Most of these disorders are treatable and, with appropriate interventions, many can be arrested or reversed. Once the underlying cause has been identified, application of disease specific therapies may prevent future decline and in some cases result in significant improvement in memory and thinking. Cognitive Treatments Medication treatments to improve memory and mental functioning are now available for Alzheimer's disease. Although there is still no cure, these therapies appear to slow the progression of the disorder, especially in patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease. As a leading research institution, The Ohio State University Medical Center is actively involved in a variety of clinical research trials Eligible patients with Alzheimer's disease who participate in these trials may benefit from promising investigational medication treatments.
Research is also ongoing into the early diagnosis of dementia.
Many patients with dementia may develop behavioral disturbances, including agitation, depression, sleep disturbances, restlessness, anxiety, false beliefs and hallucinations. The Memory Disorders Clinic has found that environmental and behavioral modification techniques can help lessen or eliminate these disturbances. In addition, most of these conditions can be treated with small doses of appropriate behavior-specific medications. The Memory Disorders Clinic provides education and information to patients and their caregivers concerning diagnosis, neurologic illness, behavioral symptoms and patient care. We believe counseling helps patients and caregivers learn to live with the effects of neurologic illness.