Medications
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT). If menopause is clearly making you forgetful, your doctor may recommend a trial of HRT, which consists of low-dose oestrogen combined with progestin, a synthetic form of progesterone. Some studies have show that oestrogen replacement can improve memory and even prevent Alzhemeir;s disease. Oestrogen may promote the growth of new brain cells and improve blood flow and glucose utilisation in the brain. However, given the side effects and health risks linked to long-term HRT use, the decision to start such a therapy must take into account other factors including personal or family history of breast cancer, blood clots, gallstones and the like.
Galantamine. Known to raise levels of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, galantamine, which is derived from daffodil bulbs, is available on an authority precription for the initial treatment of mild to moderately severe Alzheimer's disease. Confirmation of this diagnosis by a specialist is required to access this treatment although there is evidence galatamine can cause nausea, vomiting and diahorrea, and should be used only under a doctor's care. If you have been diagnosed with MCI and are at risk for developing Alzhemir's, you may want to consider other drugs as well to forestall its progression (see Alzheimer's disease).
NSAIDs. Some studies show that patietns taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as Naprosyn (usually prescribed for arthritis) are at reduced risk for memory loss and dementia. (It is also conjectured that because Alzheimer's may represent a brain inflammation, NSAIDs may keep it in check.)
The BRAIN CHAIN
When you think of a dog, you may not be drawing up the memory from a discrete, tidy part of your brain. Instead, says the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, an elaborate system of electrical rhythms may pull up the memory from diverse brain sites responsible for recalling how a dog smells, what it looks like and even how its bark sounds.
The researchers say that the thalamus portion of the brain acts a bit like a switchboard operator for the electrical rhythms that, ideally cause the different brain regions to work in synchrony. They say it may be a disruption in these rhythms that makes you unable to access the name of something or someone.
Patients with memory loss may not be 'losing' information so much as experiencing glitches in the elaborate circuitry of neurotransmitters that connect the different regions of the brain. That would explain, the researchers say, why you are able to remember names with ease at certain times, but at other times be at a complex loss.
Natural methods
To supplement your diet, your doctor may recommended that you take a daily multivitamin/mineral supplement as well as an antioxidant complex. A recently published study in the journal of the American Medical Association showed that individuals using daily antioxidants (especially vitamins C and E) had some protection from developing Alzheimer's. Because many people over age 50 are deficient in vitamin B12 , which is essential for healthy brain functioning, taking extra B12 may be a good idea. Also, the herb ginkgo biloba may improve cerebral blood flow and act as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. Most trials have used 120 to 160 mg of ginkgo biloba extract a day, divided into three doses.
Huperzine A, a chinese medicinal herb divided from a moss, has also been reported to help people who produce insufficient amounts of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. Take this herb in doses of 50 mcg twice a day. In addition, phosphatidylserine (PS) supplements may increase levels of nuerotransmitters, but only if you've been diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment (it doesn't appear to work for those who simply want to improve an already good memory). In one 12-week study of 149 adults aged 50 to 75, those who took 300 mg of PS a day were better able to learn and recall names, faces and numbers than those taking a placebo.
FINDING SUPPORT
Alzheimer's Australia
PO Box 108
Higgis, ACT 2615
Tel: (02) 6254 4233
www.alzheimer's.org.au
Alzheimer's NZ. National Office and Resource Centre
71 Armagh street
Truine House
Christchurch 8001 NZ
Tel: (03) 365 1590
www.alzheimer's.org.nz
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT). If menopause is clearly making you forgetful, your doctor may recommend a trial of HRT, which consists of low-dose oestrogen combined with progestin, a synthetic form of progesterone. Some studies have show that oestrogen replacement can improve memory and even prevent Alzhemeir;s disease. Oestrogen may promote the growth of new brain cells and improve blood flow and glucose utilisation in the brain. However, given the side effects and health risks linked to long-term HRT use, the decision to start such a therapy must take into account other factors including personal or family history of breast cancer, blood clots, gallstones and the like.
Galantamine. Known to raise levels of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, galantamine, which is derived from daffodil bulbs, is available on an authority precription for the initial treatment of mild to moderately severe Alzheimer's disease. Confirmation of this diagnosis by a specialist is required to access this treatment although there is evidence galatamine can cause nausea, vomiting and diahorrea, and should be used only under a doctor's care. If you have been diagnosed with MCI and are at risk for developing Alzhemir's, you may want to consider other drugs as well to forestall its progression (see Alzheimer's disease).
NSAIDs. Some studies show that patietns taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as Naprosyn (usually prescribed for arthritis) are at reduced risk for memory loss and dementia. (It is also conjectured that because Alzheimer's may represent a brain inflammation, NSAIDs may keep it in check.)
The BRAIN CHAIN
When you think of a dog, you may not be drawing up the memory from a discrete, tidy part of your brain. Instead, says the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, an elaborate system of electrical rhythms may pull up the memory from diverse brain sites responsible for recalling how a dog smells, what it looks like and even how its bark sounds.
The researchers say that the thalamus portion of the brain acts a bit like a switchboard operator for the electrical rhythms that, ideally cause the different brain regions to work in synchrony. They say it may be a disruption in these rhythms that makes you unable to access the name of something or someone.
Patients with memory loss may not be 'losing' information so much as experiencing glitches in the elaborate circuitry of neurotransmitters that connect the different regions of the brain. That would explain, the researchers say, why you are able to remember names with ease at certain times, but at other times be at a complex loss.
Natural methods
To supplement your diet, your doctor may recommended that you take a daily multivitamin/mineral supplement as well as an antioxidant complex. A recently published study in the journal of the American Medical Association showed that individuals using daily antioxidants (especially vitamins C and E) had some protection from developing Alzheimer's. Because many people over age 50 are deficient in vitamin B12 , which is essential for healthy brain functioning, taking extra B12 may be a good idea. Also, the herb ginkgo biloba may improve cerebral blood flow and act as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. Most trials have used 120 to 160 mg of ginkgo biloba extract a day, divided into three doses.
Huperzine A, a chinese medicinal herb divided from a moss, has also been reported to help people who produce insufficient amounts of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. Take this herb in doses of 50 mcg twice a day. In addition, phosphatidylserine (PS) supplements may increase levels of nuerotransmitters, but only if you've been diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment (it doesn't appear to work for those who simply want to improve an already good memory). In one 12-week study of 149 adults aged 50 to 75, those who took 300 mg of PS a day were better able to learn and recall names, faces and numbers than those taking a placebo.
FINDING SUPPORT
Alzheimer's Australia
PO Box 108
Higgis, ACT 2615
Tel: (02) 6254 4233
www.alzheimer's.org.au
Alzheimer's NZ. National Office and Resource Centre
71 Armagh street
Truine House
Christchurch 8001 NZ
Tel: (03) 365 1590
www.alzheimer's.org.nz
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