Medication use to treat memory loss in dementia

Authors:
  • HLHeather A. Lindstrom
    Heather A. Lindstrom
  • KSKathleen A. Smyth
    Kathleen A. Smyth
  • SPStephen G. Post
    Stephen G. Post
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Abstract
Treatment decisions for symptoms associated with dementia are complex, involving persons with dementia, caregivers and physicians. Our exploratory focus group research examined the views of Caucasian and African-American persons with dementia (n= 19) and their caregivers (n= 19) surrounding use of and hopes for existing medications to treat the symptoms of memory loss, willingness to stop medication use at some point in the future, and willingness to try medications that may become available. Participants in our focus groups expressed relatively high hopes for what medications could do to treat memory loss, a general willingness to try hypothetical new treatments, even those with serious side-effects and high costs, and were optimistic that scientists would find new treatments to significantly affect the course of memory loss in their lifetimes. Our results suggest caregivers and persons with dementia need better information about the likely impacts of medications in order to make informed treatment decisions. Efficacy, side-effects, cost, and the need for ‘hope’ embodied in concrete actions (e.g. taking a medication) must be weighed.

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