After eliminating other possible causes of symptoms (such as vascular dementia,

nutritional deficiencies or depression), a clinical diagnosis of Alzheimer’s can be made.

An early diagnosis allows your doctor to work out if there is another cause of your
symptoms that may be treatable. If a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease is most likely,
you can start to discuss medical treatment and further assistance to help slow the
degenerative process.

How is Alzheimer's disease treated?

Although there is no cure, certain treatments may improve symptoms for a time. Many
people with Alzheimer’s disease also learn ways to cope with their symptoms, and
improve their quality of life.

Medications

A group of medicines called cholinergic drugs may temporarily improve cognitive

symptoms of mild-to-moderate Alzheimer’s disease. These work by increasing the level
of a brain chemical called acetylcholine, which helps to restore communication between
brain cells.

Other medications help to relieve behavioural symptoms such as sleeplessness,

agitation, anxiety and depression. These treatments don’t treat Alzheimer’s disease
directly but can help improve quality of life.

Lifestyle changes

Where possible, a person with Alzheimer’s disease should try to maintain normal social
contact with friends and family, exercise regularly and engage in activities that stimulate
the brain. If you have any concerns about safety (for example, driving skills) see your
doctor for advice.

Other interventions

If you care for someone with Alzheimer’s disease, it may be helpful to make changes to
their home environment to help them feel less disoriented in daily life. For example, you
could add clear instructions on how to open doors, or install alert devices if the person is
prone to getting lost. Check out Dementia Australia’s help sheets on creating a
dementia-friendly environment.

Can you prevent Alzheimer’s disease?

There is no sure way to prevent Alzheimer’s disease. However, you can reduce the risk
of Alzheimer’s disease by caring for your health:

 your heart — what’s good for your heart is good for your brain so stick to a healthy
diet and don’t smoke
  your body — regular physical activity increases blood flow to the brain so maintain an
active lifestyle
 your mind — an active mind helps build brain cells and strengthens their connections so
socialise, do things such as puzzles and crosswords, and learn new things, such as a
language

Learn more about the risk factors associated with Alzheimer’s and other types of
dementia, and what you can do to reduce your risk:

Read the related video transcript.

What are some complications of Alzheimer’s disease?

Alzheimer’s disease is an irreversible form of dementia. The rate of progression differs
between people: some people have it only in the last 5 years of their life, while others
may have it for as long as 20 years. Alzheimer’s disease eventually leads to complete
dependence and increasing frailty. This means a secondary illness, such as pneumonia,
may eventually cause death.

Other complications of Alzheimer’s disease may include:

 an inability to complete daily tasks such as planning meals and managing money
 a tendency to wander from home
 personality changes such as anxiety, depression and irritability that make relationships
more difficult
 delusions and hallucinations in advanced stages of the disease

Caring for someone with Alzheimer’s disease

Caring for someone with Alzheimer’s disease can be hard — but also rewarding. Your
emotional and physical support will be a great help when the person's world seems
confusing and hostile. Take advantage of the community support that’s available for
people with Alzheimer’s disease, their families and carers.

Coordinate their care

Because Alzheimer’s disease gets progressively worse, your loved one will need more
care as time goes on. It can be helpful to designate one person who coordinates care
and helps them put together a care plan.

Plan ahead

It is wise to plan early for the future. Encourage the person to arrange for a trusted
person to manage their affairs through a power of attorney, and to draw up an advanced
care directive explaining what treatments they would prefer if they become unable to
give consent later on.

Care for yourself

Looking after a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease can be tough and draining. Make
sure you spend time socialising and meeting other people. Find activities and interests
you can draw encouragement from. Give yourself space to rest, accept and appreciate
your loved one.

Resources and support

For more information and support, try these resources:

 Call Dementia Australia on 1800 100 500 to speak to an experienced counsellor about

Alzheimer’s disease and how it’s affecting your life.
 Contact My Aged Care to see if Commonwealth-funded residential respite care is
available.
 The Dementia Behaviour Management Advisory Service (DBMAS) offers free
assessment and support for people with dementia whose behaviour is affecting their
care.

Other languages

Do you prefer other languages than English? Try these resources:

 Dementia Australia has resources translated into over 40 languages.

 'It’s Not a Disgrace… It’s Dementia' is a series of 12 short films by Dementia Australia
about how the disease affects people from different cultures.
 Moving Pictures offers videos and culturally-aware booklets about dementia in Arabic,
Cantonese, Hindi, Mandarin and Tamil.
 Health Translations Victoria has a range of fact sheets on dementia for patients and
carers translated into several languages.