Alzheimer's Fact Sheet

Conventional treatment of Alzheimer's disease focuses on drug, emotional support, and forms of behavior modification to help a person remember better and cope with daily activities. Here are some other forms of therapy have also been found useful for people with Alzheimer's disease. You can find therapists who provide services or to adapt them for use at home.

Note that no treatment of any kind have been found to reverse the effects of Alzheimer's disease. But it is possible to slow its progress or simply to improve the quality of life for someone struggling with the disease.

Like many pet owners attest, simply being around an animal can have a calming effect. It's the idea behind pet therapy for people with Alzheimer's disease, who are particularly at risk for anxiety and depression. In this therapy, the companion of man from animals introduced animals - be it a dog, cat, Guinea pig or other domestic animals - the person with the Alzheimer's disease and helps to smooth interaction and safely. These visits usually take place in nursing homes, adult day centers, and hospitals, but of course, the idea can be used at home as well.

The benefits of pet therapy, in particular, reduce anxiety and stress, improve communication, improve mood, and lowering blood pressure. People with Alzheimer's disease may feel particularly comfortable with a pet because it allows them to interact nonverbally.

• What you can do: The person you care for is probably not capable of handling an animal, it is not a good idea to run out and buy a kitten it unless someone One is always available to provide his care. But even pet therapy that does not involve direct contact with animals - bird watching and watching an aquarium - appears to have positive effects. Research funded by the Pet Care Trust, a nonprofit foundation and conducted by Purdue University found that Alzheimer's patients provided with aquariums have gained weight (indicating better nutritional intake - patients Alzheimer's often have difficulty eating properly) and showed less aggression. Try setting up an aquarium or bird feeders outside a favorite window display.

Whether spiritual activities include prayer, religious services, or visits with a person who provides religious guidance, they have a therapeutic effect on many people suffering from Alzheimer's disease. Spirituality and faith provides stress relief, hope and comfort. Some studies have shown that people with probable AD who have higher levels of religiosity show slowing mental decline.

In addition, religious participation usually involves regular events, rituals or traditions. Repeatedly over the years, these memories tend to be more fixed line in the brains of people with Alzheimer's disease. Therefore a person with Alzheimer's disease can find religious or spiritual activities reassuring and easy to follow. These activities also provide an opportunity to socialize and bond with family, friends and community members.

• What you can do: Make arrangements for the person whom you care to continue to attend their routine religious services as long as possible. If his behavior is erratic and sometimes disturbing to see if a piece "quiet" is available. (Usually used by mothers of young children, this place is useful for people with Alzheimer's, too.) Try going to services early or mid week when attendance is lightest.

Consider other things that can nourish the spiritual, too. For some people, it's a walk in the woods, watching the night sky, listening to classical music, or meditation.

If you've found yourself singing a pop song that you have not heard since high school - and knowing the words - you have an idea of the power of musical memory. Someone with Alzheimer's disease could not remember breakfast, but the lyrics.