Alzheimers Disease Recent Discoveries: Reversing the Symptoms and Alzheimers Disease Drug Side Effects

Patients who suffer from advanced staged of this devastating illness can become aggressive and delusional. To calm these agitated people, doctors often prescribe anti-psychotic medications such as Risperdal, Seroquel and Zyprexa.

A major U.S. study found that the usefulness of anti-psychotic drugs is greatly limited by their severe side effects, which include:

• confusion • sleepiness • tremors • muscle stiffness

According to results published in the New England Journal of Medicine, the side effects of the drugs tended to outweigh any potential benefits. It is not the first time that questions have been raised about treating Alzheimers patients with these drugs.

But because of the known lack of treatment options for this hard-to-manage group of patients, doctors kept using the drugs. (Lead researcher Dr. Lon Schneider, director of the Alzheimer's Disease Center of California)

• Fortunately, there is also good news. A new understanding of the factors associated with Alzheimers disease is bringing new interventions that help patients tolerate drugs better.

• New interventions are being based on improving the patient's ability to fight both 1) oxidative stress and 2) the accumulation of toxins. When any drug is used, it needs to be neutralized by the body once it has done what it is supposed to do, or it causes toxic effects known as “side effects.” Improving the body’s effectiveness to eliminate such toxins can therefore help drugs be better tolerated.

• By addressing oxidative stress and toxin build up, people are discovering that some of the devastating aspects of the disease can also be reversed.

Alzheimers: Toxins and Oxidative Stress

• For instance, Australian scientists say they have identified a toxin which plays a key role in the onset of the degenerative brain disease.

The toxin, called quinolinic acid, kills nerve cells in the brain, leading to dysfunction and death, the scientists said.

"Quinolinic acid may not be the cause of Alzheimer's disease, but it plays a key role in its progression," Alzheimer's researcher Dr Karen Cullen from the University of Sydney said in a statement.

"It's the smoking gun, if you like."

• Oxidative stress is also part of the process, by creating an excess of free radicals that contribute to inflammation and to brain cell destruction.

• These findings are bringing the role of glutathione to the forefront as the body’s own, primary intracellular antioxidant and detoxifyer.

The Puzzle of Protecting Against Brain Cell Destruction

• Researchers have identified low glutathione in the areas of the brain relating to short-term memory and intellectual function, of people with Alzheimers disease.

• GSH glutathione is the molecule in the body that fights against oxidative stress, and that neutralizes toxins.

• The trouble is that you cannot just take a glutathione pill to fix this situation!

Although scientists world-wide have long recognized glutathione’s role in protecting against both oxidative stress and toxins, it has not been a simple matter to figure out how to improve glutathione levels:

• Taking glutathione in pill form is not effective, and GSH-enhancing drugs such as NAC are problematic when taken on a daily basis.

• Fortunately, a breakthrough discovery of Dr. Gustavo Bounous at Mc Gill University that showed how to safely and effectively raise glutathione levels on a day to day basis.

By using nutraceuticals and supplements as protective strategies as an adjunct to medical treatment, people have been able to reduce symptoms and improve quality of life for people with Alzheimers, including the patients’ memory and ability to recognize others.

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Doctors explain how elevated glutathione fights against the degeneration of Alzheimers disease

GSH Expert: Protecting With The Master Antioxidant

Glutathione (GSH), Dr. Gutman explains, is a small tri-peptide that has been extensively studied by medical researchers world-wide, because it functions as the body's own "master antioxidant," in that it reduces "oxidative stress" and free radical damage.

He says that "Glutathione is not yet a household word, but it soon will be, now that we know how important this substance is." How and where does GSH fit into this picture? If heavy metals are involved in the progression of Alzheimers, GSH can play a critical role in their elimination and detoxification.

Certain studies have demonstrated that when aluminum is ‘pulled’ out of the cells using chelators, the symptoms of Alzheimers can be reduced or delayed. One of our primary defenses against these toxins is an adequate GSH enzyme system.

And as researchers further define how free radicals contribute to brain cell destruction, the role of GSH as the primary intracellular antioxidant will come to the forefront. Much research has been focused on the role of antioxidants in alleviating Alzheimers symptoms and its progression, especially vitamin E because of its availability and low price. But the interaction of these antioxidants is complex, and many are dependent on adequate GSH levels for their proper functioning.

A large number of post-mortem studies have compared normal with diseased brain tissue. They reveal significant changes in GSH and GSH peroxidase levels as well as elevated levels of the powerful oxidant lipid peroxide, against which GSH is a primary defense.

Adams and his research team found GSH levels diminished in the area of the brain involved in short-term memory (hippocampus). Jenner and his co-workers found a similar decrease in the areas of the brain involved in higher intellectual functioning (the cerebral cortex).

Although Alzheimers disease is certainly a multifactorial problem, certain aspects must be emphasized. It is unclear whether oxidative damage is the cause or just an effect of Alzheimer’s.

However, there is no doubt that diminished oxidative stress can retard or diminish disease progression. In addition, the part apparently played by toxins such as heavy metal needs to be addressed.

In either case, elevated GSH levels can be a critical strategy against both of these dangers.

Case Study

Previously a gregarious salesman who loved to tell a joke, in his present condition he was even unaware of who was in the room. His previous history of smoking one to two packs a day left him with chronic bronchitis, requiring frequent inhalation therapy.

To treat his ever-thickening secretions, the respiratory therapist started raising his glutathione levels. After several weeks, Max began to smile when his wife entered his room and was visibly pleased by her visits.

See also: " I Have My Mother Back from Alzheimers"

Slowing The Progression of Alzheimers Disease

Oxidative stress and free radical formation definitely play a role in promoting this damage. When heavy metals are removed by chelators, the symptoms of Alzheimers can be reduced or delayed.

It is unclear whether oxidative damage is the cause or just an effect of Alzheimers. Nevertheless, antioxidants have been shown to be useful.

And, overall antioxidant function is maximized by maintaining adequate glutathione levels.

By diminishing oxidative stress disease the progression of this disease can be retarded or diminished.

It does appear that elevated glutathione levels can help slow the progression of Alzheimers, and symptoms have even be reversed in many people. Raising glutathione is done most effectively by providing the required precursors in the diet.

• Nutraceutical proteins can supply cysteine which has been shown to effectively raise the body's ability to manufacture it where needed, especially in the brain.

• Because the cysteine crosses the blood-brain barrier, it can be effectively used by the brain to increase its levels of glutathione. (Glutathione provided in pill form gets digested and does not get to where it is needed in the brain.)

Successfully elevating glutathione GSH in this way, can thus play a major role in both Alzheimers disease and prevention.

Recommendations for Nutraceuticals to Protect for Alzheimers Disease:

Links

Surprise Discovery: Breakthrough In Cell Defense by Elevating GSH, Amazon Slowing and Preventing Alzheimers Protecting Against the Degeneration of Neurological Disease

Recent Health Discoveries: Alzheimers Disease and Prevention

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