from journal Alzheimer's & Dementia
New drugs to treat Alzheimer’s disease hold great promise, but they still need additional research. In the meantime, well-researched ways to care for people with dementia do not involve medication. Brown University scientists evaluated the effectiveness of four non-drug interventions comparing them to what is termed usual care. The interventions not only resulted in a better quality of life, but saved money. The study, published in the journal Alzheimer’s and Dementia, concludes that while intense research continues into drug treatments, it makes sense to find ways to make them available to more families now. The interventions studied include maximizing independence at home, care planning, skill-building and referrals to outside services.