Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive form of dementia, which means a person’s memory, ability to think, and independence slowly decline over time. These changes are linked to complex alterations in the brain, including the buildup of certain proteins. Watching these changes in a loved one with Alzheimer’s can be very difficult. If you’ve been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s yourself, you might feel uncertain or overwhelmed by the possibilities of the future.

As you learn about Alzheimer’s treatments, discuss options with healthcare providers, and read about other people’s experiences, one question might come to mind: “Is Alzheimer’s disease reversible?” You may wonder if symptoms are here to stay or if the right treatment, now or in the future, could cure Alzheimer’s disease for good. While the hope for a definitive cure drives extensive research efforts, it’s important to understand the current state of treatment.

In this article, we’ll talk about the outlook for people with Alzheimer’s based on current studies and the future of Alzheimer’s research.

What Does Reversible Mean?

A disease is reversible if you can cure it or completely get rid of symptoms through treatment (e.g., a bacterial infection treated with antibiotics). Even if a disease isn’t reversible, treatment for it can sometimes reduce some symptoms or slow down disease progression. Alzheimer’s, unfortunately, currently falls into this category of a condition without a cure.

The Current Outlook on Alzheimer’s

So far, no treatment has successfully reversed Alzheimer’s disease, which means that currently, there is no cure. While this statement alone doesn’t offer much hope, there is some good news. Treatments can slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease and help you manage symptoms to stay independent for as long as possible.

No matter which treatments your doctor recommends, starting treatment early can give you the best possible outlook while managing Alzheimer’s disease. Early diagnosis can also help you prepare for your and your family’s future in later stages of Alzheimer’s. That’s why it’s important to be aware of your risk factors and know the symptoms of Alzheimer’s, like memory loss.

In many cases, other people notice Alzheimer’s symptoms before the person who is developing it. Talk to a doctor right away if you or a loved one shows signs of Alzheimer’s disease.

After careful evaluation, your doctor can find out if memory and thinking problems come from Alzheimer’s or other conditions that mimic Alzheimer’s.

What the Latest Alzheimer’s Research Says

Recent clinical trials and studies have experimented with different methods to try to reverse Alzheimer’s disease.

Anti-Amyloid Therapies

Some recent Alzheimer’s research is based on the idea that Alzheimer’s disease is caused by abnormal clumps of protein in the brain called amyloid plaques. Amyloid plaques build up in the brain and can eventually cause problems with thinking and memory.

Anti-amyloid trials have tested therapies to reverse Alzheimer’s by getting rid of amyloid plaques. At most, they’ve shown a slight possibility of slowing Alzheimer’s progression. None have reversed Alzheimer’s disease.

PBA Treatment

A 2023 study tested a fatty acid molecule called 4-phenylbutyrate (PBA) on mice that showed signs of Alzheimer’s, including severe memory problems. PBA injections helped the mice’s brains regulate proteins to stop them from building up. After receiving the treatment, the mice performed much better on memory tests even when their Alzheimer’s was advanced.

While the results of this mouse study are encouraging, it’s vital to recognize that findings in animal models don’t always translate directly to humans. For this reason, we need rigorous human studies to confirm if PBA could reduce amyloid plaques and improve memory in people with Alzheimer’s. PBA is already FDA-approved to treat a metabolic disorder in humans.

Medications That Support Myelin

Recognizing the complex nature of Alzheimer’s, some researchers believe anti-amyloid therapies might treat Alzheimer’s more effectively alongside other medications that address other problems in the brain leading to Alzheimer’s.

Myelin is a protective layer that forms around nerves to help them function, including in the brain and spinal cord. Without myelin, nerve signals are much slower. Because some studies have found that people with Alzheimer’s have significantly less myelin in areas of the brain that control memory and thinking, some researchers believe that treatments to increase myelin might have the potential to slow Alzheimer’s.

Clemastine

Clemastine is an antihistamine typically used to treat allergies. In a study, researchers gave mice a drug to reduce myelin in the brain and spinal cord after giving them clemastine. The clemastine helped the mice make more cells that produce myelin, which repaired the damaged myelin.

Studies have tested clemastine for treating optic neuritis (damage of the nerve that allows you to see) in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), a condition that damages myelin in the brain and spinal cord. It hasn’t been tested yet for people with Alzheimer’s disease.

Rolipram

Rolipram is a type of drug that might also support new myelin growth. In a study on mice who were given a drug to reduce myelin, rolipram helped produce myelin and improve cognitive function. Human trials have tested rolipram to treat depression, but future studies are needed to find out if rolipram can treat people with Alzheimer’s.

Fingolimod

Fingolimod (Gilenya), a medication for MS, showed several possible benefits in studies on mice with inflammation in their brains and damaged myelin. Fingolimod helped create more myelin, improve nerve function, and increase the number of brain cells.

Clinical trials are needed to show if these three medications can treat people with Alzheimer’s disease alongside anti-amyloid therapies. Clinical trials can also help determine the safest dose for humans and minimize side effects.

Reducing Your Risk of Alzheimer’s

Lifestyle changes offer ways to take action if you’re at risk of Alzheimer’s disease or currently in the early stages. Some lifestyle factors might play a role in causing Alzheimer’s, so developing healthy habits early might help prevent it or slow cognitive decline:

• Diet — Healthy eating supports your brain health by giving your brain the nutrients it needs. Some studies suggest eating plans like the Mediterranean diet or the ketogenic diet for slowing or preventing Alzheimer’s, but the evidence is mixed and requires further research.
• Physical activity — Studies suggest that aerobic exercise (exercise that gets your blood pumping) may prevent or slow Alzheimer’s progression by supporting nerve function, reducing inflammation, and improving blood flow in the brain.
• Sleep — Research shows that deep sleep can help protect your brain from amyloids and slow memory loss for people with Alzheimer’s.
• Cognitive engagement — Engaging in brain-stimulating activities could slow Alzheimer’s progression, according to some research. For example, you could play a musical instrument, read, take a class, or volunteer at a local nonprofit to work your brain and prevent memory loss.

Making lifestyle changes early might help increase your or your loved one’s life expectancy with Alzheimer’s.

The Future of Alzheimer’s Research

More than six million people in the United States have Alzheimer’s, and Alzheimer’s rates are rising rapidly. The rising rates highlight the importance of researching different approaches to detect early Alzheimer’s disease or even predict it before memory loss starts by tracking biomarkers (substances in your body that indicate a disease).

Some areas of research aren’t yet proven to reverse Alzheimer’s disease but show some promise for improving treatment outcomes. Emerging research shows that the gut microbiome, or the bacteria and other microorganisms living in your stomach and intestines, has a stronger influence over your brain health than researchers once realized.

Researchers continue to study the gut-brain connection and examine changes in the gut microbiome that might one day reverse or prevent Alzheimer’s disease.

If you or a loved one is interested in contributing to Alzheimer’s research and potentially accessing cutting-edge treatments, talk to your doctor or care provider to find out about current Alzheimer’s clinical trials.

The Importance of Support

“I was both my dad’s and mom’s caretaker after they were admitted to hospice care. All caregivers need a respite from the realities of a serious and nonreversible illness,” shared a myALZteam member.

Support goes a long way in offering hope and encouragement to people with Alzheimer’s disease, their loved ones, and their caregivers. If you or a loved one has Alzheimer’s, your healthcare providers might offer resources to help you process the diagnosis. You can also talk about your experiences on myALZteam.

Talk With Others Who Understand

On myALZteam, the social network for people with Alzheimer’s disease and their loved ones, members come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their stories with others who understand life with Alzheimer’s disease.

Has Alzheimer’s treatment helped reduce your or a loved one’s symptoms? Which Alzheimer’s research findings have you found to be promising? Share your experience in the comments below, or start a conversation by posting on your Activities page.