I've read of the possible benefits of ALA (Alpha Lipoic acid) and Acetyl -L-Carnitine supplements taken together. In one case favorable results were evident within two weeks. People are so different that it's most unlikely that one approach will work for all, but anything that may help and not be detrimental may be worth trying.
Hap~
namenda cost dad 300 a month . i thought it helped him cuz he wasnt so demanding too much , it calmed him and did nt argue too much .
it cost too much that i had to stop buying it . ins wont pay a dime for it but would pay for excelon patch , strange ,
he is not on any of those memory pills anymore . he still has his mind . he s 86 yrs old and dementia is getting worst . he takes way too many pills everyday . stroke is what set offthose dementia .
i wish u the best luck in finding out whats best for ur dad .
some kind of authority to go to the doc with them, I got one form at one doc, I think they are too old or something for the five wishes. I work at the funeral home, so that doesn't help :(
thanks for answering, and Merry Christmas
I questioned a neurologist about supplements but professionals only seem to know about drugs that reduce the problems associated with the symptoms of dementia. The difficulty with supplements is that there is little financial incentive to scientifically evaluate people's experimental findings. The Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA) I mentioned is simply an antioxidant that has been helpful for some people with Type 2 diabetes because it reduces insulin resistance. Acetyl-L-Carnitine (ALCAR) is also an antioxidant and is claimed to help the mind focus. Why the combination of ALA and ALCAR was helpful for at least two people with dementia is a matter of conjecture. The same can be said for coconut oil which is claimed to feed the brain with ketones. I've only heard of that helping one person, but there is a prescription product that includes a substantial amount of cocnut oil -- sorry I don't remember the name. Sniffing insulin to get insulin into the brain via the olfactory pathway is mentioned in "The Alzheimer's Project" book. This has a better chance of scientific evaluation because it could lead to greater use of insulin -- a big financial incentive. If I had dementia I would do some of this supplement testing, but for now I just do the reading.
A form of vitamin D3 together with curcumin, a chemical found in the spice turmeric, may stimulate the body's immune system to clear amyloid beta from the brain. Amyloid beta are waxy deposits that result from the degeneration of tissue and form plaques that are a distinguishing characteristic of Alzheimer's disease.
Scientists from UCLA and UC Riverside and the Human BioMolecular Research Institute took blood samples from nine Alzheimer's patients, and also from a patient with mild cognitive impairment and three healthy subjects. They isolated the monocyte cells, which change into macrophages that neutralize waste products in the brain and body, including amyloid beta. The researchers took the monocyte cells and incubated them with amyloid beta, vitamin D3, and either natural or synthetic curcumin.
"Believe nothing,
no matter where you read it
or who has said it,
not even if I have said it,
unless it agrees with
your own reason and
your own common sense." -- Buddha
Before implementing anything, make sure you're able to live with the decisions made. Enjoy the rest of the Holidays.
-- ED
http://www.namenda.com/sections/30/namenda-difference.shtml