Early Alzheimers Treatment

It can be a serious blow if you or a loved one are diagnosed with early Alzheimers. Not only is it difficult to watch someone deteriorate slowly and grow frustrated by always forgetting or losing things, but a financial strain may be put on the family as well, since many early onset Alzheimers patients have to quit their jobs. Spouses may have a hard time adjusting to the new caregiver role and may feel lonely and alienated, missing the intimacy in the prime of their relationship. The anticipatory loss can be terrifying. Often, this form of Alzheimers runs genetically, so the family may already be caring for a parent or grandparent with Alzheimers. The key treatments for early stages of Alzheimers are education and support.

Some people wonder if they should be tested for early Alzheimers if a parent or grandparent is an Alzheimers patient who suffered an early onset. Genetic testing can uncover a defective 1, 14 or 21 gene that predisposes them to the memory loss, confusion and degeneration characterized by Alzheimers. On one hand, an Alzheimers diagnosis can be confirmed or a predisposition can be confirmed by genetic testing. However, finding a gene mutation doesn't 100% guarantee that you will come down with the disease and it fails to predict the severity or how the stages will progress. To get tested you'll need to give a blood sample, which could cost $100 to $1,000, depending on your health insurance plan, where they are sending the sample and other factors.

The US-FDA has approved two types of medication to deal with the cognitive effects of early onset Alzheimers Disease. The first type is Cholinesterase (KOH-luh-NES-ter-ays) inhibitors, which work by preventing the breakdown of the chemical messengers responsible for learning and memory. This medication may delay worsening of symptoms for 6 to 12 months for half the people who take them. To treat Alzheimers symptoms, there are three inhibitors commonly prescribed: Galantamine (Razadyne), Rivastigmine (Exelon) and Donepezil (Aricept).

The second US-FDA approved early onset Alzheimers treatment is Memantine (Nameda), which works by regulating glutamate activity. Glutamate is a different chemical messenger involved in learning and memory and is affected more in the moderate to severe cases. Experts say that this drug helps with naming abilities and functional communication; however, they add that there is currently no significant treatment that can reverse or completely halt the degeneration.

In some cases, behavioral issues can be treated in early Alzheimers to suppress some of the most disruptive symptoms. For example, Anti-depressants like Celexa, Prozac, Paxil and Zoloft are often prescribed to treat low mood and irritability. If your loved one is acting restless, is verbally abusive or particularly resistant, then an Anxiolytic like Ativan or Serax can help. In rare instances, Alzheimers patients suffer delusions, hallucinations, aggression and hostility - in which case an antipsychotic medication is needed. Common brands prescribed include Clozaril, Haldol, Zyprexa and Risperdol.

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