Alzheimer`s Disease/Latest Treatment

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Expert: - 6/9/2006


Question
Hi. My Mom has alzheimers disease and i was wondering what the latest new treatement was?

                                      thanks  

Answer
Hi Dolores

The best of whats out there currently seems to be a combination drug therapy - usually memantine and donepezil taken together (Namenda and Aricept). It seems to slow down the progress in many patients - buying them some time with better quality of life.

Ask your doctor. Since no meaningful treatments are out there, or even on the horizon in terms of reversing the disease, or even holding it steady, anything that might slow it down even a bit is worth a shot.

Hope this helps. I know how hard it is to see a person deteriorate and not be able to do much about it.

Mary  

Alzheimer`s Disease

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Mary Gordon

Expertise

Several years direct experience as caregiver for family member who died of end stage AD. Did lots of research and dealt with a lot of health care professionals and caregivers over the 7 years from diagnosis to the end. Used various care options from community based resources to increasing levels of institutional. Mother of three, two born during our loved one's decline, so I know what it is to be the ham in the sandwich, taking care of the older generation and the younger at the same time and trying to balance everyone`s needs. Ask me, I`ve probably been there, done that. We made lost of mistakes and learned everything the hard way - but you don`t have to! If I can`t answer your question, I`ll steer you to a place or person who can.

Experience

Currently a program manager for a large utility company. My Alzheimers experience comes from having the illness in our family. Out of necessity, we did a lot of research in order to understand the disease, plan for what might come next, and make the right decisions to help and support our loved one. Please note, I am a Canadian living in Toronto, and therefore am not the best person to ask about US regulations and insurance rules!

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