地域に生きる「痴呆」―物忘れ早期発見・早期診断と介護予防 ４．痴呆の治療

Abstract

Drugs to treat the primary symptoms of dementia are nootropics (anti-dementia medicine). These can be divided into three stage historically. Drugs of brain metabolic improvement and blood expanssion and anti-coagulation drugs used till now, are the first stage. AChE inhibitor and glutamin receptor inhibitors used at present are second generation drugs. The cause of degenerative diseases like Alzheimer's disease is the accumulation of abnormal protein. So, fundamental medicines to prevent such accumulation are the third generation drugs. Anti-inflammation drugs, anti-cholesterol drugs, female hormones, and nerve growth factors used at present are third generation grugs. In truth, only vaccine treatment is the third stage medicine. Adjuvant treatment is also available at present This approach is not based on the elimination of various causes of cell injury, but on increasing resistance to cell injury. These methods include protection of the nerve cell membrane, supply of nerve transmission material and improvement of brain blood flow. Non-medicinal methods of treatment and prevention of dementia include mental training and body movement (exercises). These promote supply of nutrition and oxygen to the nerve cells as a result of increases in brain circulation caused by the various stimuli. In addition to training, nutrition should also be suppled at the same time.