Are medications truly helpful for memory issues? 86 yo parents are both having issues but refuse to consider evaluation for meds.

I saw some slight improvements first, but it was short-lived and then went back to baseline. If I recall, it made his insomnia worse and dizziness became an issue.

To be quite honest, I had dad drinking organic, mushroom-based coffee by Four Sigmatic and found the best improvement - it's made with Lion's Mane and supposed to help with cognition. Nothing earth-shaking, but he seemed to be a little more alert.

No. They aren't. There is no proof yet that anything works. So if you are being sold on a whole lot of expensive stuff I think you are getting played.

There is some or "some" evidence that the very new drugs MAY help IF you get them on board very early stages. BUT they can also cause brain hemorrhages, so it's a bit of a gamble to my mind without further evidence.

But there you are. We are human. We want answers, and we will keep pouring anything into ourselves that is marked "H-O-P-E" on the bottle.

There are at this time NO medications that will help with ones memory. Some "supposedly" slow the process of dementia down, but even those are hit or miss.
The only medications that will help someone with dementia, are ones for agitation, depression or OCD behaviors.

The memory effects of some medications are primary for the early stages and generally short lived.