Can Dementia Be Cured? Understanding Dementia Treatment Options
Developing dementia can be a serious worry for many people as they approach their later years. This condition can rob those affected of their health, memory, and awareness, while their loved ones may need to grapple with the difficulties of caregiving and the challenges of making complex care decisions. Does a dementia diagnosis always signal an irreversible decline, or is there any way this type of illness can be cured?
A singular cure for dementia may never be possible because dementia isn’t a single disease. It can describe a collection of symptoms that may occur due to several possible causes. Current medical knowledge can only reverse the symptoms of a handful of rare forms of dementia. However, research into cures for other varieties is ongoing, and certain experimental treatments might one day offer significant relief. Regular therapy sessions may be helpful for those with dementia and their caregivers, as licensed mental health professionals can teach them coping skills and offer support.
Currently incurable forms of dementia
Dementia (sometimes called “major neurocognitive disorder” by medical professionals) generally refers to a collection of symptoms involving the deterioration of major cognitive skills such as memory, decision-making, language ability, and awareness of identity, place, and time. Personality changes, such as increased paranoia and aggression or loss of interest in social interaction, can also be common symptoms.
Dementia can be caused by a variety of different diseases or injuries to the brain. As such, researchers consider it unlikely that a single form of treatment will ever be able to cure all forms of dementia. Instead, most efforts concentrate on curing or preventing particular causes of dementia.
Alzheimer’s disease and other common types of dementia
There are currently no cures for the four most common types of dementia, which are believed to account for more than 95% of cases. Ranked from most to least prevalent, they include the following:
- Alzheimer’s disease: Normally caused by protein plaques and tangles that disrupt and destroy nerve cells throughout the brain, typically beginning in the hippocampus (a region heavily involved in memory formation and recall)
- Vascular dementia: Can be caused by many different conditions that disrupt the flow of blood to brain cells, causing them to die off from lack of oxygen
- Frontotemporal dementia: Typically caused by damage to the brain’s temporal and frontal lobes, possibly due to genes causing protein malformation
- Lewy body dementia: Usually caused by unhealthy deposits of a protein called alpha-synuclein that build up inside neurons in the brain
All of the above forms of dementia are considered progressive diseases that worsen over time, and they often have fatal complications. While some novel treatments might slow their progression, there’s currently no way to halt or reverse them.
Curable or treatable types of dementia
Certain types of dementia may be reversible with proper treatment:
- Normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH): This condition is usually caused by an excess of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) inside the brain's ventricles, which places pressure on neurons and interferes with their function. Along with classic symptoms of dementia, like memory loss, this can cause movement difficulties and incontinence. Shunting the excess CSF can relieve the pressure on the brain, leading to a significant recovery of cognitive function in many patients.
- Autoimmune dementia: This form of dementia can result from the immune system becoming dysfunctional, causing harmful inflammation within the brain and spine. Treatments that remove overactive antibodies can lead to complete or near-complete recovery, especially when the disease is identified and treated in the early stages.
- HIV-associated dementia (HAD): Resulting from the infection of brain immune cells by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), this condition can result in rapidly progressing dementia symptoms, such as memory loss and difficulties with speech and thinking. Treating the infection with antiretroviral medication can often reverse the effects of HAD and allow individuals to survive and function similarly to non-infected individuals.
These forms of dementia tend to be rare and complex, and not all patients respond equally well to treatment. However, the fact that signs of dementia may dwindle or disappear when the underlying cause is treated suggests that similar effects might one day be possible for more common conditions like Alzheimer’s disease.
Dementia research and potential brain cures
Although there are no curative treatments currently approved for the most widespread forms of dementia, research into possible cures remains ongoing. Some studies have identified medications that may treat dementia or point the way to more effective methods.
This information is meant for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult your doctor regarding medication questions.
Lecanemab
This monoclonal antibody generally aims to treat Alzheimer’s disease by targeting and destroying amyloid-beta. This protein fragment usually clumps into large “plaques” in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients and can play a significant role in this disease’s effects on the brain. Clinical trials have found that lecanemab can slow the progression of cognitive decline, and the FDA has approved it for use in early-stage Alzheimer’s disease.
Donanemab
Donanemab is another experimental antibody that can target amyloid plaques, disrupting them as they cluster together. A large-scale trial found that it could slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease at least as much as lecanemab. It may be more effective the earlier a patient receives treatment. Roughly half of the participants in the 18-month trial showed no deterioration in their memory and cognitive skills.
CTx1000
This experimental gene therapy technique appears to dissolve the unhealthy buildup of a protein called TDP-43, which tends to be involved in many forms of frontotemporal dementia.
Latozinemab
Another antibody-based treatment, latozinemab may help to counteract the effects of a gene mutation for a regulatory protein called granulin. This mutation is considered one of the most significant risk factors in frontotemporal dementia, and clinical trials are investigating the effectiveness of latozinemab for this disease.
Remternetug
Like donanemab and lecanemab, remternetug is an immunotherapy medication targeting amyloid-beta. Early research reported by the manufacturer suggests that it might be able to reduce the volume of brain plaques in people with Alzheimer’s disease.
4-phenylbutyrate (PBA)
This lipid molecule can work against protein accumulation and may counteract the buildup of harmful amyloid plaques.
Dementia treatment options
While the medications described above may help with the diseases underlying dementia, research into their effectiveness is still in the very early stages, and the results so far aren’t definitive. In the meantime, many of the current care approaches below aim to treat symptoms of dementia, such as cognitive impairment and mood disruptions.
Managing mild cognitive impairment, Alzheimer’s, and related conditions: Dementia treatment options
- Cognitive training: Training in specific cognitive skills may preserve mental functions like working memory and verbal fluency in people with dementia. This may be especially effective for people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), a milder condition that often appears as a precursor to dementia.
- Psychotherapy: Some forms of talk therapy can relieve symptoms like depression that often decrease the quality of life in people with dementia.
- Cholinesterase inhibitors: These medications may slow the breakdown of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, which can alleviate cognitive symptoms in some cases of moderate to severe Alzheimer’s disease.
- Glutamate regulators: By limiting the excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate, these medications may improve memory, attention, and language ability in some people with dementia.
- Exercise therapy: Coaching patients through physical exercises like resistance training may preserve cognitive function in individuals with dementia.
Preventing dementia
While there’s currently no cure available for dementia (except some of the rarest forms), adopting certain healthy lifestyle and mental health habits may significantly reduce your chances of developing this type of illness in the first place.
One strategy may be to increase your “cognitive reserve” by engaging in intellectually stimulating activities. Activities like reading books, learning new skills, playing challenging games, and participating in creative hobbies may help your brain form a wider network of connections. This can offer defense against the impairment caused by dementia.
- Obesity and diabetes
- High blood pressure
- Smoking
- Sedentary lifestyle (lack of exercise)
Depression also appears to be a risk factor for dementia, suggesting that therapy could be a form of preventative care for some people. If you’re experiencing life stress or difficult emotions, talking about them with a mental health professional might benefit your mental health and lower your odds of developing dementia.
Addressing the emotional effects of brain disease with online therapy
Not everyone is easily able to make time for mental health care. Online therapy platforms can make this easier since they tend to offer flexible scheduling options and don’t require you to travel to appointments.
Internet-based therapy is gaining increasing recognition for its effectiveness in helping with mental health difficulties. One study from 2020 reviewed 17 different trials and found that online cognitive-behavioral therapy worked as well as in-person treatment for symptoms of depression.
Takeaway
Frequently asked questions
Is mild cognitive impairment a stage of dementia?
For some, MCI or mild cognitive impairment is a sign of a disease that will cause dementia in the future. This is a stage where a person starts having problems with their memory, but it is not a dementia stage. People with mild cognitive impairment may struggle to remember upcoming events or misplace items like car keys, and they may begin having some difficulty with language skills, like finding the right words or understanding complex language.
What happens in the brain of someone with Alzheimer's disease?
Abnormal levels of naturally occurring proteins called beta-amyloid and tau build-up, with beta-amyloid clumping together to form plaques and tau forming threads that stick together and form tangles. In a person’s brain with Alzheimer’s disease, plaques and tangles spread throughout, and their brain tissue shrinks significantly, resulting in memory loss and eventually death.
At first, Alzheimer’s generally damages the connections in the parts of the brain associated with memory. Later, as Alzheimer’s dementia progresses, the damage spreads to areas of the brain responsible for reasoning, language, and social behavior.
Can people with dementia get better?
Currently, there is no way to cure dementia, but there are treatments that can help manage or lessen symptoms of mild to moderate dementia.
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, multiple medications are available, some of which can change disease progression or treat cognitive symptoms. For example, a cholinesterase inhibitor that prevents the breakdown of a brain chemical called acetylcholine may be used to improve memory. Some pharmacological treatments, like antipsychotic medicines, can have severe side effects in older people with severe dementia, including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson's disease dementia. Talk to a healthcare professional if you have questions about medication for Alzheimer’s.
While some research suggests that eating a particular diet can lower the risk of dementia, it can be beneficial to exercise caution when using alternative medicine, such as dietary supplements or herbal remedies. These substances are not regulated or tested by the FDA, and no single ingredient, vitamin, or supplement has been shown to prevent, cure, or treat dementia.
How to slow the progression of dementia?
Some studies have found that blood pressure management, increased physical activity, and cognitive training may help prevent or delay Alzheimer’s dementia.
- Blood pressure management is a known risk factor for cognitive decline. One large study of more than 8,000 adults aged 50 and older found that lowering systolic blood pressure (the top number) below 120 significantly decreased the risk of mild cognitive impairment and slowed the buildup of white matter lesions in the brain associated with dementia. That said, other studies have found that systolic blood pressures higher than 185 were also associated with lower dementia risk, indicating that more research is needed.
- Physical activity has many benefits, including reducing the risks of cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, stroke, diabetes, and depression, all of which can lead to cognitive decline later in life. Research has found that exercise may help with cognitive performance and brain health, though there is no clear link between exercise and preventing or slowing disease progression in Alzheimer’s.
- Cognitive training involves activities to enhance reasoning, processing, and memory. Research has found that specific types of cognitive training can improve brain function and cognitive performance. In one study, reasoning and processing speed improvements lasted up to 10 years after cognitive training was complete. Other studies have found that unstructured activities that stimulate thinking skills or problem-solving skills, like reading, may lower the risk of mild cognitive impairment.
What is the number one trigger for dementia?
There are no identifiable triggers for dementia, but the greatest risk factor is advancing age. Age does not cause dementia, but most people with Alzheimer’s dementia are older than 65; after 65, the risk doubles every five years.
What is the happy pill for dementia patients?
There is no specific “happy pill” for dementia patients, but some people may use this term to describe antidepressants, specifically citalopram. Research has found that citalopram, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, may reduce beta-amyloid and tau in the brain, two proteins believed to be related to the development of Alzheimer’s disease.
What is the number one food that fights dementia?
Research has not identified a single food that fights dementia, but in studies, specific eating patterns were associated with a lower risk of cognitive decline or impairment. This eating pattern is known as the MIND diet and combines features of the Mediterranean and Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet. The MIND diet is high in vegetables, berries, whole grains, nuts, beans, and at least one serving of fish every week and limits fried foods, cheese, red meat, and cheese.
What is the miracle drug for dementia?
No drug can cure Alzheimer’s and other dementias, but some medications can manage symptoms or slow the progression, which can have a significant effect on daily life. Most are approved for use in early Alzheimer's disease or the early stages of other types of dementia. Before starting treatment, talk to your or your loved one’s doctor to ensure an accurate diagnosis and learn more about possible medication side effects, like infusion-related reactions, nausea, and vomiting.
Some treatments can help manage other symptoms of dementia as well, including anxiety, aggression, sleeplessness, restlessness, agitation, and depression. Some possible approaches to managing these behavioral symptoms include pet therapy, massage therapy, music therapy, and reminiscence therapy. Working with an occupational therapist can help people with dementia do as many independent activities as possible, like dressing themselves, eating, or using the bathroom. While these skills may improve the person’s quality of life, they may still be unable to live independently and need support from family members and in-home carers or be moved into a residential facility.
What is not good for dementia patients?
Various things may be harmful for people with dementia. Some medications should be avoided, including sleep aids, anti-anxiety medications, anticonvulsants, and antipsychotics. There are also some foods that people with dementia should avoid as they may contribute to problems with memory and focus. These include foods with added sugars, fried foods, alcohol, foods that contain nitrates (like cured meats), and high glycemic carbohydrates (like white bread and rice).
What exercise is best for dementia?
Physical activity can help lower dementia risk. While vigorous exercise may be the most beneficial, many types of activity can help. Some experts recommend aiming for 150 minutes of moderate- to high-intensity exercise a week, including walking, swimming, running, dancing, working out at the gym, or participating in sports.
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