Harrogate Dementia Care Provider says Everyday Drugs could Help

Published 12 November 2012.

A recent study by the Alzheimer’s Society and King’s College London has found that everyday drugs, such as those used to treat hypertension, diabetes and skin conditions, could help many of the 800,000 people with dementia in the UK today. It is thought that the identified drugs could be effective in the treatment of changes to the brain that are seen with Alzheimer’s disease.

Four drugs or classes of drugs have been recognised to reduce the symptoms and risk factors associated with dementia:

• High blood pressure medications from the calcium channel blockers family (e.g. Nilvadipine)
• Diabetes medications (Exenatide and Liraglutide) which stimulate the brain and reduce the formation of ‘plaques’
• Minocycline, an antibiotic used to treat acne
• Acitretin, currently used to treat psoriasis which changes the way proteins linked to dementia form

New treatments typically take many years to develop, often at a large cost. Although much more research needs to be carried out to understand how these drugs could successfully help people with dementia, these findings could present a great opportunity given that they are already readily available.

It is important that we continue to develop new drugs to treat dementia, however we must also remember that many people with the condition are best helped with professional dementia care in an environment that meets their needs. Receiving support at home from a well-trained, professional home care team can enable people with dementia to remain independent in the community for longer where they are often happiest.

About Carefound:

Carefound is a provider of specialist home care and dementia care services to elderly people in North Yorkshire, enabling clients to continue to live independently in the comfort of their own home whilst maintaining the highest quality of life achievable. Services provided include basic help in the home,companionship, personal care, medication help, post-operative rehabilitation, respite care and specialist help such as dementia care and palliative care. The flexible service ranges from 1 hour to 24 hours per day, 7 days a week, including bank holidays, and can also encompass 24-hour live in care services.

Source: Alzheimer’s Society, King’s College London, Carefound.