Written By: Mita Majumdar | Updated : September 21, 2014 1:32 PM IST
'My dad has this horrible disease, Alzheimer's. The big, strong, funny father I once knew is not here any more. Alzheimer's has turned him into a scared, paranoid, wandering, skinny, shell of a man,' says Angel about her 69-year-old father.
Alzheimer's is a progressive brain disorder that destroys memory, and affects logical thinking and language ability. Generally affecting the elderly, it is a disorder that tears apart their lives and the lives of their family. Unfortunately, there is no cure to date for Alzheimer's. Symptoms are treated with acetylcholinesterase inhibitors and glutamate receptor antagonist. So, researchers and medical fraternity are actively searching for new approaches to Alzheimer's treatment.
Whatever the approach, the following factors need to be targeted
Therefore, any treatment needs to consider generation of new synaptic membranes, and address metabolic and genetic nutritional impairments.
Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) for Alzheimer's
Various complementary and alternative therapies are now available to treat symptoms of Alzheimer's. The question is how safe and how effective are they? Although most alternative remedies are quite safe, some therapies do have serious safety concerns. For example, some herbs for Alzheimer's are not backed by solid research, and they can interact negatively with conventional medicines you are taking.
Again, when using herbal remedies, ensure that you are using the required ingredient and in correct amounts. For example, ginkgo leaf extract helps improve cognitive function in Alzheimer's, but if you use ginkgo seeds, it may cause serious reactions, including seizures and death.
Most CAM studies are either not conclusive or contradictory, or are very small. So it is difficult to establish the effectiveness and safety of these remedies. However, others when used as an adjunct to standard treatment can actually help relieve the symptoms of Alzheimer's.
Following are some remedies that have good scientific evidence.
Herbal remedies
Traditional remedies around the globe claim not only to improve the symptoms, but even cure the disease. However, it is essential that you discuss with your doctor if you want to try herbal remedies (or any alternative remedy for that matter). Given below are some herbs that have some evidence of being effective and safe.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture has been in practice in China for more than 3000 years and used to treat a wide variety of conditions including cardiovascular disease, psychiatric diseases, andpain. Animal studies have also shown that acupuncture increased activity in the temporal lobe and prefrontal lobe which are related to the memory and cognitive function.
Studies have reported that acupuncture stimulation at acupoints can
Aromatherapy
Aromatherapy can be useful to both, the Alzheimer patient as well as the caregiver, to ease stress, anxiety, and to reduce mood swings. In people with Alzheimer'sit helps improve memory and quality of life. Aromatherapy is done via bath, diffusion, massage, inhalation, and spritzer.
Essential oils for issues associated with Alzheimer's
Light therapy
Research shows that:
Vitamins and supplements
Studies have shown that vitamin D has potential neuro-protective effects in people with Alzheimer's. Experts suggest using vitamin D supplements as an adjunct to standard treatments since it is a simple, inexpensive, and efficient therapeutic strategy to correct neurological disorders in AD.
Similarly, a study from King's College, London, published in the Lancet Neurology journal reported that 'folic acid and vitamin B12 may have roles in the prevention of disorders of CNS development, mood disorders, and dementias, including Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia in elderly people'. So, it makes sense to use these as supplements.
However, it is important that you use alternative remedies only after your doctor okays them.
Image source: Getty images
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References:
Thaipisuttikul, P. and Galvin, J. (2012). Use of medical foods and nutritional approaches in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Clinical Practice, [online] 9(2), pp.199-209. Available at: https://dx.doi.org/10.2217/cpr.12.3 [Accessed 11 Sep. 2014].
Zeng, B., Salvage, S. and Jenner, P. (2013). Effect and Mechanism of Acupuncture on Alzheimer's Disease. International Review of Neurobiology, [online] pp.181-195. Available at: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/b978-0-12-411545-3.00009-2 [Accessed 11 Sep. 2014].
Nicholas Hanford, M. (2013). Light Therapy and Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementia: Past, Present, and Future. Journal of Alzheimer's disease : JAD, [online] 33(4), p.913. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3553247/ [Accessed 11 Sep. 2014].
Annweiler, C., Karras, S., Anagnostis, P. and Beauchet, O. (2014). Vitamin D supplements: a novel therapeutic approach for Alzheimer patients. Front. Pharmacol., [online] 5. Available at: https://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2014.00006 [Accessed 11 Sep. 2014].
Ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, (2014). Vitamin B12, folic acid, and the nervous system. [Lancet Neurol. 2006] - PubMed - NCBI. [online] Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17052662/ [Accessed 11 Sep. 2014].
