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While there is no cure for dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, treatment and management options can minimize symptoms, improve quality of life and, increasingly, slow the disease’s progression.
Medications may relieve symptoms related to memory, thinking, language and other thought processes. In addition, they also may help with mood, agitation and other behavioral issues. Medications may not work for everyone. People respond very differently to medications.
An emerging class of medications that can attack the buildup of plaque between neurons is showing some positive results in delaying the progression of Alzheimer’s disease by about 30%.
The Norton Neuroscience Institute Memory Center provides comprehensive and compassionate diagnosis and treatment to people with a variety of memory disorders, from mild dementia to Alzheimer’s disease.
With the largest team of board-certified and fellowship-trained specialists in Louisville and Southern Indiana, our team helps patients and their loved ones find the causes of memory impairment issues, dementia and other brain disorders.
Our multidisciplinary care model often allows patients to book multiple appointments with various specialists for the same day. Also, our team of neurologists, psychiatrists and geriatric medicine specialists work together closely to develop individualized and effective treatment plans.
Our specialists are also heavily involved in research into the most current treatments. In addition to providing access to clinical trials, our specialists are often deeply familiar with new therapies once they are first approved for clinical use.
Our mission is to improve the lives of patients living with memory disorders.
At our Memory Center you may see one of our doctors or specialized nurse practitioners at your appointment. In order to evaluate you for memory loss, we will conduct a new patient evaluation as well as diagnostic exams. Our team will use this information to develop an ongoing care plan for you and your caregiver.
Our team works collaboratively across many areas to ensure each patient’s treatment plan is individualized to their diagnosis, symptoms, and lifestyle. Because we cannot cure the cause of the disease, treatments are designed to slow the progression of the disease and reduce symptoms. A robust approach of medication, therapeutic support and social support can help patients and caregivers manage their condition.
Nearly 40% of dementia cases can be prevented or delayed by making healthy lifestyle choices.
At the Norton Neuroscience Institute Memory Center Dementia Prevention Clinic, we help individuals who are interested in learning about their personal memory disorder risk factors and ways to improve their chances of avoiding the disease. If you have a parent or sibling who has dementia, your risk is double that of the general population.The clinic is located on the third floor of Norton Medical Plaza III – Brownsboro.
What to expect during your visit:
If you are interested in learning about your future risk for developing a memory disorder, schedule an appointment by calling (502) 446-4664 (4NNI).
While there is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias, there are medications that might be able to slow it down and make it easier to live with.
A disease-modifying treatment, disease-modifying drug, or disease-modifying therapy is a treatment that delays or slows the progression of a disease by targeting its underlying cause.
Some common disease-modifying drugs are:
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved lecanemab, marketed as Leqembi, for the treatment of the earliest symptomatic stages of Alzheimer’s disease.
Lecanemab is now available at Norton Healthcare and covered by most insurance plans.
Learn more about Lecanemab
In addition to disease-modifying drugs, there are treatments that address memory loss without tackling its underlying cause.
Some examples of symptoms that may be treated with medication:
Norton Healthcare provides rehabilitation, occupational therapy and speech-language pathology services for patients managing memory loss. Our facilities offer some of the most advanced technology and specialized services in one location to help with gait, balance, strength, flexibility, speech, fine motor skills, swallowing, driving, cognition, vision and more.
As part of our commitment to personalized care, a social worker can help guide patients through their care journey and help connect them with resources and answer questions.
There is a difference between forgetfulness and memory loss. For example, it is normal to forget where you put your keys, but it could be a red flag if you forget what keys belong to which locks.
Because progressive memory loss is a degenerative disease, the memory will worsen over time. The sooner the diagnosis, the sooner that appropriate care can uncover the reason for the memory loss and offer the chance to treat mild cognitive impairment in the early stages.
Norton Neuroscience Institute is at the forefront of neuroscientific research. As investigators on numerous trials, our specialist physicians have unparalleled experience with many innovative treatments once they are approved for broad use. Patients also may be eligible to take part in these experimental treatments. Norton Neuroscience Institute researchers also contribute to groundbreaking studies and publications in peer-reviewed journals.
Learn more about current neuroscience clinical trials and studies.
Coming to terms with memory loss and the possible onset of a more serious condition can be difficult. Getting a prompt diagnosis from a doctor is key in determining if further testing is required.
When ongoing memory loss requires medical attention, your doctor may ask a simple set of questions to assess the severity of the impairment. The questions might touch on the onset of the symptoms, the type of tasks that seem difficult, whether you’ve started any new drug or if a recent head injury or other trauma may have happened.
Further blood and brain-imaging testing also may be required in order to give an accurate diagnosis, develop a care plan and provide support.
Reviewed by Gregory E. Cooper, M.D., Ph.D.