The condition and the treatments
Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease is the most common type of dementia. It affects the brain and causes problems with memory, thinking and behaviour. Alzheimer's disease is a progressive condition, which means that it gets worse over time as more parts of the brain are affected.
Mild Alzheimer's disease
Symptoms that can give a person with dementia some difficulty, including some memory loss and feelings of disorientation, and finding it hard to cope with complex problems.
Moderate Alzheimer's disease
Symptoms that can give a person with dementia significant difficulty, including severe memory loss and feelings of disorientation, and finding it very hard to cope with everyday problems.
Severe Alzheimer's disease
Symptoms that can give a person with dementia great difficulty, including very severe memory loss and feelings of disorientation, and being unable to communicate, make decisions or do simple things (such as eating or walking).
NHS Choices may be a good place to find out more.
Donezepil, galantamine, rivastigmine and memantine
Donepezil, galantamine, rivastigmine and memantine are medicines that help with the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease, but do not stop it from getting worse over time.
Donepezil, galantamine and rivastigmine prevent a chemical called acetylcholine from being broken down in the body. Acetylcholine is needed for the nerve cells in the brain to work properly.
Memantine reduces the amount of a chemical called glutamate in the brain. High levels of glutamate damage nerve cells in the brain and stop them working properly.