Management of Alzheimer's Disease Symptoms

Alzheimer’s disease treatment involves a handful of medications that help to manage the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. It is important to note that this medications can’t change the progression of the disease and is not by any means a cure. Therefore, a major nursing goal for someone with Alzheimer’s disease is to help them manage their behavioral and psychological symptoms that are a result of their disease. 

These symptoms are commonly presented not only in patients with Alzheimer’s disease, but also in patients with other forms of dementia. As a result, these symptoms are categorized under BPSD (behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia), and includes but are not limited to presentation of agitation, aggression, depression, and psychosis. 

These symptoms can be controlled with medications designed for both Alzheimer’s disease or for general symptoms of BPSD (such as antipsychotics, antidepressants, anticonvulsants, and mood stabilizers). 

However, non pharmacological treatments are also important for managing symptoms. This would include addressing the cause of the symptom and relating it to the experience a person with Alzheimer’s disease might be expressing. Management of symptoms may also look like working with the patient on ways to minimize challenges and obstacles to his or her comfort and ease of mind. It is also pertinent to look at ways of changing daily activities to help encourage independence in a patient with Alzheimer’s disease while still keeping safety and comfort as a top priority. 

Source: Yaffe K, Fox P, Newcomer R, et al. Patient and caregiver characteristics and nursing home placement in patients with demential. Jama J Am Med Assoc. 2002;287(16):2090-2097