Doctors will prescribe appropriate medications based on the condition, severity and needs of the person living with dementia.

 

Two categories for medications for Dementia：

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( I ) Drugs that treat symptoms

Although this type of medications cannot stop or reverse the damage Alzheimer's causes to brain cells, it can help normal brain cells to keep functioning as normally as possible. They can ease some symptoms of Dementia.

 

Cholinesterase inhibitors

Donepezil : Tablet

Rivastigmine : Tablet or skin patches

Galantamine : Tablet

 

NMDA receptor antagonist

Memantine : Tablet

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( II ) Anti-amyloid therapy

It is used to treat people in early stage of Alzheimer's disease or mild cognitive impairment (MCI) due to Alzheimer's Disease. It selectively targets the different types of harmful amyloid proteins before plaques develop, and remove existing amyloid brain plaque brain plaque. Drugs in this category aims to slow disease progression. Gene test and brain imaging will be conducted before starting the treatment and during treatment.

 

Lecanemab : An anti-amyloid antibody intravenous (IV) infusion therapy that is delivered every two weeks. Each infusion takes about 1 hour.

​Other medications

Medication for cardiovascular health

For people diagnosed with vascular dementia, doctors may prescribe medications to control blood pressure, diabetes or heart disease to maintain cardiovascular health and prevent dementia from worsening due to stroke.

 

Medications for psychiatric and behavioral symptoms

​Behavioral and emotional symptoms are quite common in dementia, including wandering, sleep disorders, anxiety, depression, delusions and hallucinations. Non-drug treatment is the first choice for treating patients' behavioral and emotional symptoms. However, when symptoms are severe and cause distress to patients/caregivers, doctors will consider using drugs such as antipsychotics, antidepressants, mood stabilizers, sedatives, hypnotic etc. to relieve related symptoms according to the patient's condition.