Alzheimer’s disease, a disease of the elderly, is by far the leading cause of dementia, affecting many people over the age of 60, and has become the seventh leading cause of death worldwide. In the United States alone, the number of people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s is on the rise, with the odds of being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s increasing exponentially, with women at greater risk. According to statistics released in the latest report, AD accounts for nearly 60-70% of all types of dementia cases, with an estimated 5.5 million Americans of all ages living with Alzheimer’s and approximately 47.5 million people worldwide suffering from dementia due to the disease, and it is estimated that more than 115 million people will have dementia by 2050.
Early diagnosis and treatment is now an emerging area of research, with no key technological breakthroughs yet, and despite the availability of anti-Alzheimer’s drugs, there is still no cure for the disease. Current research indicates that the disease is more disabling in people over the age of 60 than cardiovascular disease, stroke, cancer and musculoskeletal disorders.
Most of the drugs used in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease are cholinesterase inhibitors.
1, tacrine (English name: tacrine), started to use in 1993, the first drug approved by the U.S. FDA for Alzheimer’s disease, another 2, donepezil (English name: Donepezil), started to use in 1996, currently the most used drugs by domestic doctors.
3.Rivastigmine (English name: Rivistigmine), started to be used in 2000 for the treatment of mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease dementia (Alzheimer’s disease), i.e. suspected Alzheimer’s disease or Alzheimer’s disease.
4. Galantamine (English name: Galantamine), which was introduced in 2001, is used in oral form for memory loss and mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease.
Clinical studies have shown that these drugs have only moderate effects in patients with Alzheimer’s disease, with approximately 40-70% of patients benefiting from treatment.
For patients with severe disease who fail to respond to medication, pacemaker therapy in conjunction with TCM can be considered when all conditions allow, and can relieve symptoms to control the rate of disease progression.
Important note: Diagnosis is the most critical step before treatment. It is recommended to consult a professional team at a regular medical institution for a clear diagnosis.