As we wait for a breakthrough that can block or reverse Alzheimer's disease, there is some consolation that we finally have three kinds of medications that can tamp down or slow the progression of symptoms: cholinesterase inhibitors, memantine, and a monoclonal antibody called lecanemab.

Cholinesterase inhibitors increase levels of a chemical messenger called acetylcholine, which promotes alertness, memory, and thought processing. According to experts, these medications can roll back memory loss by six to 12 months (as long as you stay on them), but they don't ultimately keep the disease from progressing.

Memantine impacts the effects of glutamate and dopamine — chemicals that help send messages involved in memory between nerve cells. It takes up to three months to see even minor benefits, but can let some people continue to manage daily tasks such as dressing themselves for a longer time.

And for those in the early stages of Alzheimer's, lecanemab slows the buildup of amyloid plaques in the brain. While the medication doesn't stop new plaques from forming, it does slow down their accumulation.

A different approach is Therapeutic Plasma Exchange. In a large, randomized study called AMBAR (initially published in 2020 in the journal Alzheimer's & Dementia), researchers found that the procedure reversed cognitive decline in the near term, and that the effects persisted long after treatment was stopped. Stay tuned.

Also, check out Dr. Mike's "The Great Age Reboot" for info on more than 40 ways to reduce your risk of Alzheimer’s disease.