A number of treatments and therapies can benefit patients with Alzheimer’s disease as they try to alleviate their symptoms.
I have already highlighted some of the most important information about some of the various medications that can improve Alzheimer's symptoms and if you have been reading along during this review of the disease, you already know that some treatments are better than others.
1. Cognitive behavioral therapy
One of the first therapies that are often discussed when it comes to Alzheimer’s is cognitive behavioral therapy. An obvious reason for this is that about 90 percent of patients who will suffer from Alzheimer's disease will be found to experience neuropsychiatric symptoms like apathy, depression, anxiety and irritability. Although there are medications that can help improve some of these symptoms individually, the most effective strategy by far would be using psychosocial strategies to help reduce symptoms.
This type of therapy is generally used in the mild or early stages of Alzheimer's disease. The reason for this is that it requires insight from patients to be effective. What will occur during this type of therapy is that patients and their loved ones will attend sessions where they will learn about symptoms associated with Alzheimer's disease. The therapist will then help strategize with family members and patients about about ways to help reduce stress, anxiety, and depression in these circumstances.
This is considered a highly effective strategy, because Alzheimer's Disease causes a battle between more than the disease and the patient. Alzheimer's will also be trying and stressful for family and friends, so if they are able to learn coping strategies and techniques to help alleviate stressful situations, it will help keep everyone level-minded as the disease progresses. Often, the more information a patient and their family have about the disease, the easier it is to plan and prepare for the later stages of the condition.
2. Caregiver-training programs
Another useful type of training that you can try to arrange if you have a loved one suffering from Alzheimer's sisease is caregiver training. These are programs designed for relatives, typically a patient's spouse. The goal of this type of therapy is to help the spouse cope with some of the emotions they will experience as they watch their loved one transform before their eyes. They will learn techniques to help care for their partner afflicted with the disease, and will be able to keep life as normal as possible for the patient.
The best thing for a patient suffering from Alzheimer's is to be in a stable environment, because it will lower the stress and anxiety they experience. There may be some days when patients completely forget who their spouse is or where they are, but being in a familiar environment can help keep the situation under control. If a spouse has training, studies show that a patient is typically able to live at home for up to a year longer.
3. Reminiscence therapy
Another type of therapy that can be incorporated into the non-medication therapy of a person suffering from Alzheimer's Disease would be reminiscence therapy. This is a type of therapy that is designed to help patients recollect previous memories to help reduce stress as well as increase brain activity. Some of these tasks could include things like having a patient tell you about their hometown, what life was like for them as a child, or what they used to do for a living. It can be done individually or in a group setting.
Studies have shown that this type of therapy is powerful in its ability to help improve a patient's memory as well as reduce the risk that the patient will fall into depression. They, too, will be obviously frustrated by their decline in mental ability but in most cases, long-term memories are some of the last memories to fade, so a patient will able to navigate through these anecdotes well compared to recounting recent events. This can improve their confidence as well as quality of life.
4. Diet and exercise
Like with most other medical conditions, diet and exercise are pillars towards better health. The reason that these two components are essential for most medical conditions is that they are able to improve a multitude of symptoms at once. When we look at a disease like Alzheimer's, some of the most difficult symptoms for a patient to have to deal with would be depression and memory decline.
Studies show that exercise is a great tool to reduce depression and improve memory function. When the body is engaged in strenuous activity, hormones in the brain like serotonin and dopamine are increased and as a result, the patient will feel happier. Another important benefit of exercise is that patients will strengthen their muscles. This can be very important in the later stages of their disease because patients can become prone to falling. With stronger calf muscles and hips to help stabilize their weight, patients with a history of frequent exercise will be able to avoid accidental falls more often than a patient who hasn't exercised.
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