits of Early Detection of Alzheimer's DiseaseGetting Help with Caregiving: In-Home & Residential PlacementA New Way To Look At Alzheimer'sThe Healing Power of MusicFalls Prevention in People with DementiaFalls Prevention in People with DementiaProtecting & Caring for Patients with DementiaDementia 101 in 101 Seconds Normal and Abnormal Aging and the BrainCircuit Tweak Boosts Social Memory in Mice Managing The Late Stages of DementiaAlzheimer’s Disease and Parkinson’s Disease Aggressive Behavior in People with DementiaDementia with Lewy Bodies Diagnosing 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[12] Information[2] Journals[1] Research[1] Services[58] 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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