A new year brings a new way to treat Alzheimer's disease

(NC)-January is Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month across Canada. An estimated 450,000 Canadians have Alzheimer's or a related disease, a number that will increase to 750,000 by 2030. It is estimated that 35 per cent of Canadians age 85 or older have or will get the disease.

Alzheimer's disease takes a devastating toll on both patients and their family members. It is a disease that results in memory loss, difficulty making judgments and decisions and changes in mood, behaviour and communication abilities. Caregivers not only have to cope with the changes in personality and behaviour, they also have to ensure that daily medication is being taken properly so it can be effective.

As more becomes known about the causes of Alzheimer's disease, improved medications become available to treat it. A new skin patch is now available to treat the symptoms of mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease. The medicine in the patch belongs to a group of drugs that work by increasing the amount of an important chemical in the brain that is lower in people with Alzheimer's disease. Nerve cells in the brain need this chemical to send messages which help a person do things like think, remember, and reason.

Patients using the new patch receive a consistent dose of medication absorbed through the skin, which leads to fewer side effects, particularly nausea. Patients only have to apply the patch once daily and caregivers simply have to check that the patch is being worn to ensure that the medication is being received.

If you suspect someone you know is displaying the first signs of Alzheimer's disease, talk to your doctor.

Credit: www.newscanada.com

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