What is the role of a neurologist in treating patients with Alzheimer's disease?
A neurologist is a medical doctor who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of conditions that affect the brain and nervous system. In the case of Alzheimer's disease, a neurologist may be involved in the initial evaluation and diagnosis of the condition, as well as in the management of symptoms and complications that may arise as the disease progresses. This may include prescribing medications to manage symptoms such as memory loss, confusion, and changes in behavior. A neurologist may also work closely with other healthcare providers, such as geriatricians and primary care physicians, to coordinate the overall care of patients with Alzheimer's disease.
Unfortunately there no cure for Alzheimer’s disease
Currently, there is no known cure for Alzheimer's disease. While there are several medications available that can help to temporarily improve symptoms and *possibly* slow the progression of the disease, there is no treatment that can stop or reverse the underlying degeneration of brain cells that occurs in Alzheimer's.
Research is ongoing to find new treatments and therapies that may be able to better manage the symptoms of Alzheimer's and delay its progression, as well as to identify new ways of preventing or curing the disease. Some possible treatments being researched include the use of drugs to target the specific proteins that are thought to contribute to the development of Alzheimer's, as well as therapies that aim to promote the growth of new brain cells. Unfortunately, most of these drug trials have failed to improve Alzheimer’s patients’ conditions. A few are not fully tested. There are currently none that are fully tested and proven to be effective unfortunately.
The role of the neurologist in working with Alzheimer’s patients
Neurologists are not able to cure or even slow down the progression of the disease. The neurologist’s first role is in diagnosing the disease. Once diagnosed, the neurologist focus on addressing some of the symptoms that arise, and helping the patient, care providers and family have better tools to deal with it.