Dementia Support Line
Dementia treatments
There is currently no cure for dementia. However, there are support and treatment options for dementia, including medication, that can help to manage a person’s symptoms.
Can dementia be treated with medication?
No current medications stop, slow down or reverse dementia, although some can temporarily help a person with their memory and thinking.
In the UK, there are four medications approved to ease some dementia symptoms: donepezil, rivastigmine, galantamine and memantine.
These treatments are only effective for people with Alzheimer’s disease, dementia with Lewy bodies, Parkinson’s disease dementia, and mixed dementia involving any of these types. There aren’t yet any medications that improve the symptoms of vascular dementia or frontotemporal dementia.
Can dementia symptoms improve with treatment?
It’s not possible to know in advance if a person’s symptoms will improve with treatment, as everyone responds differently.
When a medication does help someone, symptoms tend to improve after a few weeks. This then usually lasts for between 6 and 12 months. At some point, the symptoms will gradually start to get worse again, even when the person is still taking the medication.
Alternative therapies for dementia
Some alternative therapies may benefit people with dementia. Aromatherapy, massage, cannabis, and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) are all being explored for their potential to treat symptoms related to dementia, such as sleep problems or agitation.
Dementia support services
Alzheimer's Society offers a range of dementia support services. From a listening ear on the phone to a visit in person and opportunities to connect with others.