Treatment of Memory Diseases - Related Resources

Cochrane reviews

• Hormone replacement therapy appears not to be effective in maintaining cognitive function in women with Alzheimer´s disease Hormone Replacement Therapy to Maintain Cognitive Function in Women with Dementia.
• Cognitive stimulation may benefit cognition in people with mild to moderate dementia over any medication effects Cognitive Stimulation to Improve Cognitive Functioning in People with Dementia.
• Folic acid, with or without vitamin B12, may not exert any beneficial effect on cognitive function or mood of unselected healthy or cognitively impaired older people Folic Acid with or Without Vitamin B12 for Cognition and Dementia.
• Melatonin is probably not effective in managing the cognitive and non-cognitive sequelae of dementia Melatonin for Cognitive Impairment.
• Nimodipine 90 mg/day may be of some benefit in patients with features of dementia due to Alzheimer's, cerebrovascular or a mixed disease Nimodipine for Dementia.
• Massage and touch seem to be beneficial for people with dementia but the evidence is insufficient for general conclusions Massage and Touch for Dementia.
• There is insufficient evidence of the effectiveness of physical activity programs on older persons with dementia Physical Activity Programs for Persons with Dementia.
• Piracetam may have some effect in the treatment of dementia or cognitive impairment but the evidence is inconclusive Piracetam for Dementia or Cognitive Impairment.
• Evidence on the efficacy of respite care for people with dementia or for their caregivers is insufficient Respite Care for People with Dementia and Their Carers.
• There is no evidence on the effectiveness of snoezelen (multi-sensory stimulation) for dementia Snoezelen (Multi-Sensory Stimulation) for Dementia.
• Valproate seems to have no effect in treating agitation among demented patients but seems to increase adverse effects. However, the evidence is insufficient Valproate for Agitation in Dementia.
• There is no evidence to support the use of thioridazine in dementia, and its use seems to expose patients to excess side effects Thioridazine for Dementia.
• Exercise programs may have an impact in improving ability to perform activities of daily living and probably in improving cognition in people with dementia Exercise Programs for People with Dementia.
• Psychological treatments based on a psychological model may benefit people with dementia by reducing depressive symptoms Psychological Treatments for Depression and Anxiety in Dementia.
• Melatonin is probably not beneficial but trazodone may improve sleep in sleep problems associated with Alzheimer's disease. There is no evidence available of other drugs used for sleep problems Pharmacotherapies for Sleep Disturbances in Dementia.
• Efficacy of cholinesterase inhibitors (ChI's) on cognitive function and activities of daily living in people with rarer dementias is probably unclear. ChI's may be associated with more gastrointestinal side effects compared with placebo Cholinesterase Inhibitors for Rarer Dementias Associated with Neurological Conditions.

Other evidence summaries

Clinical guidelines

• Management of patients with dementia. Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN). Guideline No. 86 http://www.sign.ac.uk/guidelines/fulltext/86/index.html

Literature

Clinical practice reviews

• Ballard C, Gauthier S, Corbett A et al. Alzheimer's disease. Lancet 2011;377(9770):1019-31. [PubMed]

Other literature

• Dowling GA, Burr RL, Van Someren EJ, Hubbard EM, Luxenberg JS, Mastick J, Cooper BA. Melatonin and bright-light treatment for rest-activity disruption in institutionalized patients with Alzheimer's disease. J Am Geriatr Soc 2008 Feb;56(2):239-46. [PubMed]