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When you first realize that someone that you love dearly might be coming down with Alzheimer’s disease, your world changes. The first time you look up "Alzheimer's" at the library, on the Internet or read an article about it in a magazine you know that things will not be the same. If this has happened in your family, you know the way it goes - making excuses for your loved one until you know you need to take action. But please don't wait. It is a case of "the earlier the better" in the prevention and delaying of Alzheimer's disease, as well as in the treatment of the symptoms of Alzheimer's. There are promising treatments available, the leader being Aricept.
So, what exactly is Aricept, and how does it work?
It is a “cholinesterase inhibitor” used to treat mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease. Cholinesterase is an enzyme found chiefly at nerve terminals that inactivates acetylcholine by hydrolyzing it to form acetic acid and choline. Aricept increases levels of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, which is responsible for memory function and other aspects of cognition. Although Aricept seems to greatly improve the symptoms in the early to moderate stages of Alzheimer’s, sadly, it does not slow the progression of the disease. The cost of Aricept is about $120.00 per month and the normal dosage is 5mg a day. There are some side effects that should be discussed with your doctor, but Aricept seems to be tolerated more easily then another Alzheimer’s drug, Cognex. Although Cognex works very similar to Aricept, it must be taken 3 to 4 times a say, compared to Aricept’s once daily dosage. Cognex may also cause liver impairment.
Estrogen Therapy for Alzheimer’s
The jury is still out on the success of estrogen therapy in Alzheimer’s patients. However, researchers have found that women who take estrogen therapy after menopause are less likely to have Alzheimer’s and the women who already have Alzheimer's and are taking estrogen suffer less severe symptoms and slower mental deterioration. Animal studies have shown that estrogen increases the circulation of blood to the brain. Estrogen stimulates nerve cell growth in the areas of the brain that are affected by Alzheimer's.
Although estrogen therapy is not an effective treatment for Alzheimer’s disease, it may be successful in the prevention or the slowing of the onset of the disease. The major drawback to this therapy, however, is that women who take estrogen are at a higher risk for heart attacks, blood clots, strokes and breast cancer.
Non Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs(NSAIDs) Nonsteriodal antiinflammatory drugs, also called NSAIDS, include such drugs as ibuprofen and aspirin and are used for relief of aches, pains and fever. Although the exact cause of Alzheimer’s disease is not known, researchers believe that inflammation in the brain may be a factor in its developing in a person. Because NSAIDs help decrease inflammation in the body, researchers believe that NSAIDs may aid in preventing or delaying the onset of Alzheimer's disease by decreasing inflammation in the brain.
Please, if you are thinking that your loved one is forgetting more than usual, talk to him, or her, about it - now. The best medicines for fighting Alzheimer’s disease are education and early intervention! Today’s new medical treatments may give you extra years of fulfilling life with the ones you love, by taking a simple pill every
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