Review Article

Alzheimer's Disease Clinical and Research Update for Health Care Practitioners

Table 2

Management of dementia: eight intervention areas to be addressed.

(i) Pharmaceutical interventions
(medications that may provide symptom relief for cognitive, emotional, and behavioral issues)
 Donepezil
 Rivastigmine
 Galantamine
 Memantine
 Psychotropic (antidepressants, antianxiety, mood stabilizer, antipsychotic)
(ii) Nutraceutical interventions
(dietary supplements still in research stages)
 Omega 3
 Curcumin
 Vitamin D
 Alpha GPC
 Phosphatidylserine
 Choline
(iii) Medical foods interventions
(prescriptive)
 Axona
 CerefolinNAC
 Souvenaid (not currently available in the USA)
(iv) Neurophysiological interventions
(still in research stages)
 Cranioelectric stimulation
 Transcranial magnetic stimulation
 Neurofeedback
 Laser light therapy
(v) Physical health interventions
 Aerobic exercise
 Medical management of disease
  Diabetes
  Hypertension
  Hyperlipidemia
(vi) Cognitive interventions
 Mental exercises/hobbies
 Compensatory memory strategies and aids
 Cognitive training
(vii) Behavioral interventions
(strategies to manage factors such as wandering, sundowning, agitation, disorientation, affective disinhibition, stubbornness, paranoia, irritability, apathy, and restlessness)
 Occupational therapy safety assessment of home
 Low stress calming environment
 Regular sleep and meal schedules
 Redirection and distraction
 Minimization of unexpected changes in environment
 Patient counseling and support groups in early stages
 Caregiver strategies and resources through support groups and internet
 In-home aide/assistant
 Outpatient day program with all inclusive care
 assisted living facility
(viii) Future planning interventions
 Caregiver counseling to aid in life planning and decision making
 Legal services for guardianship and capacity
 Financial advisor for estate planning