Alzheimer's & Dementias: A death sentence or are there options?

Alzheimer’s, Dementias:  a death sentence or are there options? (click here for more information)

Statistis for Alzheimers and other dementias are steadily getting worse.  If you or a loved on is experiencing cognitive challenges, make sure you read this website.

Western new medicine, ie., your standard allopathic medicine claims that there are no cures for Alzeheimers or any of the dementias. That they are degenerative diseases and things only get progressively worse.  Costs are huge.  Allopathic medicine does not cure. 

Yet, repeatedly we find both here and around the world – amazing results. We cannot say that anything cures, because the pharmaceutical companies made it illegal for anyone to claim that anything other than a synthetic, pharmaceutical product can cure.

Yet, we can go back to Hippocrates, the father of Western medicine who claimed that “food is our medicine and our medicine is our food”!!

So lets look at some of the evidence that says we can have a huge impact on Alzeheimer’s.  Below are a list of some of the UTubes, Websites, Studies, and sources for reducing and reversing Alzheimer's and other Dementias. 

1) Glutathione can help prevent and or lessen the effects of Alzheimer’s disease in a few ways. GSH works as a detoxifier.

• A blood protein that interacts with heavy metals has long been suspect as being related to Alzheimer’s disease. Studies that demonstrating benefits from Ginko would seem to indicate the elimination of plaque buildup would relieve the symptoms.
• Antioxidant therapy has been shown to be beneficial. The effect of androgynous (external source) antioxidants are enhanced by improved glutathione levels.
• http://www.glutathionediseasecure.com/mental-neurological-disorders.html

2) The List of 71 Diseases or Conditions (that Glutathione effect)

• There are 71 glutathione improving conditions or diseases. If this sounds unbelievable, consider: This list is compiled from scientific research in peer reviewed articles. This is not from self published reports that were created by the owners of products as is true with some MLM companies. This is from legitimate scientific research.
• You can now use this research to solve your health problems. The vitamin and mineral companies do not want you to know that there are simple, easy and effective ways to boost your glutathione. What’s more, these ways are considerably less expensive than what the MLM companies charge. They can be safer and more effective than what the supplement companies promote.
• This list is being posted in April 2011 and is not complete. Please check back as we further develop this list.

General Conditions

• Anti-aging (aging management)
• bacteria infections
• Viruses, viral infections
• Cancer prevention
• Chronic fatigue syndrome
• Digestion diseases
• Gout
• Inflammation
• Radiation treatment
• Radiation Prevention

Brain, Mental Neurological

• Depression
• Sleep disturbances
• Parkinson's
• Alzheimer's
• Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis-Symptoms (ALS)
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Autism
• ADHD
• Headaches
• Trichotillomania

Etc

http://www.glutathionediseasecure.com/mental-neurological-disorders.html

3) View a nine part short video series on “Preventing and Reversal of Alzheimer’s Disease”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1FmK4582mA

4) a)  Nutrition and Supplements

• Phosphatidylserine (100 mg 3 times per day), a substance occurring naturally in the brain, shows promise in several studies. This supplement may increase levels of brain chemicals that deal with memory, according to several studies. Do not take phosphatidylserine if you are taking anticoagulants (blood thinners), and use caution if combining it with ginkgo for the same reason. There are great differences in quality among phosphatidylserine supplements. You should consider spending more for a more expensive brand, as they tend to be better than cheaper brands.
• · Antioxidants may protect against the development of dementia. They may even slow the progression of dementia. In some studies, but not all, vitamin E (400 - 800 IU per day) combined with Aricept may slow cognitive decline in people with Alzheimer' s disease. Another antioxidant, coenzyme Q10 (10 - 50 mg 3 times per day), may also help the brain get more oxygen. The skins of dark berries also provide valuable antioxidants. Many naturally-oriented physicians recommend eating half a cup of frozen blueberries daily -- freezing makes the antioxidants in the skin more easily absorbed.
• · Vitamins: biotin (300 mcg); B1 (50 - 100 mg), B2 (50 mg), B6 (50 - 100 mg), B12 (100 - 1,000 mcg), folic acid (400 - 1,000 mcg). No scientific evidence shows a direct benefit, but B12 and folic acid lower the levels of an amino acid in the blood that is often elevated in Alzheimer's patients. Injections of B12 may have the best results.
• · Zinc (30 - 40 mg per day) is often deficient in elderly people, and may help improve memory.
• · Some evidence suggests that L-arginine, an amino acid, may help in vascular dementia by increasing blood flow to the brain. The dose used was 1.6 g each day for 3 months.
• · Essential fatty acids, such as those found in alpha linolenic acid (ALA), borage oil, and evening primrose oil, may help reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease. Dietary changes include eating fewer animal fats and more fish.

    b)  Herbs

• The use of herbs is a time honored approach to strengthening the body and treating disease. Herbs, however, can trigger side effects and can interact with other herbs, supplements, or medications. For these reasons, you should take herbs with care, under the supervision of a health care provider.
• · Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) shows the best evidence for treating early Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia. It may be taken in a standardized extract of 40 - 50 mg 3 times per day. If you are taking blood thinning medication, use ginkgo only under the supervision of your doctor.
• · Huperzine A, a chemical made from the plant Huperzia serrata, may improve memory in both vascular and Alzheimer's dementia, according to several studies in China. However, more studies are needed to know for sure. The usual dose is 200 mcg twice a day. Do not take huperzine A if you have liver disease or if you are about to have anesthesia.
• · One study showed that lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) helped improve cognitive function in people with mild to moderate Alzheimer's. The dose used was 60 drops per day.
• · Bacopa (Bacopa monnieri) leaf extract, called Brahmi, is used in Ayurvedic or Indian medicine to improve brain function and learning. However, no scientific studies have looked at bacopa to see whether it might help lessen symptoms of dementia. One study found that taking 300 mg of bacopa per day for 12 weeks seemed to improve cognition in healthy people.
• · Lavender may be effective in terms of alleviating agitation associated with dementia. Lavender is not used internally but rather as an aromatherapy agent.

    c)  Homeopathy

• Although few studies have examined the effectiveness of specific homeopathic therapies, professional homeopaths may consider remedies, based on their knowledge and experience, for treating dementia. Before prescribing a remedy, homeopaths take into account a person's constitutional type -- your physical, emotional, and psychological makeup. An experienced homeopath assesses all of these factors when determining the most appropriate treatment for each individual. Some of the most common remedies used for dementia are listed below.
• · Alumina -- for dullness of mind, vagueness, slow answers to questions
• · Argentum nitricum -- for dementia with irritability, especially with lack of control over impulses
• · Cicuta -- for dementia after head injuries, especially with convulsions
• · Helleborus -- for stupefaction, when a person answers questions slowly and stares vacantly
• · Silica -- for mental deterioration with anxiety over small details

http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/dementia-000046.htm

5)    Since most dementia patients are elderly, there probably isn't too much we can do to realistically alter the lifestyle. However, there is one thing, albeit it controversial, that should be addressed. That is the matter of aluminum which has been shown in some studies to be a causative factor in Alzheimer's disease. The main sources of aluminum in our environment are cookware, cigarette filters, and antiperspirants. These sources of aluminum should definitely be eliminated from the environment. If there has been excessive exposure to aluminum in the patient's life, it would be a good idea to have a hair analysis for toxic metals. If high in aluminum or other toxic metals, you can follow protocols for their removal.

• The second concern for most senior citizens is good nutrition. The Center for Disease Control says we all should eat 5 servings of fruits and vegetables, preferably raw, a day. Very few of us do that, let alone seniors. An excellent dietary supplement which is comparable to the five servings is called Juice Plus . It is fruits and vegetables juiced, dried and condensed into a capsule. You may visit www.juiceplus.com for more information on Juice Plus. Fruits and vegetables are nature's source of antioxidants. Our antioxidant status deteriorates with age and the need is compounded in patents with Alzheimer's.
• Your third concern is food supplements. The nutrients which have been found deficient and helpful in Alzheimer's and dementia are listed below.
• Folic acid is a vitamin found commonly deficient in patients with a variety of psychiatric illnesses. Your physician can test your blood level. If deficient, a supplementation of 2-10 mg. daily or as directed by your physician or nutritionist should help.
• Vitamin B6 is commonly deficient in Alzheimer's patients. There are little to no risks with B6 supplementation at a level of 100-200 mg. per day.
• Vitamin B12 has been found to be helpful. You should have your physician measure the blood B12 and supplement, probably with injections or sublingual tablets accordingly.
• Antioxidants including Vitamin E (d-alpha tocopherol) at 400-800 i.u. per day, Vitamin C at 1000-5000 mg. or bowel tolerance per day, and zinc have been shown to be of benefit .
• Phosphatidyl choline or lecithin has been associated with Alzheimer's and dementia and supplementation may be of benefit. Choline is an important brain chemical and should be a part of every patient's supplement regimen. You should be careful to read the label because there is a great variation in the content of different products. The usual dose of phosphatidyl choline in the studies was 20-25 grams in divided doses per day.
• Another promising supplement is glycerylphosphorylcholine (GPC) . GPC is a choline precursor which means it is involved in one of the steps of choline metabolism. It has been found to be effective in improving patients' clinical conditions in a number of studies. It is sold as a prescription drug in Europe but as a food supplement in the U.S.

http://www.rxalternativemedicine.com/articles/dementia.html

6) Treatments that have been shown to be useful for people with dementia

a)  Herbal medicine

• Herbal medicine is the use of plants to restore or maintain health. Phytomedicine is a term often used to denote a more scientific approach to herbal medicine, where, for example, products are standardised and concentrated to contain specified amounts of the identified active substances in the herbal products. More rigorous research is also usually undertaken.
• There is variation in the quality and, therefore, the levels of the active constituents of herbal products. Herbal medicines are generally regulated as foodstuffs or dietary supplements in the UK. As such, there is the potential for self-medication, as they can be bought over the counter from most health food shops. If you are interested in selfmedication, consult your doctor first and buy a recognised brand by a leading manufacturer.
• Silymarin
• Silymarin is an extract of milk thistle (silybum marianum L), a tall herb with prickly leaves and a milky sap. Native to the Mediterranean region of Europe, it is now naturalised in California and the eastern USA.
• Silymarin is alleged to help the functioning of the liver. It may reduce the side-effects experienced with Tacrine (a conventional drug used to treat dementia, not available in the UK) that may cause liver problems. One study found that 420mg of Silymarin a day seemed to reduce the number of cases of liver toxicity in those taking it and found that the drug was well tolerated.
• Choto-san
• 'Kanpo' is a Japanese variant of Chinese traditional medicine. The 'Kanpo' mixture Choto-san, which contains 11 medicinal plants, has been the subject of investigation. A research study found an improvement over 12 weeks in patients with vascular dementia taking Choto-san. Further research on this preparation seems warranted.
• Kami-Umtan-To
• Another Kanpo mixture, Kami-Umtan-To (KUT), which contains 13 different plants, has also been investigated. The KUT review reports that a clinical trial found a slower decline in the group given this preparation.
• Yizhi capsule
• The Chinese traditional herbal medicine Yizhi capsule (YZC) has also been the subject of investigation. Two studies used patients with vascular dementia. However, although both reported positive results, the studies were not of a high standard. Further research into this preparation also seems warranted.

http://alzheimers.org.uk/site/scripts/documents_info.php?documentID=134

7) More options:

http://www.biogetica.com/cure-dementia.php

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