Although, presently, there is not a cure for dementia, there are a variety of treatments that can be used to help with the symptoms of the disease. Depending on the type of treatment, they can be administered or recommended at specific points in the dementia journey when the treatment is able to have the most positive impact on the person. Some of the available treatments for dementia are outlined below:
As with most diseases, there are a variety of medicines that are able to temporarily reduce the symptoms of dementia. Although the medicines are primarily administered to help to prevent further neurological damage taking place, there are also medicines available that can help with changes in behaviour. For example, certain medicines may be recommended if the person with dementia is showing persistent aggression or extreme distress. It can be helpful to talk to your GP in order to gain a further understanding of the medicines available.
In addition to medicine, there are a variety of cognition-based remedies that are able to engage the community and help the person with dementia to live more comfortably. One example of this is ‘cognitive stimulation therapy’, which involves group activities and exercises which have been designed to improve the person’s memory, problem-solving skills and language ability. These improvements can help to make the person feel more confident in their ability and will encourage them to continue to engage.
There is also a practice known as ‘cognitive rehabilitation’, which is completed with a trained professional (i.e. occupational therapist) and a close friend or family member. The aim of the sessions is to achieve modest personal goals, such as doing the washing or learning to use a mobile phone. Completing these tasks enables the more functional parts of the person’s brain to help the less functional parts. It has been reported that cognitive rehabilitation can help a person to cope better in the early stages of dementia.
For more information on the different treatments for dementia, please click here.
For more information about coping with behaviour changes, please click here.
For more information about living well with dementia, please click here.
For more information about activities for dementia, please click here.
