Although current medications cannot cure Alzheimer's or stop it from progressing, they may help lessen symptoms, such as memory loss and confusion, for a limited time.
AgingCare.com has gathered information from the Alzheimer's Association and the National Institute on Aging regarding drugs that are approved by the FDA to treat Alzheimer's disease.
Early to Moderate Alzheimer's - Cholinesterase inhibitors treat memory problems, thinking, language, judgment and other thought processes. This class of drugs prevents the breakdown of acetylcholine, a brain chemical believed to be important in memory function and thinking. As Alzheimer's progresses, the brain produces less and less acetylcholine; therefore, cholinesterase inhibitors may eventually lose their effect.
Moderate to Severe – The Memantine class of drugs helps to improve memory, attention, reason, language and the ability to perform simple tasks. Memantine regulates the activity of glutamate, a messenger chemical involved in learning and memory. It may allow people with Alzheimer's to maintain daily functions a little longer than they would without the medication.
Here is a partial list of drug that are commonly used to treat Alzheimer's disease:
- Aricept
- Donepezil
- Exelon
- Galantamine
- Namenda
- Razadyne
- Rivastigmine
The chart below shows which Medicare prescription drug plans cover which Alzheimer's medications.
Chart provided by the Alzheimer's Association