Treatments
young onset dementia
There are treatments for some types of young onset dementia that can help with symptoms.
Your doctor may prescribe these after a diagnosis. You may also benefit from different types of therapy that helps people to communicate and feel better about their diagnosis.
In this section:
Treatments for young onset dementia
Go to section:
Medications for Alzheimer’s, posterior cortical atrophy and dementia with Lewy bodies
Medications for memory and thinking
There are drug treatments available on prescription that can help relieve some symptoms of young onset Alzheimer’s, PCA and dementia with Lewy bodies when symptoms are mild or moderate.
They are known as cholinesterase inhibitors:
Another drug called memantine may be given to people with these conditions who have moderate to severe symptoms. Memantine can also be prescribed to those with moderate symptoms when cholinesterase inhibitors don’t help or are not suitable.
Some people may be offered both a cholinesterase inhibitor and memantine at the same time.
These treatments don’t slow down the underlying disease, but they can help with some of the symptoms.
Once your treatment has started, it may be continued and monitored by either your doctor or memory clinic.
New Alzheimer's treatments
There are two treatments available privately that can slow down early Alzheimer’s.
They are not suitable for everyone, and they are not available on the NHS.
Medications for movement problems in DLB
Levodopa is a drug prescribed in DLB that can help with movement symptoms. Medications like antidepressants can help with changes in mood.
Treatments for vascular dementia
There are currently no specific treatments for vascular dementia.
However, a doctor may prescribe or monitor medicines taken to treat the underlying conditions like high blood pressure, that can damage blood vessels.
Treatments for frontotemporal dementia
Unfortunately, there are no medications currently available to treat frontotemporal dementia.
Therapies focus on helping people with the disease manage their symptoms in everyday life.
Treatments for Parkinson’s disease
There is no cure for Parkinson’s disease, but there are some treatments that can help with symptoms.
Levodopa is a drug prescribed in Parkinson’s disease that can help with movement symptoms. It is usually offered to people whose movement problems affect day-to-day life.
People with movement problems that don’t affect day-to-day life may be offered a choice of treatments:
- levodopa
- dopamine agonists
- monoamine oxidase-B (MAO-B) inhibitors.
There are other treatments available for people with severe symptoms, such as catechol-O-methyltransferase inhibitors. There are also treatments that don’t need to be swallowed for people who find it difficult.
Some people may be suitable for deep brain stimulation (DBS). This involves an operation to place a small device under the skin of the chest. Thin wires run from this device to specific areas of the brain. The device sends small electrical signals through the wires, which can help reduce certain symptoms.
Medications like antidepressants can help with other symptoms like changes in mood.
Your doctor will be able to tell you more about treatment options.
Complementary therapies for young onset dementia
There are several types of cognitive therapy that may benefit people with young onset dementia.
For example, cognitive stimulation activities are designed to stimulate thinking skills and engage people affected, with an emphasis on enjoyment and group activities. The benefits of cognitive stimulation for people with dementia can include improvement in mood, thinking skills and quality of life.
People with young onset dementia may be offered social support or different types of talking therapies, depending on their needs and personal situation. Talking therapies, such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and counselling, can help with common symptoms of depression and anxiety. They provide an opportunity for people to talk about their concerns with a specialist and develop different ways of coping, thinking and behaving.
Downloads
Dementia information
This booklet aims to give an introduction to young onset dementia. It’s for anyone who might be worried about themselves or somebody else.
-
PDF, 3.8 MB, 17 pages
Read more about treatments for dementia, including information on treating depression, anxiety and agitation and for information on antipsychotics.
-
PDF, 5.82 MB, 15 pages
Order health information
Alzheimer's Research UK has a wide range of information about dementia. Order booklets or download them from our online form.
Complete the survey
Was this information helpful?
Let us know what you think by filling out this short survey.
This information was updated in March 2026 and is due for review in March 2028. 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 referenced copy.
This information is produced with support from The Perfume Shop who had no input into the content.
