Dementia (from the Latin for “irrationality”) describes a group of symptoms that are caused by changes in the way the brain functions. Senile dementia refers to the onset of these symptoms in older people. Dementia can strike anyone at any age. However, the most common conditions with dementia as a symptom include Alzheimer’s disease and vascular disease, both of which are specific to older individuals.
People with senile dementia have impaired memory as well as changes in other areas of cognition, such as language, vision, and abstract thinking, which prevent them from functioning properly on a daily basis. The signs and symptoms occur primarily in the absence of delirium and may be associated with an organic cause. The classic indicators of dementia are short-term memory loss, inability to think through problems or to finish complex tasks, difficulty concentrating, confusion, and abnormal behavior. While some types of dementia, such as that caused by Alzheimer’s disease, cause a steady and progressive decline in patients, other types of dementia can be prevented, treated, or reversed by addressing the underlying conditions. Reactions to medications, emotional stress, metabolic imbalances, problems in optical or auditory processing, nutritional deficiencies, hormone imbalances, diabetes, AIDS, Huntington’s disease, head trauma, brain tumors, or inflammation or infection can all trigger symptoms of dementia. (See chapter 19 for a full discussion of Alzheimer’s disease, including diagnosis and natural therapies.)
By providing an optimal environment for brain health, and through a healthful lifestyle, attention to nutrition, and proper supplementation, you can preserve your mental abilities as you age.
Vascular dementia is the second most common type of dementia after that caused by Alzheimer’s disease. Vascular problems in the brain or body are the main causes. In general, vascular dementia occurs suddenly, frequently after a stroke. It usually does not progress steadily, however, like Alzheimer’s-related dementia. The patient may have long periods of stability or even improvement, but quickly develops new symptoms if more strokes occur.
Lewy body dementia (LBD) resembles Alzheimer’s disease, but the abnormal brain cells, called cortical Lewy bodies, that are characteristic of this disease are found in the cortex and substantia nigra regions of the brain. Lewy body disease produces symptoms similar to Alzheimer’s but may progress more rapidly.
Pick’s disease affects the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain and is sometimes referred to as frontotemporal dementia (FTD). This illness is also similar in symptoms to Alzheimer’s and generally affects individuals between ages forty and sixty. It is characterized by a gradual loss of social skills and personality alteration, as well as damage to the memory and language functions. Pick’s disease is characterized in the brain by swollen neurons.
Some elderly people may suffer anxiety and fear that their mental abilities and memory are declining. These feelings may trigger a severe depression called pseudodementia. Cognitive changes, memory loss, and slowed motor movements are typical of this condition. Pseudodementia may also trigger other symptoms, like those of senile dementia, including apathy, inability to answer simple questions correctly, poor eye contact, or little spontaneous movement. Treatment of the underlying depression will cause the dementia-like symptoms to disappear.
Lifestyle changes, environmental changes, exercise, memory boosters, weight management, and coping strategies can help prevent the onset of dementia or slow the progression of symptoms. In addition, certain foods, vitamins, minerals, and herbs are important. A full discussion of natural therapies for dementia is provided in chapter 19.
The following chart summarizes the supplements I recommend adding to the protocol for overall brain health from chapter 16. In some cases, I recommend increasing the dose of a particular vitamin or supplement to specifically impact senile dementia. In these cases, you should increase the daily dosage from chapter 16 to the level recommended for this specific condition.
This protocol is designed for individuals who suffer from, or are specifically concerned about, senile dementia. If you are concerned about additional conditions discussed in other chapters, consult with a health professional about how you can safely impact multiple conditions.
If you are taking medications, whether prescription or over-the-counter, or have any food restrictions, consult with your doctor before beginning any supplement program. Your health care provider should always be up-to-date on all vitamins, supplements, and herbal or homeopathic remedies you are taking. Supplement overdoses are rare, but possible, and certain combinations may affect individuals adversely.
| SUPPLEMENT | DOSAGE | CAUTIONS |
|---|---|---|
| acetyl-L-carnitine (ACL) | Increase daily dosage from 2,000 mg to 3,000 mg, taken in three equal doses. Do not exceed a daily supplement of 3,000 mg. | |
| calcium | 1,000 mg daily, in four equal doses after meals and at bedtime | |
| intravenous vitamin B-complex | Discuss with your health care provider whether you might benefit from injected vitamin B. | |
| L-glutamine | 500 mg, taken three times daily | |
| magnesium | 500–1,000 mg, in two equal doses | May take up to six weeks for for effects to be felt. |
| Potassium | 300 mg daily | Do not take potassium supplements if you are taking medication for high blood pressure or heart disease or if you have a kidney disorder. Consumingfoods rich in potassium is okay. Do not exceed a supplementary dose of 500 mg daily without consulting your doctor. |
| N-acetylcysteine (NAC) | 500 mg, three times daily | Daily supplementation increases urinary output of copper. If supplementing with NAC for an extended period, add 2 mg of copper and 30 mg of zinc to your daily supplement regimen. |
| phosphatidylserine (PS) | Increase daily dosage from 300 mg to 400 mg | Do not exceed a daily supplement of 40 mg. |
| S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe) | Dosage range of 400–1,600 mg | Raise the dose gradually from 200 mg twice a day to 400 mg twice a day, to 400 mg three times a day, to 400 mg four times a day, over a period of twenty days. |
| vitamin C | Increase daily dosage from 500–1,000 mg to 3,000 mg | |
| vitamin E | 400 IU twice daily | Vitamin E may cause increased risk of bleeding and may have adverse interactions with other medications. Consult with your doctor before beginning high-dose supplementation with vitamin E. |
| zinc | Up to 30 mg daily | Large doses (50 mg or more) can interfere with the body’s absorption of essential minerals, impair blood cell function, and depress the immune system. |
An increasing body of evidence is showing the benefits of natural modalities to overall health and well-being. Following is a sample of recent peer-reviewed scientific studies on dementia.
A 2013 report in the Swiss journal Revue Medicale Suisse concluded that lifestyle factors such as nutrition and physical exercise are the cornerstones for dementia prevention because no efficient pharmacological treatments exist. In 2011, a study published in the Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine found that directional ability, living ability, and short-term memory were significantly enhanced after treatment with Chinese medicine plus rehabilitation or acupuncture. A 2011 report in Phytotherapy Research described the herbal extracts and compounds that have been shown to reverse or halt neurodegeneration when tested against known pathogenic markers related to dementia, including Panax ginseng, Polygala tenuifolia, Acorus gramineus, and Huperzia serrate. A systematic literature search of all randomized placebo-controlled clinical trials of Ginkgo biloba led researchers to report in Pharmacopsychiatry (2010) that the extract was effective on cognitive symptoms of dementia with a treatment period of approximately six months.