Reversing Alzheimer's: What Families Should Know About the Facts

Do you have an older loved one in Oklahoma City, OK, and worry about them developing Alzheimer's disease (AD)?

Your worry is understandable, given this condition's prevalence. According to the Alzheimer's Association's 2025 Oklahoma Alzheimer's Statistics, in Oklahoma alone, 70,500 adults 65 and older live with this condition (as of 2020).

As a loving family member, you may have wondered if there's a possibility of curing or reversing Alzheimer's.

So, is there? What treatment options are available for this condition, and can you do anything to help reduce your loved one's odds of getting Alzheimer's?

In this dementia awareness guide, the kind and compassionate team at Morada Lake Hefner, our warm and welcoming assisted living community in the peaceful, beautiful, nature-surrounded Oklahoma City, OK, has shared Alzheimer's facts for families, so please read on.

Reversing Alzheimer's: The Truth

You may have seen products, such as senior brain health supplements, promising to cure or reverse the signs of Alzheimer's. As the Alzheimer's Foundation notes, the Food and Drug Administration says such claims are expansive and unsupported. If they sound too good to be true, they most likely are, and consumers should steer clear of them.

After all, experts have yet to find a way to reverse Alzheimer's. The U.S. CDC states there's currently no known cure for AD. However, treatments and therapies are available to enhance the quality of life of individuals with this condition.

Furthermore, scientific research on Alzheimer's is ongoing.

For instance, UCLA Health cited a study's findings regarding the effects of a molecule called DDL-920 on AD. The study, conducted by UCLA researchers, discovered that the compound had a restorative impact on the cognitive functions of mice genetically modified to exhibit Alzheimer's symptoms. The researchers say that if further research can prove that the molecule has the same effects on humans, it could revitalize cognition and memory in people with AD.

What Treatments Are Available for Alzheimer's?

Treatments for Alzheimer's disease include medications and non-drug approaches. They can't cure or reverse AD, but they can help manage the symptoms of the condition. Some may also help slow the disease's progression.

The primary objectives of Alzheimer's treatments and therapies are to help people living with this condition preserve their abilities to perform activities of daily living (ADLs) and maintain some semblance of independence. Achieving these goals allows them to enjoy a better quality of life despite their condition.

Medications

Several medications have received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as treatment for Alzheimer's disease. They include cholinesterase inhibitors (e.g., donepezil, galantamine, and rivastigmine). Such drugs may help improve cognitive function and memory in individuals with mild to moderate AD.

Memantine is another, used to treat moderate to severe Alzheimer's. Because it helps protect nerve cells, it may enhance awareness, memory, and the ability to perform ADLs.

Lecanemab and donanemab are two newer FDA-approved medications to help slow Alzheimer's. They work by clearing amyloid plaques in individuals with mild cases of AD, dementia, or cognitive impairment.

Antidepressants and antipsychotics may also help individuals with Alzheimer's who experience mental health problems alongside or as a result of AD.

Non-Drug Approaches

Non-medicated therapies may also help older adults with Alzheimer's manage symptoms and improve quality of life. Their goal is to engage the senses and stimulate cognitive functions. Examples are:

Cognitive stimulation therapy
Reminiscence therapy
Arts therapy
Music therapy

Regular participation in physical, social, and recreational activities can also benefit seniors. Such experiences can help them stay connected while having fun, both of which can stimulate the brain and prevent feelings of isolation and loneliness.

Can You Help Older Loved Ones Reduce Their Risks of Alzheimer's?

There's no guaranteed way to prevent Alzheimer's. Still, there are ways to help aging loved ones lower their risk or potentially delay AD's onset. Let's explore some.

Understanding Cognitive Decline

According to Alzheimer's Disease International, there are at least 14 modifiable risk factors for dementia. Modifying them all may delay, even prevent, up to 45% of cases. From physical inactivity to smoking, lack of social contact, and excessive alcohol consumption, these are just some examples of such risk factors.

By knowing more about cognitive decline, including Alzheimer's and dementia risk factors, you can:

Proactively monitor your aging loved one's brain health
Determine if they have modifiable risk factors
Intervene early to help them address risk factors

You can learn more about AD and dementia through elder care education and training programs, such as those offered by the Oklahoma Dementia Care Network (OkDCN) and the Oklahoma Healthy Aging Initiative (OHAI).

Encouraging Loved Ones to Lead Healthier Lifestyles

Does your older family member:

Live at home alone
Have infrequent social contact
Rarely engage in physical activity
Have an increasing need for ADL assistance

If so, consider encouraging your loved one to age gracefully in a warm and welcoming senior living community specializing in assisted living care.

An excellent example is Morada Lake Hefner, our assisted living community in Oklahoma City, OK. Here, residents can rely on highly tailored personal care and support 24/7. We assist them with ADLs they need help with while respecting their autonomy and empowering them to do things they can still do independently.

We also keep our residents engaged with a robust calendar of daily events and activities, which is part of our community's many amenities and services. Examples are:

Rousing games
Educational classes
Wellness programs
Music entertainment
Pet therapy

At Morada Lake Hefner, rest assured your loved one will always have something fun to do for recreation, socialization, mental stimulation, and physical activity.

Help Your Older Loved One Combat Alzheimer's

Reversing Alzheimer's disease isn't possible yet, but medications and non-drug therapies can help manage its symptoms, even slow its progression. Addressing modifiable risk factors and living healthier may also minimize one's risk of developing this brain condition.

At Morada Lake Hefner, we recognize the many cognitive-related problems seniors face. As such, we create tailored care plans and a supportive environment where older adults can age gracefully and healthily. From round-the-clock care to engaging daily activities and services that protect senior independence, our welcoming, pet-friendly senior living community in Oklahoma City, OK, can provide all these and more to your aging loved one.

Speak with us today to book a tour and discover why we've received national recognition as one of the best assisted living communities in 2025.