Alzheimer’s disease is one of the few illnesses that does not currently have a cure. For now, treatments are available, which eases up the patient’s symptoms for a short period. Now, Aricept (also known as Donepezil) is one of the drugs approved for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease that slows down further declination in one’s cognition —which usually happens for approximately within six months. Today, Aricept will be discussed as to how it works on people with Alzheimer’s disease. Along with its uses and other essential information.
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Backtrack on Alzheimer’s Disease
Let’s review a little and discuss what Alzheimer’s disease is and how it affects a person diagnosed with the said illness.
Alzheimer’s disease is an irreversible and progressive brain disorder, which gradually destroys a person’s cognitive ability— mainly: memory skills, thinking skills, and the ability to carry out simple tasks.
Since this disease is related to aging, the patients are mostly in their mid-60s (late-onset type) and others have it early, which occurs around 30s to mid-60s, which happens rarely. Now, the common point of Alzheimer’s symptom is dementia, which Aricept works on.
Symptoms and How Alzheimer’s Disease Works
Dr. Alois Alzheimer first discovered the signs in 1906, wherein he noticed some changed in a woman’s brain tissue who had died with a mysterious mental illness.
The woman’s symptoms were speech problems, memory loss, and unpredictable behavior. After the patient died, Dr. Alzheimer examined her brain and found out that there are many abnormal clumps and tangled bundles of fibers in her brain.
Now, this would lead us to how Alzheimer’s disease works. The plaques and tangles found by Dr. Alzheimer are now considered as the disease’s main features. Another feature of it would be the loss connection of the nerve cells and the brain, which would explain the said symptoms.
The damage which initially forms in the hippocampus now affects the memories, then later on as neurons die, the brain’s additional parts are affected. As the final stage takes place, the damage is now widespread, and the person’s brain tissue has significantly shrunk.
What is Dementia?
Dementia is not a type nor a specific disease. However, it is an overall term which describes a group of symptoms associated with the decline in cognitive ability such as thinking and memory skills that is severe enough to perform normally in everyday activities.
What is Aricept?
As mentioned beforehand, the drug Aricept is also known as Donepezil. This medicine does not slow down the disease’s progression, but it slows down the further decline of a person’s cognitive ability. Additionally, the Aricept can be bought with an Aricept coupon which can be purchased at your local pharmacy.
Now, Aricept was the second drug approved for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease, particularly with dementia. With this said, this drug ranked as the most effective treatment for Alzheimer’s, but at the same time, it is also ranked as the drug with the most side effects.
How Does Aricept Work?
Aricept or Donepezil is an oral medication that is only taken once a day to stop the breakdown of the brain’s chemical, known as the acetylcholine, which is in charge of the communication of the nerve cells with one another. This is part of a class of drugs which is also known as the cholinesterase inhibitors.
Even though Aricept does not cure Alzheimer’s disease, it can significantly help in one way or another. For instance, it may improve awareness, memory, and the ability to function. Since the illness messes up with the neurotransmitters, this medicine blocks the enzyme and restores the balance of the natural substances in the brain.
What Can You Expect About Aricept?
You already have the necessary information about Alzheimer’s disease and its treatment. Let us now delve in what to expect in this medication.
Simply speaking, the effects of Aricept is limited, wherein some people feel better after taking this medication.
A professor of psychiatry, gerontology, and neurology at the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California, Dr. Lon Schneider M.D, has stated that the people who surround the patient taking the said medication started to see the patients as attentive and interactive again.
On the other hand, some may not notice much, but the benefits that the medicine brings are still intact and should not be discounted entirely. Now if a patient takes the medication and is not sure if they’re benefitting from it, then taper over a couple of months and see how you do without the medicine.
What’s Important?
In the treatment of the Alzheimer’s symptom, it is crucial that you know what to do, what medicines to take, and what are the precautions and actions that one needs to take. By making a list of the said tasks, an individual will be able to live still or provide a good quality of life while diagnosed with the illness.
Author Bio
Rohan is a blogger and professional writer he naturally writes articles on a different niche like the business, digital marketing, SEO, health, travel and Lifestyle Category.
