MYTH’S ABOUT ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE: TREATMENT

1) Miracle drugs for diseases such as Alzheimer’s are heavily promoted in the news, in magazines and especially on the Internet. Several products claim to cure Alzheimer's and even prevent it from ever occurring. Many of these products claim to be herbal or all natural. However, these claims do not mean the products are safe. In most cases there is not enough scientific evidence backing these products — neither proving their effectiveness nor disproving the existence of harmful side effects.
Products currently promoted as Alzheimer treatments include Ginkgo biloba, Hyuperzine A, Coenzyme Q10 and Phosphatidyl serine.
2) Ginkgo biloba is a plant extract containing several compounds that may have positive effects on cells within the brain and the body. Ginkgo biloba is thought to have both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, to protect cell membranes, and to regulate neurotransmitter function.
A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (October 22/29, 1997), Pierre L. Le Bars, M.D., Ph.D., of the New York Institute for Medical Research, and colleagues. Researchers found that modest improvements took place in cognition, activities of daily living (such as eating and dressing), and social behavior — but no measurable difference was noticed in overall impairment. Further study of ginkgo biloba is necessary to fully understand its potential therapeutic value in treating individuals with Alzheimer’s. Few side effects are associated with the use of ginkgo as a dietary supplement, although it is known to reduce the ability of blood to clot, potentially leading to more serious conditions, such as hemorrhaging. This possibility of hemorrhaging may increase if ginkgo biloba is taken in combination with other anticoagulants, such as aspirin.
3) Huperzine -A is an herbal supplement derived from the club moss Huperzia serrata. It has been used for centuries in Chinese traditional medicine as a treatment for swelling, fever and blood disorders. Research suggests that huperzine A (HupA) functions as a cholinesterase inhibitor and that it may also have chemical properties that help protect nerve cells, but large-scale clinical trials are needed to confirm that huperzine is effective in treating Alzheimer’s disease. Pending results of large-scale trials, most experts recommend against use of huperzine A because there are cholinesterase inhibitors approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) available. Under no circumstances should an individual who is already taking an FDA-approved cholinesterase inhibitor begin taking huperzine A in addition to the prescribed drug.
4) Coenzyme Q10, or ubiquinone, is an antioxidant that occurs naturally in the body and is needed for normal cell reactions to occur. This compound has not been studied for its effectiveness in treating Alzheimer’s. A synthetic version of this compound, called idebenone, was tested for Alzheimer’s disease but did not show favorable results. Little is known about what dosage of coenzyme Q10 is considered safe, and there could be harmful effects if too much is taken.
5) Phosphatidylserine is a kind of lipid, or fat, that is the primary component of cell membranes of neurons. In Alzheimer’s disease and similar disorders, neurons degenerate for reasons that are not yet understood. The strategy behind the possible treatment with phosphatidylserine is to shore up the cell membrane and possibly protect cells from degenerating. The first clinical trials with phosphatidylserine were conducted with a form derived from the brain cells of cows. Some of these trials had promising results. However, most trials were with small samples of participants. This line of investigation came to an end in the 1990s over concerns about mad cow disease. A report was published in 2000 about a clinical trial with 18 participants with age-associated memory impairment who were treated with phosphatidylserine. The authors concluded that the results were encouraging but that there would need to be large carefully controlled trials to determine if this could be a viable treatment.
6) Coral calcium: “Coral” calcium supplements have been heavily marketed as a cure for Alzheimer’s disease, cancer and other serious illnesses. Coral calcium is a form of calcium carbonate claimed to be derived from the shells of formerly living organisms that once made up coral reefs.
In June 2003, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) filed a formal complaint against the promoters and distributors of coral calcium. The agencies state that they are aware of no competent and reliable scientific evidence supporting the exaggerated health claims and that such unsupported claims are unlawful.
“Coral” calcium differs from ordinary calcium supplements only in that it contains traces of some additional minerals incorporated into the shells by the metabolic processes of the animals that formed them. It offers no extraordinary health benefits. Most experts recommend that individuals who need to take a calcium supplement for bone health take a purified preparation marketed by a reputable manufacturer.