Treatments

Key points

Interventions for people with early-stage dementia can slow down the progression of the disease. Caregivers can also help them to manage their medications, have a regular exercise routine, and maintain a healthy diet. It is very important for people with dementia to keep themselves away from physical illness and cognitive decline due to other reasons.

Besides, pharmacologic treatments can help to control the problematic behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia.

Over 97% of people with dementia will develop behavioural and psychological symptoms. Most of the symptoms will disappear within two years except for psychiatric symptoms such as paranoia and misidentifications. Non-drug treatment is the recommended treatment method for dementia around the world. Interventions such as behavioural therapy, reminiscence therapy, reality orientation, and cognitive stimulations can all be used to prevent declines in cognition and improve problematic behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia. Medication is regarded as the last choice for controlling problematic symptoms. We recommend you read this session carefully before you request medication for treating a person’s problematic symptoms of dementia.

Please post your questions in the forum if you have any queries, and we will try to answer you as soon as possible.

Drug treatments

What would a physician prescribe or recommend for the person?
What are the effects and side effects?

Behavioural therapy (Non-drug treatment)

How can you deal with the behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia?
What can you do to reduce them?

Reminiscence therapy (Non-drug treatment)

What is the use of talking about the good old days?
How can you help the person to be more positive about the past?

Alternative therapies (Non-drug treatments)

What can music, aromas, touching, relaxation and physical exercise do for the person?