Alzheimer's disease (Home) | Diagnosis

Treatment of Alzheimer's disease 

By Oluwasola Samuel, Freelance health writer. Medically reviewed by: A. Odutola, MB. BS., PhD, FRCSEd.

 

An elderly African woman receiving support from a caregiver. Image credit: Freepik

 

One thing you must know is that Alzheimer's disease does not have a cure yet. However, some treatment methods can help you manage the symptoms.

Below are the two broad ways to treat Alzheimer's disease:

• Medication based management 
• Non-Medication management 

 

I. Medication-based management

Certain medications can improve or reduce the worsening progression of the cognitive symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease, like memory and thinking. Other may improve the psychological and behavioural symptoms.

a) Medication that improve Alzheimer's cognitive symptoms include: 

• Cholinesterase inhibitors

This drug blocks the effect of acetylcholinesterase (an enzyme responsible for destroying acetylcholine). Acetylcholine is a chemical that helps nerve cells communicate. The more acetylcholine is in your brain cells, the better the communication process. Medications like Donepezil, Rivastigmine, and Galantamine are drugs under cholinesterase inhibitors.

• Memantine

This type of medication is used to treat moderate to severe Alzheimer's disease. It improves and keeps your brain cells healthy while controlling brain signals to reduce confusion.

b) Medications to manage Alzheimer's behavioural, psychological and mental symptoms, include:

• Antipsychotic (drugs are used to treat or manage symptoms of psychosis like hallucinations or agitation).

• Anticonvulsant drugs (these are used to treat Alzheimer’s disease because of the calming (sedative) effects

• Anti-anxiety drugs (this drug is used to treat anxiety symptoms)

• Antidepressants (drugs used to relieve symptoms of depression and anxiety disorders)

c)  Medications to manage co-existing medical conditions 

Medical conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, or depression can worsen Alzheimer's disease symptoms. Managing or treating these other conditions can help improve symptoms.

 

II. Non-Medication based management 

These include:

• Lifestyle Changes 

Staying physically active (walking, yoga, and jogging), eating a nutritious meal (fish, nuts, and vegetables), and engaging in mental exercises (puzzles or reading) can slow symptoms progress and improve your overall well-being for a longer period.

• Cognitive stimulation therapy

These therapies engage your the through activities that help promote memory and thinking. Activities like playing simple games, storytelling, or practicing tasks like cooking. This therapy is like exercising your brain to keep it active and functioning optimally.

• Social and emotional support 

If a person with Alzheimer's disease is left isolated or disconnected from their loved ones, their condition may worsen. Staying active, connected, and spending quality time with loved ones reduces feelings of isolation or depression. Family members can provide emotional support, share stories, play games, or attend community events to help improve the way the person socialises in public.

• Cognitive behaviour therapy

A person with Alzheimer's disease might often have mood swings or behavioural changes. One moment, they are happy or lively; the other, they are moody and aggressive. These symptoms can be well managed through a combination of medication and behavioural therapies. 

These behavioural therapies include:

• Playing calming music to reduce agitation
• Engaging the person in activities they enjoy
• Providing comforting objects or items
• If agitated, diverting the person's attention to something or activity they love
• Avoiding confrontation

 

Challenges of Alzheimer's disease care in Africa

There are many unique challenges that hinder Alzheimer’s disease care in Africa. Some of these include:

1. Limited access to quality healthcare

In many African countries, there are few specialists like neurologists or geriatricians. As a result, most hospitals in local and big cities need more specialists. 

For example, in a local community with only one clinic, the staff might not know how to diagnose or treat a person with Alzheimer's disease, leading to misdiagnosis or a late diagnosis.

2. Financial constraint

Diagnosing, treating, and full-time caregiving can be expensive for people in local areas. For example, a family struggling to feed or pay their children's school fees may find it nearly impossible to buy medication or pay for long-term care for their loved ones with Alzheimer's disease.

3. Lack of specialised care facilities

Few care facilities specialise in caring for people with Alzheimer's disease in Africa. This leaves family members to care for their loved ones at home, often without experience or proper care training. This can be overwhelming and physically and mentally demanding.

4. Low Awareness

Many people in Africa have little or no knowledge about what Alzheimer's disease is. Diseases like malaria or HIV are often talked about in clinics or hospitals. There are posters available to educate people on how to prevent or what to do when due. However, the same isn't the case for Alzheimer's disease. 

Also, people often mistake Alzheimer's disease for an old age condition or witchcraft. This stigma makes families hide the condition instead of seeking medical help.

5. Poor support for caregivers

Caregivers who care for a person with Alzheimer's disease often experience burnout, stress, and financial pressure. They usually get little or no support from both society and the government. When a caregiver is given the needed support and trust, the level of care improves, as does the quality of care.

6. Limited research and data

There isn't enough research about Alzheimer's disease in Africa. This makes it difficult to develop effective treatment or policies tailored to Africa. Also, with little or no data to work with, the government might find it difficult to fully understand how common this condition is and how to effectively channel resources to combat it.

Alzheimer's disease is a growing condition in Africa. To overcome the challenges against care of Alzheimer's disease, there must be a collective effort to educate communities, train healthcare professionals, invest in Alzheimer's disease research, and invest in accessible healthcare. 

 

FAQs 

• Is there a difference between Alzheimer's disease and dementia?

Dementia is an umbrella term for conditions that cause a decline in higher-order brain functions, and Alzheimer's disease is a brain disorder that is the most common cause of dementia. 

• How do I care for a family member with Alzheimer's disease?

Below are some tips to help you care for a loved one with Alzheimer's disease: 

• Be kind to them and spend quality time with them.
• Encourage mental and physical exercise (light exercises or playing puzzle games).
• Make the environment safe (remove harmful objects).
• Communicate clearly (use simple or short sentences to communicate to avoid confusion).
• Help with tasks (break tasks into smaller steps).
• Encourage healthy eating (serve nutritious meals and encourage drinking enough water).
• Monitor emotional well-being (look out for signs of anxiety and depression).
• Maintain eye contact and physical touch (hold hands to comfort them).

Caring for a person with dementia requires patience and understanding of the condition. 

• When should I or a loved one see a doctor?

If you or your loved one begin to experience significant symptoms that include poor memory, thinking and decision-making difficulties, and behaviour changes that affect activities of daily living negatively, you need to see a doctor for early evaluation and treatment. 

• Is Alzheimer's disease preventable?

The risk of Alzheimer's disease can be reduced through living a healthy lifestyle. Here are some simple and practical tips:

• Exercise regularly
• Eat nutritious meals
• Engage in activities that promote your mental health
• Maintain an active and social life
• Engage in activities that are fun
• Reduce stress
• Reduce or quit smoking
• If on medication for heart issues, protect your heart, by taking your medications as prescribed by your doctor
• Get enough sleep
• Protect your head from injury

These lifestyle changes would also contribute to a healthier life for those living with Alzheimer's disease.. 

• Is Alzheimer's disease hereditary?

Alzheimer’s disease can have a hereditary component, but not everyone who gets it inherits it. Heredity isn't the whole story behind Alzheimer's disease. Even if Alzheimer’s runs in your family, other factors like ageing, lifestyle, and environment also play big roles.

• Is Alzheimer's disease curable?

There is no known or proven cure for Alzheimer's disease. However, some treatments and therapies can help you manage the symptoms so they don't become severe or interfere with your daily activities.

 

Conclusion

Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive brain disorder. It's the leading cause of dementia. Alzheimer's disease affects cognitive functions like memory, thinking, attention, decision making, etc. While the exact cause of Alzheimer's disease remains unclear, age, genetics, and metabolic brain changes that cause the formation of plaques and tangles are key factors that contribute to this condition. 

The clinical diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease is based on assessment of symptoms and findings from various tests. A conclusive diagnosis can only be made after death following post-mortem. 

Although there is no cure, the use of certain medications coupled with healthy habits like regular exercise, a balanced diet, and mental stimulation can reduce the worsening progression of the condition. Early diagnosis is also vital for a successful treatment of symptoms.

Protect your brain health by making healthy choices now. Small steps today can make a big difference tomorrow.

Alzheimer's disease (Home) | Diagnosis

 

Resources

1. World Health Organization. Dementia. [Internet] 15 March, 2023. [Cited November 27, 2024]. Available from here.

2. Guerchet M,  Mayston R,  Lloyd-Sherlock P, Prince M,  Aboderin I,  Akinyemi R, Paddick SM, Wimo A, Amoakoh-Coleman M,  Uwakwe R, Ezeah P. Dementia disease in sub-Saharan Africa. Challenges and solutions. [Internet]. Alzheimer’s Disease International. September 1 2017. [Cited 2024 Nov 27]. Available from here.

3.   Mubangizi V, Maling S, Obua C, Tsai AC. Prevalence and correlates of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias in rural Uganda: cross-sectional, population-based study. BMC Geriatrics. 2020; 20(1):48. doi.org/10.1186/s12877-020-1461-z. Available from here.

4. Adeloye D, Auta A, Ezejimofor M, Oyedokun A, Harhay MO, Rudan I, et al. Prevalence of dementia in Nigeria: a systematic review of the evidence. Journal of Global Health Reports. 2019 Mar 1; 3:e2019014. doi:10.29392/joghr.3.e2019014. Available from here.

5. Mendez MF. Early-onset Alzheimer's disease. Neurologic clinics 2017 May; 35(2):263. doi: 10.1016/j.ncl.2017.01.005.Available from here here.

6. Alzheimer’s Society. Rare types of dementia caused by genetic changes. [Internet]. Last reviewed October 8, 2021. [Cited 2024 Nov 27]. Available from here.

7. Yang Y, Bagyinszky E, An SSA. Presenilin-1 (Psen1) mutations: Clinical phenotypes beyond Alzheimer’s disease. Int J Mol Sci. 2023 May 8;24(9):8417. doi: 10.3390/ijms24098417. Available from here.

 

Related:

Dementia: What Africans should know

10 things Africans should be doing to lower dementia risk

African foods that promote brain health

Anti-Inflammatory Foods Can Lower Dementia Risk, Study

 

 

Published: December 4, 2024.

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