Start tracking treatment

Make sure to partner with your doctor

If you or a loved one has been prescribed an Alzheimer's medication, it may help to monitor any changes over the coming months and jot down quick notes about them. Sharing this information with the doctor can help them make any modifications to treatment that may be needed. To get going, think about changes in these three categories:

1. Activities (These may include activities like talking with others, reading, eating, or using the toilet.)
2. Behavior (This may include things like overall mood, motivation, irritation, impatience, sadness, or other changes in behavior.)
3. Cognition (This may include things like memory and understanding, the ability to make sense of familiar situations, remember words, recognize family and friends, or asking the same question over and over again.)

Set treatment expectations

When you talk to the doctor about tracking treatment, try to set treatment expectations with them also. They can let you know what would be some realistic goals to work toward. Some symptoms may improve, some may stay the same, and some may get worse.

After you work with the doctor to form a plan, share it with your family so they can know what to expect also.

Why staying on treatment is important

Alzheimer's is an illness that gets worse over time. Don't forget, with an Alzheimer's treatment, even a small improvement, no change, or a slower decline in symptoms may make a difference. Slowing the symptoms of Alzheimer's may mean still being able to dress, make phone calls, or bathe without help a while longer. Think of the difference that could make for you or your loved one.

It may take several weeks or longer to start seeing the benefits of treatment, so make sure to keep taking the medication as prescribed by the doctor. If you have questions about what to expect with treatment, make sure to ask the doctor.