Fading Memories ; Enduring Hope: DEMENTIA

What is Dementia

It’s NOT a disease, it is a group of symptoms as in impaired ability to think,remember and decision making.

Types

• Alzheimer (Impaired mental functions)
• Vascular (↓ blood flow to brain)
• Lewy body (Protein buildup in brain)
• Fronto-temporal (Behaviour & language)

Diagnosis

• Tests — attention, memory, problem solving and cognitive abilities.
• Brain scans — CT scans, MRI
• Blood tests

Reason

• Age
• Family history
• Race / ethnicity [ click here ]
• Poor heart health
• Traumatic brain injury

Treatment

Drugs that

1. Change disease progression

• Antiamyloid — Attach and remove β amyloid (accumulates in plaques in brain)
  Aducanub [Aduhelm] — IV every month
  Lecanemab [Leqembi] — IV every 2 weeks

2. Treat Symptoms

A} Cognitive

• Cholinesterase inhibitors — Save ACh (used for communication between cells)
  Donezepil / Aricept
  Rivastigmine / Exelon
  Galantamine
• Glutamate regulators
  Memantine / Namenda
• Cholinesterase inhibitors + Glutamate regulators
  Namazaric

B} Non-cognitive

• Oxerin (sleep wake cycle regulation) receptor antagonist
  Suvorexant / Belsomra
• Atypical antipsychotics
  Brexpiprazole / Rexulti

References:
cdc.gov
aarp.org
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov