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> Brain Donation
> Safer walking for people with dementia: approaches and technologies
> Depression & Dementia
> Anaesthesia for older people and people with dementia
> Risperidone (Risperdal) - What is it?
> Drugs used to relieve symptoms
> What You Eat & Drink and Your Brain
> Keep Your Brain Active: Mental Exercise & Dementia
> Keep on Moving: Exercise & Dementia
> Tests Used in Diagnosing Dementia
> Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI)
> Ebixa (Memantine) –What is it?
> Aluminium & Alzheimer's disease
> Treating Alzheimer's Disease and Vascular Dementia: The Use of Other Therapeutic Treatments
> Subsidies for Aricept, Exelon & Reminyl: What are the conditions?
> Licensed Drug Treatments for Alzheimer's disease in Australia: Cholinergic Treatments
Brain Donation
Update Sheet No. 17
October 2009
Dementia is an illness of the brain, with causes such as Alzheimer’s disease that damage the brain and its ability to function. In order to understand brain diseases, researchers need access to brain tissue from people generous enough to donate their brain after death. This process is organised through brain donor programs which register participants and collect medical details to assist with research into dementia that will improve our understanding of the underlying mechanisms and lead to better treatments. In Australia, the brain tissue is stored in ‘brain banks’ which coordinate its collection, storage and distribution for research. This Update Sheet provides information to help you make a decision about donating your brain and how to go about it.
Brain Donation
PDF file, 53 KB, October 2009
Safer walking for people with dementia: approaches and technologies
Update Sheet No. 16
April 2009
Walking is something that most of us take for granted, as a means of getting from place to place or getting our daily exercise. People with dementia can derive great benefit from continuing to enjoy walking, however, for some there may be an increased risk of wandering, injury or getting lost. This Update Sheet provides information about how walking can be made safer for people with dementia, and less worrying for their families and carers.
Safer walking for people with dementia: approaches and technologies
PDF file, 52 KB, April 2009
Depression & Dementia
Update Sheet No. 15
November 2007
Dementia and depression can occur separately or together and have much in common, much that is different, and much that remains to be discovered. Although it is sometimes difficult to distinguish between them, dementia and depression are different conditions requiring appropriate responses and treatment. The purpose of this Update Sheet is to help people to identify depression and to provide them with information that will help them to raise issues with their clinicians.
Update Sheet - Depression & Dementia
PDF file, 71 kB, November 2007
Anaesthesia for older people and people with dementia
Update Sheet No. 14
August 2007
For a long time, there have been anecdotal reports from family members that their older relative “has never been the same since the operation.” Some older people do experience cognitive problems or changes in behaviour after surgery with general anaesthesia, but for the majority these will be temporary problems. This Update Sheet describes the different types of problems that may occur.
Update Sheet - Anaesthesia
PDF file, 57 kB, August 2007
Risperidone (Risperdal)
Update Sheet No. 13
January 2007
Risperidone is an antipsychotic medication which is listed in Australia for the treatment of behavioural disturbances characterised by psychotic symptoms and aggression in people with dementia where non-pharmacological methods have been unsuccessful. The trade name for this drug is Risperdal.
Update Sheet - Risperidone (Risperdal) - What is it?
PDF file, 51 KB, January 2007
Drugs used to relieve behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia
Update Sheet No. 12
March 2007
People with dementia may at some point in their illness develop symptoms such as depression, anxiety, agitation, sleep disturbance, aggressive behaviour and psychosis (delusions and hallucinations). While it is important to try to understand and address the underlying reasons for these problems, it may be necessary at times to prescribe medication if the symptoms are distressing, persistent and have not responded to psychological treatments. This update sheet describes the different types of drugs that may be prescribed.
Update Sheet - Drugs Used to Relieve Symptoms
PDF file, 58 KB, March 2007
What You Eat & Drink and Your Brain
Update Sheet No. 11
June 2008
Diet is one factor researchers are investigating for its role in preventing or reducing the risk of dementia and for the assistance it provides to people who have dementia.
Update Sheet - What You Eat & Drink and your brain
PDF file, 48 KB, June 2008
Keep Your Brain Active: Mental Exercise & Dementia
Update Sheet No. 10
June 2008
Exercising the brain is an important, enjoyable part of everyday life for everyone. It has a part to play in a positive, healthy lifestyle in the same way as physical exercise. Stimulating leisure activities such as social participation and communication are also thought to be important in maintaining a healthy brain.
Update Sheet - Keep Your Brain Active
PDF file, 40 KB, June 2008
Keep on Moving: Exercise & Dementia
Update Sheet No. 9
June 2008
How Can Exercise Help with Alzheimer’s Disease and Vascular
Dementia? Physical exercise is an important part of a healthy lifestyle, contributing to general fitness, muscular control and coordination, and to a sense of wellbeing. Physical exercise is also essential for maintaining good blood flow to the brain and may encourage new brain cells. Exercise is therefore one of the factors researchers are considering for its role in preventing or reducing the risk of people developing dementia and for the benefits it offers to people with dementia.
Update Sheet - Keep on Moving - Physical Exercise and Dementia
PDF file, 44 KB, June 2008
Tests Used in Diagnosing Dementia
Update Sheet No. 8
June 2008
This Update Sheet explains the more common tests and assessments doctors currently use to diagnose dementia. There is no one diagnostic test for Alzheimer’s disease or for most other causes of dementia. Doctors use a number of different tests and assessments to determine whether symptoms fit certain criteria and to rule out other possible causes of these symptoms. This sheet will help you to understand the process involved in diagnosing dementia. Those who are being assessed for dementia will find it helpful to be prepared for what, for some people, can be a long and emotionally difficult process.
Update Sheet - Tests used in diagnosing dementia
PDF file, 52 KB, June 2008
Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI)
Update Sheet No. 7
June 2008
Memory loss has long been accepted as a normal part of ageing. Recently there has been increasing recognition that some people experience a level of memory loss greater than that usually experienced with ageing, but without other signs of dementia. This has been termed Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). As MCI has only recently been defined, there is limited research on it and there is much that we do not yet understand. This Update Sheet provides some basic information about MCI and what it means to be told that you have MCI.
Update Sheet - Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI)
PDF file, 45 KB, June 2008
Ebixa (Memantine) –What is it?
Update Sheet No. 6
July 2008
A drug is available which could help delay the more severe symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. This drug is currently approved in Australia for people with moderately-severe to severe Alzheimer's disease. The generic name for this drug is memantine. It is marketed under the name of Ebixa by Lundbeck Australia Pty Ltd.
Update Sheet - Ebixa (Memantine)
PDF file, 44 KB, July 2008
Aluminium & Alzheimer's disease
Update Sheet No. 5
June 2008
Aluminium is one of a number of factors that has been suggested as a cause for Alzheimer’s disease. This Update Sheet examines the role of aluminium in the body and the evidence for a connection between aluminium and Alzheimer’s disease.
Update Sheet - Aluminium
PDF file, 34 KB, June 2008
Treating Alzheimer's Disease & Vascular Dementia: The Use of Other Therapeutic Treatments
Update Sheet No. 3
June 2008
This Update Sheet covers alternatives to drug treatments for dementia, including oestrogen, folate, vitamin E and Gingko. It also advises questioning your doctor about any of the listed alternative treatments.
Update Sheet - The Use of Other Therapeutic Treatments
PDF file, 48 KB, June 2008
Subsidies for Aricept, Exelon and Reminyl: What are the conditions?
Update Sheet No. 2
June 2008
Aricept, Exelon and Reminyl are now approved for listing on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Schedule (PBS) but only for people with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease and subject to certain conditions. This Update Sheet provides information about the conditions that need to be met in order to receive these medications at the subsidised rate.
Update Sheet - Subsidies for Aricept, Exelon and Reminyl
PDF file, 40 KB, June 2008
Licensed Drug Treatments for Alzheimer's disease in Australia: Cholinergic Treatments
Update Sheet No. 1
June 2008
This update Sheet provides information about how these drug treatments work, who might benefit and what questions people with dementia, their families and carers should ask their doctor before being prescribed any of these drugs.
Update Sheet - Licensed Drug Treatments
PDF file, 45 KB, June 2008
Contact Us
Alzheimer's Australia is the national peak body for people living with dementia, their families and carers and provides leadership in policy and services. To find out more, contact us or call the National Dementia Helpline on 1800 100 500.
These publications provide a general summary only of the subject matter covered. People should seek professional advice about the specific case. Alzheimer's Australia is not liable for any error or omission in this publication, even if negligent.
updated: 27 October 2009
created: 11 March 2003
