Treatment of dementia

Abstract

Dementia is distressing for patients, their families, and their carers. While a cure for any type of dementia is unlikely in the near future, current symptomatic treatments offer genuine hope for improving the quality of life of patients and carers. All patients should have access to proven safe and effective treatments. Early, accurate diagnosis is essential so ChEls can be commenced at the earliest opportunity. Management of BPSD should be patient and carer centred, utilising the full range of non-pharmacological treatments available. Prescribing drugs for BPSD should no longer be automatic and instead should be considered carefully.