If someone you love has Alzheimer's disease, you are only too familiar with Alzheimer's symptoms. You understand what that list of Alzheimer's symptoms really means. You know that the Alzheimer's symptom of "memory loss" means that at first, Mom couldn't remember where she put her keys, or which of your kids' birthdays is in May, or if she paid the water bill. You understand that "memory loss" as an Alzheimer's symptom doesn't begin to describe Dad's inability to remember how to fix a sandwich, or what your name is. You know that eventually your loved one's Alzheimer's symptom of "memory loss" will mean he or she forgets how to go to the bathroom, or walk, or speak. The reality is much more somber than just "memory loss."
If someone you love has Alzheimer's disease, you also know there is hope. There is hope that Mom or Dad will benefit from the Alzheimer's treatments that are available now. And there is hope that Alzheimer's research will find better Alzheimer's treatments, or maybe even a cure in the near future.
There are good traditional and non-traditional Alzheimer's treatments available today. Traditional treatments include the following:
Donepezil, rivastigmine and galantamine are all FDA approved as Alzheimer's medications. All three medications are cholinesterase inhibitors, which mean they block the breakdown of acetylcholine and allow it to accumulate between nerve cells.
Namenda (memantine) is another medication that is used as an Alzheimer's treatment. Namenda regulates glutamate, another messenger chemical.
Nontraditional Alzheimer's treatments are also helpful for many people.
Vitamin E and Coenzyme Q10 are antioxidants, and they are used as Alzheimer's treatments. They prevent the accumulation of free radicals and decrease oxidative stress on vulnerable tissues, such as the brain tissue of people with Alzheimer's.
Ginko balboa is frequently used as an Alzheimer's treatment. It is an antioxidant, too, but also has anti-inflammatory properties.
Huyperzine A is an herb that has been used in Chinese medicine as an Alzheimer's medication for centuries, and appears to be as effective an Alzheimer's treatment as the currently available traditional medications.
Omega 3 fatty acids are a nutritional supplement that is often an effective Alzheimer's treatment. They decrease inflammatory responses within the brain. Inflammation may be at least partially responsible for the amyloid plaques and neurofibrillatory tangles that are characteristic of Alzheimer's disease.
Alzheimer's research has recently shown that there is often an accumulation of homocystiene in the brain. Elevated homocystiene levels are also associated with heart attacks, and homocystiene seems to have a pro-inflammatory effect. Elevated homocystiene levels are associated with low vitamin B12 levels. Since vitamin B12 deficiency causes a reversible dementia similar to Alzheimer's disease, it is reasonable to assume that vitamin B12 deficiency may at least contribute to Alzheimer's symptoms. Alzheimer's research-and many people's personal experience-show that vitamin B12 often does, in fact, help Alzheimer's symptoms.
Many older people have vitamin B12 deficiency, and many aging people take vitamin B12 to prevent Alzheimer's symptoms. If you are ready to add vitamin B12 to your health regimen, the B12 Patch is the easiest, safest, most painless and effective way to do it.
