What You Need To Know About Therapy For Alzheimer's
Alzheimer's is a brain disorder that worsens over time and affects millions worldwide. As the most common cause of dementia, Alzheimer's disease can cause impairment in memory, mood, behavior, and cognitive capabilities, significantly impacting individuals and their loved ones. According to the Alzheimer's Association, more than six million Americans are living with Alzheimer's; by 2050, this number is projected to grow to around 13 million.
Although there is no cure for this condition, various methods are available to support individuals with Alzheimer's and their loved ones. If you or someone you love is living with Alzheimer's, it can be beneficial to look further into the symptoms and causes of Alzheimer's, available treatment options, and how therapy might offer guidance.
What is Alzheimer's disease?
Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia, a general term for conditions that affect a person's memory, reasoning, thinking, personality, behavior, and mood. As a progressive illness, Alzheimer's symptoms often start mild and worsen as time passes.
In the early stage of Alzheimer's, an individual may experience symptoms like the following:
- Difficulty with short-term memory, such as the names of others
- Difficulty completing familiar tasks
- Misplacing items
If you have memory difficulties, it can be beneficial to take them seriously, as the CDC notes that memory problems are often "one of the first warning signs of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias."
In the middle stage of the disease, people with Alzheimer's may experience worsening symptoms, including:
- Confusion about where they are or what day it is
- Difficulty remembering information about themselves or their past
- Sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns
- Personality and behavior changes, such as compulsive behaviors and delusions
The late stage of the disease is characterized by increasingly severe Alzheimer's symptoms, such as:
- Difficulty communicating
- Loss of awareness of recent experiences and surroundings
- Difficulty walking, sitting up, or standing
- Inability to perform daily tasks
- A loss of memory about relationships or one's own identity
As the illness progresses, a person with Alzheimer's disease may not recognize loved ones and may require assistance with tasks like eating, going to the bathroom, and getting in and out of bed.
What are the causes of Alzheimer's disease?
Alzheimer's research is still evolving, and scientists have not yet determined what causes the disease. However, as the National Institute on Aging notes, the causes may include age-related changes in the brain and genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors.
It is believed that an abnormal build-up of proteins in the brain may also cause brain cells to die. This gradual, continuous death of nerve cells may result in Alzheimer's symptoms.
How is Alzheimer's disease treated?
Although there is no known cure for Alzheimer's, research is consistently evolving, and various treatments exist to help clients manage their symptoms and try to slow the progression of the disease. Medications may be useful for improving a client's quality of life and helping them maintain their independence and cognition for an extended period. However, consult your doctor before considering, changing, or stopping a medication.
Aside from medication, there are several other methods for supporting those with Alzheimer's in maintaining cognition and keeping mental abilities as sharp as possible. Staying mentally, socially, and physically active can contribute to overall health and well-being. Therapy may also be beneficial for individuals with Alzheimer's and their families.
Can therapy help clients manage Alzheimer's?
Therapy may be valuable for helping those with Alzheimer's manage their symptoms. Because an Alzheimer's diagnosis can be distressing for the individual and their loved ones, therapy may also be useful for navigating the emotions surrounding the disease and any additional mental health conditions that may arise, such as anxiety or depression.
There are several forms of therapy that may benefit Alzheimer's patients, including but not limited to the following:
- Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST): A form of therapy focused on helping the client keep their mind active through memory exercises and stimulation.
- Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT): A form of therapy that focuses on helping individuals identify and shift unhealthy or unhelpful thought patterns.
- Music Therapy: A treatment that involves getting creative by making music or playing an instrument.
- Reminiscence Work: A treatment involving discussing the patient's life and past, potentially helping them retain memory and quality of life.
A 2022 study found a high prevalence of depression among those who care for family members with Alzheimer's.
When navigating an Alzheimer's diagnosis, a licensed professional's support may help manage associated emotions and stress. A 2017 study published in the American Journal of Occupational Therapy found that psychoeducational therapy improved caregiving skills, quality of life, and mental health among caregivers of people with Alzheimer's.
Alternative support options
Caring for a loved one with Alzheimer's can be stressful and time-consuming, and caregivers may have little time to commute to and from a therapist's office. In these cases, online therapy, delivered via a platform like BetterHelp, may be more convenient than in-person therapy. For those with busy schedules, online therapy can be flexible, allowing you to meet with a therapist wherever you have an internet connection and eliminating the need for a commute.
Research has proven online therapy effective for those experiencing various mental health concerns. A 2017 study found that internet-based cognitive-behavioral therapy was effective at treating conditions like depression, which may be prevalent among those caring for someone with Alzheimer's.
Having a family member with Alzheimer's can be distressing, but help is available. Regardless of the format it takes, therapy can offer valuable support and guidance in navigating an Alzheimer's diagnosis and maintaining mental health.
Takeaway
What type of therapy is used for Alzheimer's?
Here are some of the therapies commonly used for Alzheimer’s disease patients:
- Psychotherapy (talk therapy): Therapies like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) aren’t used to treat cognitive impairment, but they can help patients effectively manage anxiety, depression, and overwhelming emotions that are common during the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease.
- Cognitive stimulation therapy (CST): This therapy can help keep the brain active. Studies show that CST can improve language skills, working memory, depression, cognition, mental health, communication, and quality of life.
- Cognitive rehabilitation: Cognitive rehabilitation focuses on skills training relevant to an individual's need and ability level. It may help people cope with their symptoms and meet their goals.
- Music or art therapy: These therapies can improve mental health by helping people practice creative skills and live in the present moment.
The Alzheimer’s Society also recommends practicing healthy lifestyle habits, like eating a healthy diet and getting enough sleep, to manage symptoms and potentially slow disease progression.
What are 3 treatments for Alzheimer's?
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved several medications to manage Alzheimer's symptoms or slow disease progression:
- Cholinesterase inhibitors: Medications like galantamine, donepezil, and rivastigmine are cholinesterase inhibitors. They function by blocking the breakdown of acetylcholine, which can in turn improve cognitive and behavioral symptoms.
- Immunotherapy drugs: Medications including lecanemab and donanemab target beta-amyloid plaques in the brain characteristic of Alzheimer’s disease. They may slow the rate of Alzheimer’s disease, but side effects can be serious in some cases.
- N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) antagonists: Memantine is a medication that may be used for moderate and severe Alzheimer’s disease to decrease some cognitive symptoms, which can help some people maintain a greater degree of independence for longer.
Clinical trials are continuing to research effective medications for managing Alzheimer's disease symptoms and slowing disease progression. Talk with your health care provider to learn more about treatment options for you or your loved one.
What is the best way to help someone with Alzheimer's?
Here are some things the Alzheimer’s Association recommends doing if a loved one has Alzheimer’s disease:
- Educate yourself: It’s important to learn how Alzheimer’s affects people, how to advocate for loved ones, and how to respond to their symptoms.
- Stay connected: Reaching out, offering to run errands together, providing transportation, preparing a meal, or on outings together can make an Alzheimer’s diagnosis less isolating.
- Help caregivers: Being a caregiver can be emotionally and physically taxing. Offering to stand in for primary caregivers can improve their mental health.
Some people with Alzheimer's disease report experiencing friends pulling away or making assumptions after they’ve received a diagnosis. Showing up (even if you don’t know what to do or say), engaging directly in conversation, and doing activities together can be meaningful for anyone, including people with Alzheimer’s.
Do Alzheimer's patients go to therapy?
Talk therapy can be effective during the early and middle stages of Alzheimer’s disease to:
- Come to terms with a diagnosis
- Learn more about the disease and how to manage symptoms
- Develop healthy coping strategies for anxiety, depression, loneliness, fear, or any other mental health challenges
- Work on self-care strategies
- Make adaptations to daily life
In addition to one-on-one cognitive behavioral therapy, many people with Alzheimer's disease benefit from family therapy with loved ones and support groups for people with dementia.
What is brain therapy for Alzheimer's disease?
Brain stimulation therapies (like transcranial magnetic stimulation) may be beneficial for improving cognitive functioning in Alzheimer’s and other neuropsychiatric diseases. However, while some early studies seem to support the effectiveness of some brain stimulation therapies for Alzheimer’s disease, more high-quality studies are needed.
What is the best remedy for Alzheimer's?
While there is currently no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, there are several approaches that can treat symptoms and slow disease progression. For example, cholinesterase inhibitors are frequently prescribed to temporarily improve cognitive function by preventing the breakdown of acetylcholine.
Other approaches, like talk therapy, can help people with Alzheimer’s disease manage mental health symptoms, and cognitive stimulation therapy can improve working memory and cognitive functioning.
The best approach depends on the stage of Alzheimer’s disease and individual factors. Discuss treatment options with a healthcare professional.
What is the rehabilitation for Alzheimer's disease?
The rehabilitation plan for Alzheimer's will differ depending on the disease stage, progression, symptoms, age, medical history, response to medications, patient desires, and other variables.
While there is not currently a cure for Alzheimer's disease, there are several medications, therapies, and other treatment options that can help patients manage symptoms, retain greater levels of independence, and potentially slow disease progression.
What are the lifestyle treatments for Alzheimer's?
Lifestyle can be an important factor in managing symptoms and slowing disease progression. Maintaining social connections, spending time outdoors, getting enough sleep, managing chronic conditions (like high blood sugar or hypertension), eating a nutritious diet, correcting hearing loss, and getting regular physical activity can help to improve cognitive function, mental health, and quality of life.
How do you treat memory in Alzheimer's patients?
Some approaches for slowing or managing memory and cognitive function symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease include:
Therapy: Cognitive stimulation therapy, cognitive rehabilitation, and brain stimulation therapy may help to improve cognitive function and working memory.
Medications: Cholinesterase inhibitors can improve cognitive function in mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease, N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) antagonists (like memantine) may help slow memory loss and the decline of thinking skills, and immunotherapy medications (lecanemab and donanemab) can slow cognitive and memory decline in some people.
Clinical trials and research studies are often underway to find more treatment options.
Can a psychologist treat Alzheimer's?
Psychologists are not medical doctors, meaning they typically cannot diagnose or prescribe medications for Alzheimer’s disease. However, they can be an important part of the care team, alongside neurologists, geriatricians, and other health professionals.
Clinical psychologists can provide talk therapy for people with Alzheimer’s disease to help manage mood and behavioral changes associated with dementia, and work with patients and loved ones to create a supportive environment. In the later stages of Alzheimer’s disease, psychologists may develop treatment plans to manage behavioral symptoms and lessen the need for antipsychotic medications.
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