While there’s no cure for early onset Alzheimer’s disease, medications and supportive therapies can help manage symptoms related to memory loss, cognitive decline, and functional impairment.
Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative condition that affects how well the nerve cells in the brain function and communicate. As a type of dementia, Alzheimer’s disease leads to a variety of mental symptoms, such as:
- memory loss
- confusion
- mood changes
- personality changes
Most people receive a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s after
Medications used in Alzheimer’s disease help manage symptoms and address underlying neurological changes. Current medications used in EOAD and other forms of Alzheimer’s include:
Cholinesterase inhibitors
Options include donepezil, rivastigmine, and galantamine. Cholinesterase inhibitors work by blocking the enzyme acetylcholinesterase and increasing the neurotransmitter acetylcholine to promote communication between neurons.
NMDA receptor antagonists
Memantine is an NMDA receptor antagonist. These medications work by blocking N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors and reducing excess glutamate which can promote the death of neurons.
They’re considered effective for managing symptoms related to memory, reasoning, and learning. They may help slow certain degenerative processes associated with Alzheimer’s, though more research is necessary.
Disease-modifying drugs
Options include aducanumab, lecanemab, and donanemab. They work by reducing amyloid-beta proteins in the brain and preventing them from accumulating and disrupting neuron function.
Effectiveness varies. Clinical trial research is ongoing for some of these medications despite accelerated Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approvals.
Due to their potential to slow disease progression, these medications are approved for EOAD.
Combination therapy
Combination therapy uses both cholinesterase inhibitors and NMDA receptor antagonists. Research suggests combination therapy is more effective than monotherapy (single medication use).
Combination therapy is used to improve memory, attention, and reasoning. It does not stop the underlying processes in Alzheimer’s, but it offers a broader, multidimensional approach to managing symptoms and disease progression.
Supportive therapies
Medications are just one component in a treatment plan for EOAD. Your doctor may also recommend lifestyle changes, occupational or physical therapy, or psychotherapy to help manage a variety of symptoms related to functionality, anxiety, depression, or psychosis.
Regular aerobic exercise
Research continues to expand the possibilities for treating EOAD. A number of experimental treatments and clinical trials are underway, many focused on stopping the disease processes in Alzheimer’s.
Research and clinical trials
There are currently
Examples of medications in clinical trial research include:
- gamma-secretase modulators
- PQ912 small molecules
- AV-1959, a DNA-based vaccine
- peptide drug mP8
Future directions
Clinical trials represent a small portion of all the promising areas of research for treating EOAD. Many other therapies are being evaluated in preliminary studies and analyses.
Areas of interest in research include:
- novel immunotherapies and biologics
- protein chaperones, like heat shock proteins
- natural compounds, like bryostatin
Experts hope that treatments for EOAD will one day successfully slow or prevent the underlying processes in Alzheimer’s disease, regardless of its age of onset or clinical features.
Both EOAD and late onset Alzheimer’s are treated using the same medications, supportive therapies, and lifestyle modifications.
Discuss treatment options for EOAD with a doctor. They can work with you to create a personalized treatment plan to manage your unique symptoms and plan for the future.
