Vitacost.com Health Letter For an in-depth article on Alzheimers, read Dr. Allen Josephs Health Letter article.

Description: A brain disorder that occurs in the later years of life, causing memory loss and difficulty with day-to-day functioning.¹

Cause: Unknown, but aluminum accumulation in the brain is suspected.

Useful Supplements: Phosphatidylserine, Vitamin E, DMAE, Coenzyme Q10.

Useful Herbs: Asian ginseng, Gingko biloba.

Further information: Alzheimer’s Disease is a debilitative condition most often occurring in later life. It consists of deterioration of mental function resulting from changes in brain tissue. It occurs in approximately 1 in 1,000 people, with women affected more often than men. Symptoms can include loss of memory, difficulty naming objects, wandering attention, disorientation, and decreased ability to care for oneself. While the cause of Alzheimer’s is unknown, aluminum accumulation is a suspected cause. Another possible cause is high levels of dietary fat.²

Several supplements and herbs have been shown to slow or temporarily reverse the effects of Alzheimer’s:

Acetyl-L-carnitine, which is used by the brain in the production of neurotransmitters, has been shown to delay the progression of Alzheimer’s³. Taken in a dose of 1 gram three times daily, it can both cause short-term improvement and long-term slowing of the disease⁴. In addition to slowing the disease’s progression, acetyl-L-carnitine also appears to improve memory⁵ and improve overall ability to function⁶.

Coenzyme Q10 has been shown to increase mitochondrial functioning. When used with Iron and Vitamin B6, it has been shown to help prevent the progression of Alzheimer’s for up to two and one half years⁷.

DMAE is believed to increase levels of brain neurotransmitters. In one study, DMAE given in 600 mg doses three times daily produced some positive behavioral changes in senile patients⁸. Another study, however, did not show these positive results⁹, so the exact nature of DMAE’s effect on Alzheimer’s patients is still uncertain.

Phosphatidylserine is a lecithin-like compound which is present in the brain. It is needed for nerve transmission and its presence appears to increase the number of neurotransmitter receptor sites in the brain. Taken in doses of 100 mg three times daily, it has been shown to help improve mental function in Alzheimer’s patients¹⁰.

Vitamin E appears to be the most effective supplement for slowing the progression of Alzheimer’s Disease. In a two-year double-blind study, those patients given a 2000 IU dose of Vitamin E daily were able to perform regular daily tasks for a longer time¹¹.

Asian ginseng has been a mainstay of Chinese medicine for centuries, and has been shown to improve mental performance and memory.^{12 13} It appears to be especially effective when used in conjunction with Ginkgo biloba (see below).

Gingko Biloba has been shown in numerous studies to help patients in the early stages of Alzheimer’s.^{14 15 16} It appears to increase blood flow to the brain, allowing the brain to function more easily. It is often found in conjunction with Asian ginseng.

Supplements and Herbs to Avoid: Some studies have shown that zinc may speed the progression of Alzheimer’s disease.¹⁷ While another study have shown the opposite result¹⁸, it is probably best to consult with a health professional before taking zinc supplements.

References:

¹Munoz DG. Is exposure to aluminum a risk factor for the development of Alzheimer disease?—No. Arch Neurol 1998;737–39 [review].
²Grant, W.B. "Dietary links to Alzheimer's disease." Alz Dis Rev, 2: 42-55, 1997.
³Pettegrew JW, Klunk WE, Panchalingam K, et al. Clinical and neurochemical effects of acetyl-L-carnitine in Alzheimer’s disease. Neurobio Aging 1995;16:1–4.
⁴Calvani M, Carta A, Caruso G, et al. Action of acetyl-L-carnitine in neurodegeneration and Alzheimer’s disease. Ann NY Acad Sci 1992;663:483–86.
⁵Salvioli G, Neri M. L-acetylcarnitine treatment of mental decline in the elderly. Drugs Exp Clin Res 1994;20:169–76.
⁶Cucinotta D et al. Multicenter clinical placebo-controlled study with acetyl-L-carnitine (LAC) in the treatment of mildly demented elderly patients. Drug Development Res 1988;14:213–16.
⁷Imagawa M, Naruse S, Tsuji S, et al. Coenzyme Q10, iron, and vitamin B6 in genetically-confirmed Alzheimer’s disease. Lancet 1992;340:671.
⁸Ferris SH, Sathananthan G, Gershon S, et al. Senile dementia. Treatment with Deanol. J Am Ger Soc 1977;25:241–44.
⁹Fisman M, Mersky H, Helmes E. Double-blind trial of 2-dimethylaminoethanol in Alzheimer’s disease. Am J Psych 1981;138:970–72.
¹⁰Crook T et al. Effects of phosphatidylserine in Alzheimer’s disease. Psychopharmacol Bull 1992;28:61–66.
¹¹Sano M, Ernesto C, Thomas RG, et al. A controlled trial of selegiline, alpha-tocopherol, or both as treatment for Alzheimer’s disease. N Engl J Med 1997;336:1216–22.
¹²D’ Angelo L, Grimaldi R, et al. A double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study of a standardized ginseng extract on psychomotor performance in healthy volunteers. J Ethnopharmacol 1986;16:15–22.
¹³Owen RT. Ginseng–a pharmacological profile. Drugs Today 1981;17:343–51.
¹⁴Le Bars PL, Katz MM, Berman N, et al. A placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized trial of an extract of Ginkgo biloba for dementia. North American EGb Study Group. JAMA 1997;278:1327–32.
¹⁵Hofferberth B. The efficacy of EGb 761 in patients with senile dementia of the Alzheimer type, a double-blind, placebo-controlled study on different levels of investigation. Human Psychopharmacol 1994;9:215–22.
¹⁶Kanowski S, Herrmann W, Stephan K, et al. Proof of efficacy of the Ginkgo biloba special extract EGb 761 in outpatients suffering from mild to moderate primary degenerative dementia of the Alzheimer type or multi-infarct dementia. Pharmacopsychiatry 1996;29:47–56.
¹⁷Bush AI, Pettingell WH, Multhaup G, et al. Rapid induction of Alzheimer A8 amyloid formation by zinc. Science 1994;265:1464–65.
¹⁸Potocnik FCV, van Rensburg SJ, Park C, et al. Zinc and platelet membrane microviscosity in Alzheimer’s disease. S Afr Med J 1997;87:1116–19.