In this article from an issue of The Johns Hopkins Memory Bulletin, the authors discuss 10 of the most common misunderstandings about Alzheimer's disease treatments.
Myth 1: Dementia is just old age, so it is best to leave the person alone.
Truth: Because dementia, especially Alzheimer's, was traditionally viewed as "senility" or normal aging, physicians and families long held that dementia was untreatable or not worth treating. We now know there are numerous dementia copycats, including depression, vitamin deficiencies, and thyroid problems, that can be improved or even halted through treatment.
Myth 2: Alzheimer's is untreatable.
Truth: Alzheimer's is incurable, but it is not untreatable.
Myth 3: There is no need to start Alzheimer's treatment early -- it's all downhill, anyway.
Truth: Studies suggest that people who start Alzheimer's treatment early usually remain better off than those who start treatment months later. That is why most expert doctors begin treatment right after a person is diagnosed.
Myth 4: Treatment will stop the course of Alzheimer's or bring someone back to normal.
Truth: Unfortunately, the available medicines cannot do this, but they can help people with Alzheimer's to think more clearly and function better and longer than they would have without the medication.
Myth 5: Memory pills should be stopped after a few weeks if there aren't any clear benefits.
Truth: It may take from several months or longer to tell if a memory drug is working.
Myth 6: Drugs for Alzheimer's work only in the early stages, so there is no use treating people in the moderate or severe stages.
Truth: These drugs are effective for treating moderate and severe Alzheimer's. They may help people in the moderate stage even more than those in the early stage. People at every stage should have access to any treatment that helps.
Myth 7: Vaccines and stem cells to cure Alzheimer's will soon be on the market, so let's just wait until they're available.
Truth: It will be years, if ever, before vaccines and stem cell therapies are available for Alzheimer's. To date, researchers have found no experimental treatment that improved thinking and memory better than the four drugs already in use: Aricept, Exelon, Razadyne, and Namenda.
Myth 8: It is worth trying a memory supplement or herbal pill before trying these drugs.
Truth: It's best to make a choice such as this after you discuss it with your doctor. Supplements or herbal treatments vary widely in their benefits and risks, and none are as well studied for Alzheimer's as are the four prescription drugs.
Myth 9: Not seeing any change after treatment means the drug is not working.
Truth: The course of untreated Alzheimer's is a progressive decline. So not seeing a change is usually a good sign because it suggests that the disease has stabilized, at least for the time being.
Myth 10: The side effects of the current Alzheimer's drugs are too strong to justify taking them.
Truth: Most beneficial drugs have side effects, and most people generally tolerate the cholinesterase inhibitors and Namenda quite well.
Adapted from The Alzheimer's Action Plan by P. Murali Doraiswamy, M.D., Lisa P. Gwyther, M.S.W., and Tina Adler. Copyright © 2008 by the authors and reprinted by permission of St. Martin's Press, LLC
