Alzheimer's Disease
Disease Progression
Depending on the stage of the disease, clinical symptoms of varying intensity dominate. Whereas at the start the usually gradual loss of cognitive functions such as memory, orientation and organizational processes, is the main feature, after about 2-3 years conspicuous impairment of the ability to cope with everyday life becomes manifest.
With the progression of AD, treatment is aimed particularly at improving and stabilizing personal everyday functions, so as to keep patients independent for as long as possible.
With increasing severity of AD behavioral abnormalities often also occur, such as aggressiveness, optical hallucinations, restless wandering around and/or affective lability, the treatment of which should form part of the overall therapy concept. Untreated, patients on average become severely dependent on nursing care after 6 years, with comprehensive neurological (e.g. hallucinations, myoclonus) and organic (urinary and fecal incontinence, pneumonia, cardiovascular diseases) symptoms. The primary aims of treatment here are to maintain patients' quality of life for as long as possible and to make them easier to look after.
Axura® is the first and only product in the world approved for the treatment of moderate to severe Alzheimer´s disease. The registration of Axura® for moderate to severe Alzheimer´s disease filled a large gap in the range of treatments for Alzheimer´s disease.
To stream a web seminar by Dr. Jeffrey Cummings (founder and director of the UCLA Alzheimer's Disease Center in Los Angeles, California), which discusses "Behavioural Disturbances in Alzheimer's Disease: Relevance, Assessment, and Treatment" please click here. (This may take a few minutes to load and Windows Media Player is required)