After the diagnosis of dementia: Considerations in disease management

Once diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease or related disorders, patients and caregivers must integrate treatment and management plans. While there are no cures for these disorders, there are opportunities to optimize function and quality of life. There are pharmacological treatments available for dementia as well as for the behavioral and psychiatric symptoms that often accompany these diagnoses. Persistence can insure that drug treatments provide optimal benefit. Also nonpharmacological interventions including environmental modifications can be helpful, particularly for the behavioral problems. Supervision to insure adequate medical care, maximize independence and social interaction, and preserve patient dignity will require ongoing review of the patient's changing condition. A comprehensive approach to management will also consider legal and financial needs, support for the caregiver, and the possibility of research participation. Clinicians can introduce the possibility of research for the hope it offers to their patients and to the generations to come.