Memory Digest

Dementia Treatments: An Overview

A guide to today's options—anti-amyloid drugs, symptom medicines, treating other conditions, and non-drug approaches.

Last reviewed: October 2026

There's no cure for Alzheimer's disease or most other dementias yet. But "no cure" doesn't mean "nothing can be done." Today's treatments fall into four groups: medicines that target the underlying disease, medicines that ease symptoms, treating other health problems that make thinking worse, and non-drug approaches that improve daily life. Most people benefit from a combination.

1. Disease-modifying treatments for early Alzheimer's

Two FDA-approved medicines remove amyloid plaques from the brain and modestly slow decline in people at the earliest symptomatic stages—Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) or mild dementia—with confirmed amyloid:

• Lecanemab (Leqembi) (Leqembi) – IV infusion every two weeks; an under-the-skin injection form is approved for maintenance dosing.
• Donanemab (Kisunla) (Kisunla) – IV infusion every four weeks; treatment may stop once amyloid is cleared.

In large trials, these drugs slowed decline on measures of memory and function by roughly a quarter to a third over 18 months. That is a real but modest effect: people still decline, just more slowly. They carry a risk of brain swelling or small bleeds called ARIA, require regular MRI scans, and are not suitable for everyone—for example, people on blood thinners or with many small brain bleeds. People with two copies of the APOE4 gene have a higher ARIA risk. Deciding whether to start involves a careful conversation with a specialist.

These drugs are not approved for moderate or severe Alzheimer's or other types of dementia.

2. Medicines for memory and thinking symptoms

These don't stop the disease but can help symptoms for a time in some people:

• Cholinesterase Inhibitors and Memantine – donepezil, rivastigmine and galantamine boost acetylcholine, a chemical messenger important for memory. Used for mild to severe Alzheimer's; also helpful in Lewy body and Parkinson's disease dementia.
• Memantine – regulates glutamate, another brain chemical. Used for moderate to severe Alzheimer's, sometimes combined with donepezil.

Benefits are usually modest—perhaps a few months of stabilization or slower decline—and vary from person to person. Side effects include nausea, diarrhea, poor appetite, vivid dreams, slow heart rate (cholinesterase inhibitors), and dizziness or confusion (memantine).

3. Medicines for behavior, mood and sleep

Changes like depression, anxiety, agitation, hallucinations and sleep problems are common. Non-drug approaches are tried first, because looking for triggers—pain, infection, noise, boredom, fear—often solves the problem. When medicines are needed:

• Antidepressants may help depression and anxiety.
• Brexpiprazole (Rexulti) was approved by the FDA in 2023 for agitation associated with Alzheimer's dementia.
• Suvorexant (Belsomra) is approved for insomnia in people with mild to moderate Alzheimer's.
• Antipsychotics carry a boxed warning for increased risk of death in older people with dementia and are used only when the benefits clearly outweigh risks. They can be dangerous in Lewy Body Dementia.

4. Treating other conditions

Managing other health problems can noticeably improve thinking and quality of life:

• Reviewing and stopping medicines that worsen memory (see Reversible Causes of Memory Problems)
• Hearing aids and glasses
• Treating sleep apnea, depression, pain, constipation and infections
• Controlling blood pressure, diabetes and cholesterol, especially in Vascular Dementia

5. Non-drug approaches

Some of the most effective tools aren't pills:

• Regular physical activity
• Cognitive stimulation therapy and meaningful activities
• Music, art and reminiscence
• Consistent routines and a calm, safe environment
• Social connection
• Education and support for caregivers, which can delay nursing home placement

See Non-Drug Treatments for Dementia.

Treatment by type of dementia

Research and trials

More than a hundred treatments are being tested, including drugs targeting tau, inflammation and other pathways, plus prevention trials. Joining a trial can give access to new approaches and helps everyone. See Joining a Clinical Trial.

Questions to ask the doctor

• What are the realistic benefits and risks of each option for me?
• Am I eligible for anti-amyloid treatment? What would monitoring involve and cost?
• How will we know if a medicine is working—and when should we stop?
• Could any of my current medicines be affecting my memory?

Sources

1. National Institute on Aging: How Is Alzheimer's Disease Treated?
2. Alzheimer's Association: Medications for Memory, Cognition and Dementia-Related Behaviors
3. Mayo Clinic: Alzheimer's treatments: What's on the horizon?

Not medical advice. This article is general information, not a diagnosis or treatment plan for any individual. Talk with a doctor about your situation.

Related articles

• Lecanemab (Leqembi)
• Donanemab (Kisunla)
• Cholinesterase Inhibitors and Memantine
• Non-Drug Treatments for Dementia