A person with amnesia may slowly be able to recall their memories or work with an

occupational therapist to learn new information to replace what was lost or to use intact
memories as a basis for taking in new information. If amnesia is caused by an underlying
cause such as Alzheimer’s disease or infections, the cause may be treated but the
amnesia may not be.

Pharmacological Interventions
Targets for pharmacological treatment include

cognitive impairment (e.g., memory loss, disorientation, and decrease in attention and
problem-solving).
behavioral symptoms (e.g., agitation and aggression).
psychological symptoms (e.g., depression, anxiety, and psychosis).
• There is a large body of evidence for the efficacy of cholinesterase inhibitors (ChEIs),
such as donepezil, rivastigmine, and galantamine, in the treatment of mild to
moderate Alzheimer’s disease (Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Healthcare,
2014). The use of each of these medications is associated with modest and short-
term comparable improvements in cognitive function, global clinical state, and
activities of daily living. However, the evidence base for cholinesterase inhibitors
(ChEIs) in low- and middle-income countries is limited. Moreover, the efficacy of this
class of drugs in severe dementia is unclear, although behavioral symptom
improvement was identified for galantamine (Institute for Quality and Efficiency in
Healthcare, 2014). A fourth drug for the treatment of cognitive impairment,
memantine, has a different mode of action and is well tolerated, but evidence for its
efficacy is limited to people with moderate to severe dementia. Cholinesterase
inhibitors (ChEIs) and memantine are less efficacious in vascular dementia than other
forms. ChEIs and memantine’s efficacy in the treatment of behavioral disturbances is
not established; manufacturer-sponsored licensing trials and post hoc analyses
indicate small improvements.