Is dementia curable?

If the dementia is categorized as reversible (that is, if it is caused by something treatable, such as an infection, adverse medication reaction, thyroid problems, dehydration, or malnutrition), the dementia will go away once the cause has been found and treated.

If the dementia is irreversible (that is, if it is caused by Alzheimer’s disease, dementia with Lewy bodies, or Pick’s disease), medication may slow down the progression of dementia, but it will not cure it.

Research shows that the best way to manage dementia symptoms is through behavioral intervention and life management changes, which allow the person with dementia to remain as independent as possible. When caring for a person with dementia, there are some specific things you can do to minimize their stress, agitation, and frustration:

• Be patient
• Adapt their environment to them; don’t expect them to adapt to their surroundings
• Keep them living in a familiar place if possible
• Live in their reality. For example, if they ask where their spouse is, and their spouse died, don’t tell them their spouse is dead, because they will likely become very upset
• Know their history and avoid triggering unhappy memories
• Reminisce with them about happy times in their past
• Educate the people around them about their condition and its common symptoms