When someone is diagnosed with dementia, dementia drugs, medications designed to slow cognitive decline in conditions like Alzheimer’s disease. Also known as cognitive enhancers, they don’t cure dementia—but for some people, they can help manage symptoms long enough to maintain independence, reduce caregiver stress, and buy precious time. These aren’t like antibiotics that clear an infection. They’re more like a brace for a weak ankle: they don’t fix the damage, but they help you move better while it heals—or at least while you adapt.
The most common cholinesterase inhibitors, a class of drugs that boost levels of acetylcholine, a brain chemical critical for memory and learning. Also known as AChE inhibitors, they include donepezil, rivastigmine, and galantamine. These are usually the first line of treatment for mild to moderate Alzheimer’s. They work by stopping the enzyme that breaks down acetylcholine, giving the brain more of it to work with. But they’re not magic. Studies show they might delay memory loss by a few months to a year in some people—enough to make daily routines easier, but not enough to stop progression. Side effects like nausea, diarrhea, or dizziness are common, and many people stop taking them because of it.
Then there’s memantine, a drug that regulates glutamate, another brain chemical that can become toxic in high amounts during advanced dementia. Also known as Namenda, it’s often used in moderate to severe cases, either alone or with a cholinesterase inhibitor. Unlike the others, memantine doesn’t target memory directly—it protects brain cells from overstimulation. It’s less likely to cause stomach upset, but it doesn’t make people suddenly remember their grandchildren’s names. What it can do is reduce agitation, confusion, or pacing in later stages, making life a little calmer for patients and caregivers alike.
Here’s the hard truth: no dementia drug stops the disease. None reverse damage. And many people—especially those with vascular dementia or Lewy body dementia—won’t respond to them at all. That’s why it’s so important to ask your doctor: Is this drug meant to help me or just to make someone feel like they’re doing something? Too often, these pills are prescribed out of habit, not evidence. The NHS doesn’t recommend them for mild cognitive impairment, and many experts now say they should be used only when symptoms clearly affect daily life.
What’s missing from most conversations? Non-drug options. Exercise, social engagement, structured routines, and even music therapy have stronger evidence for improving quality of life than many of these pills. And yet, doctors still write more prescriptions for memantine than they do for referrals to occupational therapists. That’s not because drugs work better—it’s because they’re easier to hand out.
The posts below dig into real-world comparisons: how dementia drugs stack up against each other, what the side effects really look like in practice, and when skipping medication altogether might be the smarter move. You’ll find breakdowns of what each drug actually does in the brain, how long it takes to see any effect (if at all), and which patients benefit most. No fluff. No marketing. Just what the data and real patients show.
