title: [Therapy for patients with dementia. Treatment strategies in the elderly].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The number of patients with dementia is increasing. There is often uncertainty about adequate treatment.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  In this paper, current treatment recommendations for dementia are summarized.
  
  
  METHODS
  The basis of the article is the S3 guideline on dementia from the Gesellschaft für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Psychosomatik und Nervenheilkunde (DGPPN) and Deutschen Gesellschaft für Neurologie (DGN). In addition, newer therapeutic approaches and recent publications have been taken into consideration.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Before the initiation of treatment, a meaningful differential diagnosis is required to identify potentially reversible causes of dementia syndrome and to determine the correct treatment for specific dementia types. For Alzheimer's disease, acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (donepezil, galantamine, rivastigmin) and memantine are efficacious and provide patient-related benefit. For other dementia types, there is evidence for efficacy of these drugs in some cases. Neuropsychiatric symptoms should first be managed by individual counseling and caregivers education and support. If this is not sufficiently effective, individual psychopharmacological drugs are available for specific conditions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dementia can not be cured, but current treatment can achieve relief of disease burden and improve quality of life for patients and caregivers.
authors: Klinik und Poliklinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Universitätsklinikum Bonn, Sigmund-Freud-Str. 25, 53105, Bonn, Deutschland, frank.jessen@ukb.uni-bonn.de.
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Jessen
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000379:methods*; D003704:Dementia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D018697:Nootropic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D018697:Nootropic Agents