Natural Supplement good for Early Alzheimer's????

Question

My dad is 65, and has a failing memory, no signs of Alzheimers on the CT scan or the MRI, but the doctor put him on Aricept..he got worse and very confused after 4 weeks..we took him off of it..doing a little better, but is there anything he can take to help with alertness, memory and energy??

Thank you

Answer 1

Herbs



Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba)

Ginkgo is widely used in Europe for treating dementia. It improves blood flow in the brain and contains flavonoids (plant substances) that act as antioxidants. Although many of the clinical trials have been scientifically flawed, the evidence that ginkgo may improve thinking, learning, and memory in people with AD has been highly promising.

Clinical studies indicate that gingko provides the following benefits for people with AD:

Improvements in thinking, learning, and memory

Improvements in daily living

Improvements in social behavior

Delayed onset of symptoms

Reduced symptoms of depression

Recommended dosages for ginkgo range between 120 to 240 mg per day. Reported side effects have been minor, but ginkgo should not be taken with blood-thinning medications (such as warfarin), vitamin E, or a class of antidepressants called monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs).

Preliminary studies indicate that the following herbs may also slow the progression of AD and improve memory and behavior:

Asian ginseng (Panax ginseng) and American ginseng (Panax quinquefolium)

Nicotine (Nicotiana tobaccum)

Huperzine (Huperzia serrata)

Snowdrop (Galanthus nivalus)

Physostigmine (Physostigma venenosa)

Although the following herbs have not been investigated in clinical studies, a professional herbalist may recommend the following for people with AD:

Sage (Salvia officinalis)

Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis)

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)

Peony (Paeonia suffruticosa)

Guarana (Paullinia cupana)

Gotu kola (Centella asiatica)

Answer 2

There seems to be some link between Alzheimer's and magnesium levels that you can find in a web search for magnesium + alzheimer's.

Answer 3

Huperzine A

A double-blind, placebo-controlled study evaluated 103 people with Alzheimer's Disease who received either huperzine A or placebo twice daily for 8 weeks.18  About 60% of the treated participants showed improvements in memory, thinking, and behavioral functions compared to 36% of the placebo-treated group, and the difference was significant. Benefits were also seen in an earlier double-blind trial using injected huperzine in 160 individuals with dementia or other memory disorders

and Ginkgo

Fairly good evidence indicates that ginkgo is effective for Alzheimer's disease and other severe forms of memory and mental function decline; when used for this purpose, it appears to be as effective as standard drugs

Answer 4

One of the safest and most effective things he can take is Fish Oil.  The compound that you want specificly for him is a substance in that is called DHA.  This substance helps the brain to function normally and I've heard very good things about it from other Alzheimers patients.

You can give him straight fish oil (either liquid or in capsules,) or straight DHA.  If taking fish oil, I would take a little more than what the label indicates however.  If it says to take one teaspoon, I would take two or three.  If it says to take two capsules a day, I would take four or six.  If you decide to go with DHA itself, I would still take more, probably double the amount recomended on the label.

My favorite brand is Nordic Naturals for both puriety and potency.  J. R. Carlson also makes a bang up fish oil.

I would not take Ginko Biloba as it can have blood thinning properties like asprin.  It can also mix with other medications if he is on them.  If that is not an issue, then it could be a good choice also.