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Alzheimer's: An Investigation into
Treatment Options
Dana McGuire and Jessica Scharfenberg
MPH 543: Leadership and Organizational Management
Concordia University
June 2015
What is Alzheimer’s Disease?
It is the most common cause of dementia and a primary progressive degenerative disease of nerve cells in the brain.
Risk Factors
• Age
• Family History
• Genetics
• Sex
• Past history of head trauma
• Heart Health
Disease Progression
• Mild (Early Stage)
• Moderate (Middle Stage)
• Severe (Late Stage)
Mild (Early Stage) Alzheimer’s
• Function Independently but feel they have memory lapses
• Word searching-Unable to come up with the right word or name
• Difficulty performing tasks in social settings
• Losing or misplacing objects
• Trouble with planning and organizing
Moderate (Middle Stage) Alzheimer’s
• Forgetfulness of one’s personal history
• Withdrawal from social situations
• Troubles with bladder and bowel control
• Wandering
• Changes in sleep pattern
• Delusions and compulsiveness
Severe (Late Stage) Alzheimer’s
• 24 hour care is needed
• Loss of awareness to surroundings
• Assistance of all daily activities including eating, grooming, and bathing
• Difficulties communicating
• Increasing vulnerability to infections
Direct Costs
• $172 billion each year (indirect and direct)
• Hospitalizations
• Nursing Homes/Groups Homes for 24 hour care
• Accidents
• Medical Bills
• Research
Indirect Costs
• Mental anguish of family members
• Depression
• Setting up a safe environment
• Absenteeism
• Lost productivity
Current Treatment Options
Cholinesterase Inhibitors- inhibit the breakdown of Acetylcholine and prevents the destruction of nerve cells.
• Donepezil (Aricept)
• Rivastigmine (Exelon)
• Galantamine (Razadyne)
Donepezil (Aricept)Benefits• Highly Specific Reversible Inhibitor• Use for all stages of disease• Taken once daily
Side Effects• Nausea• Vomiting• Diarrhea
Rivastigmine (Exelon)Benefits
• Mild to Moderate Stages• Pill, syrup, or skin patch• As good as Aricept• Can block activity of other enzymes
Side Effects• Nausea• Vomiting• Diarrhea• Weightloss
Galantamine (Razadyne)Benefits
• Used for mild/moderate Alzheimer’s• Proven to slow cognitive decline in patients for up to 36
months• Stimulates release of Acetylcholine
Side Effects• Nausea• Vomiting• Rare cardiac events in some patients
Why Fund these Treatments?
• They are temporary, but have shown improvement for past patients.
• Proven to lessen severity of symptoms.
• Treat symptoms of memory loss, reasoning, language, and thinking.
• Use for patients in mild to moderate stages.
• Keeps hospitalizations down.
• More aware and productive.
• Better family dynamic.
ReferencesAlzheimer's Association. (2012, January). FDA-Approved Treatments for Alzheimer's. Retrieved from
https://www.alz.org/national/documents/topicsheet_treatments.pdf
Alzheimer’s Association. (2015a). Risk factors. Retrieved from
http://www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_causes_risk_factors.asp
Alzheimer’s Association. (2015b). Stages of Alzheimer’s. Retrieved from
http://www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_stages_of_alzheimers.asp#overview
Auriacombe, S., Pere, J., Loria-Kanza, Y., & Vellas, B. (2002). Efficacy and Safety of Rivastigmine in Patients with Alzheimer's Disease
who Failed to Benefit from Treatment with Donepezil. Current Medical Research and Opinion, 18(3), 129-138. Retrieved from
http://informahealthcare.com/doi/abs/10.1185/030079902125000471
Birks, J. (2006). Cholinesterase inhibitors for Alzheimer's Disease. Cochrane Database System Review, 1. Retrieved from
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16437532
Birks, J., & Melzer, D. (2003). Donepezil for mild and moderate Alzheimer's disease. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.
doi:10.1002/14651858.CD001190
Mayeux, R., & Sano, M. (1988). Treatment of Alzheimer's disease. The New England Journal of Medicine, 662(1), 17-18.
doi:10.1007/bf03309184
Mayo Clinic. (2014). Alzheimer’s disease. Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-
conditions/alzheimers-disease/basics/risk-factors/CON-20023871
Mayo Clinic. (2014a, July 11). Alzheimer's: Drugs helps manage symptoms. Retrieved from
http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mayoclinic.org%2Fdiseases-conditions%2Falzheimers-disease%2Fin-depth%2Falzheimers%2Fart-20048103
National Center for Policy Analysis. (2007). Cost of Alzheimer’s care to rise. Retrieved from
http://www.ncpa.org/sub/dpd/index.php?Article_ID=14331
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