What Are the Treatments for Early Alzheimer's Disease?

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By Danelle Atwood
eHow Contributing Writer

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Alzheimer's disease is a progressive, fatal brain disease named after the German scientist Alois Alzheimer who first began to describe it in 1906. Since then, there have been many advents in the medical field that allow doctors to treat the symptoms of early Alzheimer's disease and delay the onset of further ones for longer periods.

Cholinesterase Inhibitors

Many doctors prescribe cholinesterase inhibitors to patients who are suffering from early Alzheimer's disease. These drugs support communication between nerve cells by keeping acetylcholine levels high, delaying the worsening of symptoms by six to 12 months.

Examples of Cholinesterase Inhibitors

The cholinesterase inhibitors galantamine, rivastigmine and tacrine are commonly prescribed to patients suffering from early Alzheimer's disease.

Glutamate Regulators

Doctors can prescribe glutamate regulators to patients who are suffering from early Alzheimer's disease, because the chemical glutamate is involved in learning and memory. Glutamate regulators can also be used to regulate symptoms somewhat effectively in severe Alzheimer's disease.

Memantine

Memantine is a glutamate regulator. It was approved by the FDA in 2003 to treat Alzheimer's disease, and it is currently the only glutamate regulator that has been approved.