Question: With dementia, what medicine can treat it, and will you try and find a cure for it

Maria Whatton answered on 28 Mar 2022:

There are a range of medicines which can help to temporarily reduce symptoms (called Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors). These work by preventing an enzyme from breaking down a substance called acetylcholine in the brain, which helps nerve cells communicate with each other. There are some other medicines which can be used to relive symptoms such as anxiety and aggression which some patients might have. However there is no cure yet, and this is a big area of research. I have been involved in projects looking to find a cure for dementia, and there are many new drugs starting clinical trials, so I am hopefully we will have some new medicines in the next few years.