Expert: Mary Gordon - 10/16/2011

Question
QUESTION: Do you have any information on Dementia/Alzheimer treatments with IV Therapy or stem cells?  Which of them have the most promise?   Where are they available? What exercises are best to stimulate the brain?

ANSWER: Hi Allen, as far as I know, there are no treatments for AD with I therapy or stem cells.

As you probably know, there are many causes of dementia - Alzheimer's is just one of them. The brain is a delicate thing, and obviously there are a host of medical issues that can impact cognition or cause neurological damage.

Alzheimer's itself is a pernicious disease in that it probably starts brewing long, long before any symptoms are obvious. We all have a lot of excess capacity in our brains, and a lot of damage has to accumulate before the problem becomes apparent to the person, or those around them. Quite often the person is oblivious to what has happened to them. By the time you see symptoms, there is extensive damage, it is global throughout the brain, and it is irreversible (i.e. the entire brain has shrunk).

Many people with dementia, particularly the elderly with a constellation of health problems will have more one cause of dementia happening at the same time - for example, many of them may have Parkinson's and Alzheimer's at the same time, or mini-strokes and Alzheimer's at the same time.

None of the currently available therapies out there are cures. All of them aim to try to slow down the progress of the disease, which is steady, and preserve what function the person has for longer so they can enjoy a somewhat better quality of life. The most promising are combination drug therapies. If you have a loved one with AD, you may not notice much of a change, or think the drugs are doing much, unless the drugs are abruptly stopped. Frequently there will be a sudden deterioration. Keep in mind that the drugs don't work for everyone, don't work consistently over time (i.e. can stop working), and many people will have challenges with side effects.

In Alzheimer's disease, nerve cells die in a random way, interrupting the complex inter-connections of nerve cells in the cortex (the outer layer of the brain). It is this network of cells that facilitates our memories, personalities and behaviour patterns. Because of the loss of many different nerve cell types in the brain in Alzheimer's disease and the impact that the disease has on communication between cells, developing stem cell therapy for Alzheimer's disease is more complicated and challenging than for some other neurological conditions. While it is unlikely that Alzheimer's disease will be one of the first diseases to benefit from advances in this area of research, it is possible that stem cell therapy may lead to advances in the treatment of people with Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia in the long term, but this is a long way off and will not directly benefit current sufferers.

There is research going on with respect to stem cells, but at this point, it's a petrie dish and mouse exercise. They are not trying it out on people as yet.
http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2011-03/using-stem-cells-scientists-re-cre

Although some research suggests that mental exercise might delay the onset of dementia, there is absolutely no indication that mental gymnastics will halt the progress of Alzheimers once an older person has it - in fact, the reverse may be true.  
http://healthmad.com/conditions-and-diseases/do-brain-exercises-prevent-progress
The biggest single thing that a person can do is to take care of their physical health and condition, by seeing a doctor regularly, and following advice, not smoking, controlling weight, getting enough rest, and getting physical exercise.  A healthy body gives a person the best odds of a healthy brain.

I take it you have a loved one who has been recently diagnosed with Alzheimer's or other cause of dementia. One of the best benefits of activity for a person with AD is that it improves their quality of life, keeps them engaged and interacting and moving around.
Here are some good ideas http://www.theactivitydirectorsoffice.com/Gina_ActivityIdeasThatWork_Alzheimers.
http://www.alz.org/living_with_alzheimers_activities.asp

Here is a good overview of what is happening to your loved one that may give you some insight into their challenges and how to view some of the behaviors you may see so you can deal with them in a positive way.
http://alzheimer.guelph.org/downloads/12%20pt%20Understanding%20the%20Dementia%2

You may also wish to purchase a copy of a good book, in paperback, called The 36 Hour Day by Mace and Rabin published by Warner. If you only buy one book on Alzheimers, this is the one to have on the shelf. It is very helpful.
http://www.amazon.com/36-Hour-Day-Alzheimer-Dementing-Illnesses/dp/0801861497

Hope this helps. I'm thinking of you.

Mary Gordon
Toronto


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I certainly appreciate your response. However, your response indicates that you are NOT well informed on the subject since there are many such therapies available around the world and now there are several here in the USA.
I was hopeful that you would be able to direct us to the most successful ones. If you eventually do get up to speed, I would appreciate a follow up report.

Regards, Allen Johnson
I will review the web addresses you provided.

Answer
Allen, I'm sorry you didn't like the answers I was able to give you.

Here is a link to a June 2011 research abstract which clearly indicates that while using stem cells to treat Alzheimer's in specific may be on the horizon, it is not yet there.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21495961

Here is a good overview from the Alzheimer's Association
http://alzheimers.org.uk/site/scripts/documents_info.php?documentID=77&pageNumbe

I can empathize that a diagnosis of Alzheimer's is a devastating event, and families are truly desperate for hope - I have been in those shoes holding the hand of a loved one. However, I cannot view alternative clinics offering stem cell transplants for Alzheimer's other than with deep caution and skepticism, particularly when legitimate research indicates we are a ways off from safe and effective treatments. I think there is real reason to hope, but rescue isn't here yet.  I see lots of clinics out there off the mainstream that prey on the vulnerable, and are eager to take the money of sufferers.

I hope your loved one has been fully evaluated and diagnosed by a specialist in dementia, such as neurologist or psychiatrist associated with a memory clinic. There are many causes of dementia, and as I mentioned before, many people will have more than one cause ongoing at the same time. Some are more treatable than others.  This is one of the reasons to be very skeptical of the claims of off-book clinics. There are some forms of dementia that ARE reversible, such as normal pressure hydrocephalus. Many people are not properly diagnosed in the first place, so when a cure is claimed, it may be they never had Alzheimer's to begin with.  It is really important to know just what you are actually dealing with so you can really get the best advice and evaluate the options.  

Please stay in touch and come back with any other questions, or to share the outcome of your quest.

Mary