Currently, there is no cure for Alzheimer's disease, and there are very few treatments. Because some of the neurons that die during the disease use a neurotransmitter called acetylcholine, one approach to lessen the symptoms has been to give drugs that enhance the acetylcholine system. But their effects are not permanent. These drugs can reduce the cost of Alzheimer's disease by prolonging the time individuals can remain at home and avoid placement in a nursing facility. Antipsychotic drugs such as haloperidol can help alleviate mild delusional states as well as nonspecific agitation that is common in AD patients.
Antidepressants are useful in managing depression and anxiety.
Short acting antianxiety drugs like lorazepam can be prescribed for very anxious patients, but are typically avoided since they can also cause confusion in an already confused patient. New therapies are currently being tested that may help slow Alzheimer's disease in different ways. Since a number of different cellular systems are affected in Alzheimer's disease, one approach is to treat these other conditions in the hopes that they will have an impact on the rate of the disease or slow cognitive loss. For example, research shows that oxygen free radicals and inflammation may exacerbate the disease. Recently, clinical trials have suggested that antioxidants such as Vitamin E may slow the progression of AD by fighting these free radicals.