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38GALE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERSAlzheimer disease(NSAIDs) are currently being investigated for their use intreating patients with Alzheimer disease.Coping with the disorderThere are strategies to cope with this disorder andthese should be considered in the beginning stages of thedisease. Coping mechanisms depend on whether there arefamily members available for support. If an individual iswithout family members, relying on community supportthrough neighbors or volunteers of Alzheimer disease or-ganizations will be necessary.Many precautions can be made early on to avoiddifficult or life-threatening situations later, while main-taining everyday activities in the home environment. Deal-ing with a person with Alzheimer disease with patience isimportant. Daily tasks should be performed when the per-son with Alzheimer disease feels best. Informing neigh-bors of the person's condition is an important first step.Arranging for assistance, depending on the stage of the dis-order, will become necessary. As the ability to drive maybe compromised fairly early in the disorder, transportationmay need to be arranged. There are local chapters of theAlzheimer's Association that offer help with transportationrequirements.In the early period of the disease when memory lossis minimal, it is helpful for family and friends to interactwith the affected person, reminding him or her to takemedication, eat, keep appointments, and so forth. Familyand friends can help sustain the Alzheimer patient's dailyliving activities. Keeping records is also helpful, particu-larly if several people are overseeing the patient's care.Additionally, organizing the household so that it is easy tofind important items is recommended.Other helpful coping mechanisms include postingsigns to remind patients of important phone numbers, toturn off appliances, and to lock doors. It is important thatall electrical cords and appliances are arranged to mini-mize distraction, and to prevent danger of falling or mis-use. Assistance in handling finances is usually necessary.Providing an extra house key for neighbors and setting upa schedule to check on persons with Alzheimer disease isvery helpful for both the patient and the family. By utiliz-ing these and other family, neighborhood, and communityresources, many people with early Alzheimer disease areable to maintain a successful lifestyle in their home envi-ronment for months or years.Recovery and rehabilitationFor a person with Alzheimer disease, emphasis isplaced on maintaining cognitive and physical function foras long as possible. Currently, there is no cure forAlzheimer and, once the symptoms develop, patients donot recover. Instead, they progressively worsen, usuallyover a period of years. This has many psychosocial and fi-nancial ramifications for the patient and the patient's care-takers. Social service workers can help families plan forlong-term care, as persons with Alzheimer disease mostoften eventually require 24-hour assistance with feeding,toileting, bathing, personal safety, and social interaction.Taking care of patients in the later stages can be financiallyand psychologically draining. Various support systems areavailable through community mental health centers andnational support organizations.Clinical trialsThere are currently many clinical trials for the treat-ment or prevention of Alzheimer disease sponsored by theNational Institutes of Health (NIH). Large multi-centerclinical trials such as a Phase III clinical trail are aimed atdetermining whether anti-inflammatory drugs delay age-related cognitive decline. (Contact information: UCLANeuropsychiatric Institute, Los Angeles, California,90024. Recruiter: Andrea Kaplan, (310) 825-0545 or heremail: akaplan@mednet.ucla.edu.) A Phase III clinicaltrial is also organized to test the drug Risperidone for thetreatment of agitated behavior in Alzheimer's patients.(Contact information: Palo Alto Veterans AdministrationHealth Care System, Menlo Park, California, 94025. Re-cruiter: Erin L. Cassidy, PhD, (650) 493-5000, ext.27013or her email: ecassidy@stanfor

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