Alzheimer’s disease affects an estimated 5.7 million people in the United States, causing deterioration of memory, communication skills, reasoning, and orientation. These symptoms are not only emotionally devastating to patients and their families, but increasingly interfere with functionality and the ability to live independently; as the disease progresses, patients will require significant help with even the most simple daily activities, stripping away agency and placing a heavy burden on caretakers.
Currently, there is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease and death rates are quickly climbing, increasing by 50% over the past two decades. While existing treatments targeted at cognitive and behavioral symptoms may temporarily slow down disease progression, they ultimately fail to reverse the effects of the condition. As such, there is growing interest in methods of treating and preventing Alzheimer’s beyond the limits of traditional medicine.
By fine-tuning the power of nutrition, researchers are now uncovering new therapies that may help prevent Alzheimer’s, improve symptoms, and potentially stall progression more effectively than conventional interventions alone. At Alternative Medicine Review, we are committed to opening up discussions about these emerging treatment modalities in order to foster greater awareness about the possibilities of healing.
To get to the bottom of what differentiates good curcumin supplements from the bad, we talked to Al Czap, a leading expert on the past, present, and future of curcumin as a nutritional supplement and therapeutic.
For patients and practitioners who are looking beyond conventional treatment to address the neurocognitive effects of dementia, quercetin, butyrate, and glutathione may offer significant benefits.
As the dangers of oxidative stress become increasingly evident, there is reason to believe that lowering this stress via glutathione supplementation could help patients optimize well-being.
Early studies suggest that glutathione may aid in the prevention and/or management of a wide variety of serious conditions, ranging from neurological diseases and gastrointestinal conditions to aging skin.
The benefits of curcumin stem primarily from its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities, but it also has antimicrobial and protein regulatory properties that further expand its potential benefits as a therapy.
Concerns about Alzheimer’s disease risk have sparked decades of research on prevention methods, including strategies that focus on food and nutritional supplements as potential preventive measures.
Thanks to curcumin’s impact on inflammation, immune cells, and the body’s response to stress, patients may have the ability to prevent or slow the progression of neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
In light of the literature on the bioactivity of polyphenols, researchers have begun to seriously consider supplementation as an alternative treatment for Alzheimer’s disease.
Glutathione supplementation may an attractive option to protect brain health due to its minimal side effect profile and proven link to cognitive functioning in both healthy people and people with cognitive impairment.
Research suggests that if patients find the right sources of quercetin and other flavonoids, they can slow down the rate of cognitive decline caused by old age as well as neurological diseases like Alzheimer’s.
Some scientists have hypothesized that natural supplements with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, like curcumin, may benefit patients who experience brain fog or cognitive dysfunction.
Research suggests that a number of brain health supplements may provide rays of hope for patients with Alzheimer’s disease by supporting critical functions like memory formation.
Preliminary studies suggest that dietary supplements that modulate the gut microbiome or directly introduce metabolites of gut bacteria may to aid in the management of neurodegenerative disorders.