Overview
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia, a term for memory loss and thinking problems that interfere with everyday activities. Alzheimer’s is a degenerative brain condition that worsens over time. But there is hope, in the form of new treatments designed to slow symptom progression. M Health Fairview offers the first anti-amyloid infusion therapies for Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias.
Because these treatments can have severe side effects, their benefits must be weighed against their potential harms. You can talk with one of our specialists to decide if these medications are right for you or your loved one.
Our subspecialist team of neurologists offers leading-edge diagnostic and treatment options, designed to give patients the best possible quality of life. In addition, the team can connect patients and caregivers to support and resources.
For more information about Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia, visit the Alzheimer’s Association.
Our approach
While facing a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease or another dementia can be difficult, our goal is to inform patients and families about actions they can take to optimize their quality of life. M Health Fairview has more behavioral neurologists – subspecialists who focus identifying and treating people with dementias – than anywhere else in the region.
We offer:
- Diagnostic services for Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias
- Connection to support services, both within M Health Fairview and in the community
- Anti-amyloid infusion therapies
- Treatment for conditions associated with dementia, including anxiety, depression, and balance problems
- Recommendations about changes to existing medications, to optimize cognitive functioning
- Referral to physical and occupational therapy to optimize home independence
- Consultation about lifestyle modifications, including staying intellectually and socially active as well as adopting healthy diet and exercise routines
- Referrals to specialists for other conditions that can affect brain health, such as high blood pressure, kidney disease, and other chronic conditions
Providers for Alzheimer’s Disease
View All ProvidersLocations for Alzheimer’s Disease
Services for Alzheimer’s Disease
Whether you’re at the beginning of the journey or farther along, our team uses the latest diagnostic technology, combined with subspecialty expertise, to diagnose Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. Diagnostic tools may include:
- Brain MRI
- Amyloid PET scan
- Cerebrospinal fluid testing
- Blood tests
- Detailed patient history
- Neurological examination
- Clinical evaluation
- Neuropsychological testing
Groundbreaking treatment now available
Whereas there were previously no therapies available to treat neurodegenerative diseases directly, we now have access to new anti-amyloid medications that have the potential to slow the progression of Alzheimer’s and other dementias.
Alzheimer’s is characterized by a buildup of beta amyloid plaque in the brain, which is believed to be responsible for the disease’s progression. Anti-amyloid infusion therapy works by removing beta-amyloid buildup from the brain. For people in the early stages of Alzheimer’s, it can reduce cognitive decline.
Anti-amyloid infusion therapy is FDA approved for people with mild cognitive impairment or early-stage dementia who have abnormal levels of beta amyloid. The drug is given as an IV infusion on a regular schedule (for example, every two weeks). M Health Fairview now offers these anti-amyloid IV infusions to eligible patients.
These drugs are not for everyone, and they only work in patients in the early symptomatic stages of Alzheimer’s disease. If a patient is in the moderate stage of Alzheimer’s disease (e.g., the individual already requires around the clock supervision), unfortunately these drugs are not effective. While they can, on average, slow the disease down by 25-35%, they are also associated with brain swelling and brain bleeding. In a minority of patients, this can may require emergency and/or intensive care.
Additional treatments include medications to manage other disorders affecting brain health, referrals to specialists and rehabilitation experts, and consultation about lifestyle modification and medication adjustments.
To find out if anti-amyloid therapies are right for you, please visit our symptom checker.