Dementia Diagnosis and Treatments

An estimated 6.7 million Americans are living with Alzheimer's in 2023, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and Alzheimer's Disease International estimates that around the world, someone develops dementia every three seconds. At Comforting Home Care by Phoebe, we offer compassionate in-home dementia care and Alzheimer's care designed to provide your loved one with the assistance they need to live comfortably and safely at home.

What is Dementia?

"Dementia is a general term for loss of memory, language, problem-solving, and other thinking abilities that are severe enough to interfere with daily life. Alzheimer's is the most common cause of dementia," the Alzheimer's Association states. Other types of dementia include vascular, Lewy body, Frontotemporal, Huntington's, etc.

Diagnosing dementia isn't always easy, especially in the early stages. Currently, there is no cure for most types of dementia; however, there are medications and treatments that can manage the symptoms of dementia and sometimes slow its progression.

Dementia Diagnosis

There is no one-size-fits-all test for dementia, and it will probably take more than one test to determine the problem. Healthcare providers look at your medical history, perform a physical exam and laboratory tests, and consider changes in thinking, behavior, and day-to-day function.

First, they will try to identify any underlying and potentially treatable conditions that may be causing cognitive issues.

Years ago, the only way to diagnose dementia was through an autopsy. However, according to the National Institute on Aging, "Thanks to advances in research, tests are now available to help doctors and researchers see biomarkers associated with dementia in a living person." Biomarkers - found in blood, organs, tissues, and other body fluids - are measurable indicators that show what is happening in the body.

Tests and Biomarkers used for dementia diagnosis include the following:

• Cognitive and Neurological Tests
• Psychiatric Evaluation
• Brain Imaging
• Computerized Tomography (CT scan)
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
• Positron Emission Tomography (PET)
• Blood Tests
• Genetic testing
• Cerebrospinal Fluid Biomarkers (CSF) Tests– CSF is clear fluid around the brain and spinal cord. Measuring changes in the levels of CSF can help diagnose neurological problems.

The earlier dementia is diagnosed, the more treatment options are available because some medications are only effective in the earlier stages of dementia.

Dementia Treatment

Your healthcare provider can offer advice and treatments that help you or a loved one manage the symptoms or possibly slow the progress of dementia. Here are some things they may suggest.

Therapies

The following therapies may help treat some dementia symptoms and behavior problems:

• Occupational Therapy
• Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST)
• Music Therapy
• Pet Therapy
• Aromatherapy
• Massage Therapy
• Art Therapy

Medications

The following medications don't cure or slow down the progression of dementia but may improve the symptoms:

• Cholinesterase Inhibitors – These inhibitors boost chemical messenger levels that affect memory and judgment. Examples include donepezil (Aricept, Adlarity), rivastigmine (Exelon), and galantamine (Razadyne ER).
• Memantine (Namenda) regulates the activity of glutamate, another chemical messenger that affects brain functions.
• Other Medications – Other medications can be taken for dementia symptoms, such as depression or sleep problems.

"Lecanemab (Leqembi®) is an antibody intravenous (IV) infusion therapy that targets and removes beta-amyloid from the brain," the Alzheimer Association explains. It is not a cure but has been found to slow the progress of the disease when taken in the early stages of Alzheimer's.

"Aducanumab (Aduhelm®) has received accelerated approval as a treatment for Alzheimer's disease from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)," according to the Alzheimer's Association. Again, this is not a cure, but it "addresses the underlying biology of the disease" and is "reasonably likely to lead to a reduction in clinical decline due to Alzheimer's disease."

Alzheimer's & Dementia Care Services

Watching a loved one struggle with dementia or Alzheimer's disease can be heartbreaking. As the disease progresses, it can become increasingly challenging to provide the care and support your loved one needs.

Comforting Home Care by Phoebe provides compassionate in-home dementia care and Alzheimer's care designed to provide your loved one with the assistance they need to live comfortably and safely at home.

Call us today at 610-625-5206 to learn more about Comforting Home Care by Phoebe's  in-home dementia and Alzheimer's care, or connect with us online.