Medication and Treatment
Although there is no known definitive treatment for Dementia, there are many ongoing studies to try and find the proverbial 'miracle cure'. In addition to the studies and testing carried out at Hospitals, Universities and Research Labs, there are also a number of other avenues that have brought some favourable results.
Medicines can takes years to develop, test, and approve. Before being approved, each new medicine is rigorously tested for effectiveness, side-effects and stability. This means that a period of several years could pass by before the drug is available on the shelves of your local Pharmacy. All very frustrating but completely necessary to safeguard the general public.
In addition to medicinal treatments, there are also a number of complementary and alternative therapies, some more widely known and accepted than others. These are obviously more prolific in their conception, (and ultimately their demise), than medicinal treatments. It needs to be noted that some therapies, while working well for one individual, may not work well for another. As is the case with many innovative treatments, it could be all down to the individual and their personal circumstances as to how they respond to treatment. If the treatment works with no ill side-effects, then keep doing it. If it doesn't work, then try something else.
Most of the non-medicinal treatments and therapies are relatively safe to try and will either work or not. In these cases it's a matter of nothing ventured, nothing gained, although care must be taken with any treatment which involves the ingestion of substances that are not normally associated with treating Dementia. It is not advisable to try any alternative or complementary medicine without first consulting your G.P. no matter how innocent the treatment or substance appears to be.
Finally there are drugs that are used to counteract the non-cognitive symptoms of Dementia, i.e. depression, anxiety, sleep disorders, hallucinations, etc. Whilst they do nothing to physically counteract the causes of Dementia, they do offer some respite by relieving the non-cognitive symptoms to a degree where you may feel more comfortable, and can go about your day to day tasks with greater confidence and purpose. It should be noted however, that often non-cognitive therapy medication needs careful consideration before you decide to include it as part of your treatment plan. Inappropriate or excessive use can be detrimental to your condition, and the advice of your GP or local health professional is always advised before any treatment is started.
For more information regarding medication and treatment, please read the other pages in this section of the website.
