Treatments
Dementia information
Depending on the cause of a person’s MCI, the doctor may prescribe medications to help.
In this section:
New dementia treatments are only possible because people take part in research.
Below, you can hear from Larry and his wife Rita about their experience taking part in drug trials for dementia after receiving a diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment.
Are there treatments for mild cognitive impairment?
For people where the underlying cause of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a treatable condition, like a thyroid disorder or vitamin deficiency, their doctor may prescribe treatments to manage the condition.
Research is being carried out into non-drug treatments for MCI, such as memory training and computer-based brain training. So far, the results have been mixed.
The doctor may suggest practical tips to help manage symptoms, like keeping a calendar or diary. They may also recommend some ways to improve your brain health.
It is sometimes hard for a doctor to know exactly what is causing a person’s MCI and in these cases there may be no suitable treatments. These people can still take steps to protect their brain health while they wait for answers.
In people who have MCI which is caused by the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease, there are two new medications licensed to slow down the underlying disease. They are not available through the NHS.
Downloads
Dementia information
Read more about treatments for dementia, including information on treating depression, anxiety and agitation and for information on antipsychotics.
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PDF, 1.25 MB, 13 pages
Find out more
You can find out more about current diagnosis and treatments for each type of dementia on the following pages:
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Alzheimer's Research UK has a wide range of information about dementia. Order booklets or download them from our online form.
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This information was updated in November 2025 and is due to be reviewed in November 2027. It was written by Alzheimer’s Research UK’s Information Services team with input from lay and expert reviewers. Please get in touch if you’d like a version with references or in a different format.
This information is produced with support from The Perfume Shop who had no input into the content.
