Is dementia treatable?

Is dementia treatable?

First, it’s important to understand the terms “treatable,” “reversible” and “curable.” All or almost all forms of dementia are treatable, in that medication and other measures can help manage your symptoms. However, most types of dementia can’t be cured or reversed, and treatments provide only modest benefits.

Fortunately, some types of dementia, like those brought on by treatable causes, may be successfully reversed. These dementia-like symptoms are caused by:

• Side effects of medications, illicit drugs or alcohol.
• Tumors that can be removed.
• Subdural hematoma (a buildup of blood beneath the outer covering of your brain that’s caused by a head injury).
• Normal pressure hydrocephalus (a buildup of cerebrospinal fluid in your brain).
• Metabolic disorders, such as a vitamin B12 deficiency.
• Hypothyroidism, a condition that results from low levels of thyroid hormones.
• Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar).
• Depression.

Dementias that aren’t reversible may still partially respond to medications that treat memory loss or behavior problems. These dementias include:

• Alzheimer's disease.
• Multi-infarct (vascular) dementia.
• Dementias associated with Parkinson's disease and similar disorders.
• AIDS dementia complex.
• Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.