To All: The following study is an important study re benefits of melatonin for Alheimers' patients re sleep disturbances, sundowning and also indications re possible slowing the advance of cognitive decline:

1: Neuro Endocrinol Lett. 2002 Apr;23 Suppl 1:20-3. Links
The use of melatonin in Alzheimer's disease.
Cardinali DP,
Brusco LI,
Liberczuk C,
Furio AM.
Departament of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Buenos Aires, Argentina. cardinal@mail.retina.ar

About 45% of Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients have disruptions in their sleep and sundowning agitation. Since melatonin secretion is greatly inhibited in AD patients we have used melatonin to treat sleep disorders in AD patients since 1995. In a first study [21] we reported, in 7 out of 10 dementia patients treated with melatonin (3 mg p.o. at bed time), a decreased sundowning. In a second study [22] we examined 14 AD patients who received 9 mg melatonin daily for 22 to 35 months, observing a significant improvement of sleep quality with stabilization of behavioral and cognitive parameters. In a third study [23] we reported two monozygotic twins with AD and similar cognitive impairment, one of them receiving 6 mg melatonin at bedtime daily for 3 years. Melatonin treatment improved sleep quality and suppressed sundowning. We now report the effect of melatonin (4-month-long treatment with 6 mg/day) in 45 AD patients with sleep disturbances. Melatonin improved sleep and suppressed sundowning, an effect seen regardless of the concomitant medication employed to treat cognitive or behavioral signs of AD. Melatonin treatment seems to constitute a selection therapy to ameliorate sundowning and to slow evolution of cognitive impairment in AD patients.

PMID: 12019347 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=12019347&dopt=Abstract

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This study was done in 2002 in Argentina. I have other studies re positive benefits of melatonin that came out of U.S. medical centers/universities.

While some U.S. doctors are staring to recommend Omega 3 fish oil and even melatonin, they are far and few between.

As we know, there are "powerful financial reasons" to downplay and/or ignore benefits of many supplements.

When I met Dr. Russel Reiter in 2004 at the First International Children With Leukaemia Conference, he told me if my husband, Bud, had been taking melatonin all along, he may never have developed Alzheiemrs.

This study and many others are "evidence" that suports what Dr. Reiter claimed re my husband. It is also vital that persons reduce EMF/EMR exposures in/on/near beds. See my appeal to Dr. Marilyn Albert: http://freepage.twoday.net/stories/3038870/ and.... also info on my website -- access below sign-off.

The 43-0age document I am currently reviewing -- re melatonin and Alzheimers, is a "knock-your-socks-off" compilation of facts. I plan to outline some of the highlights soon.

Take care - Joanne

Joanne,
Thanks for the info! Your Super!


Peace and Hope,

my son ( age 16) takes melatonin or he is up to 1-2a.m. EWven with limiting caffiene. I had never heard of it for AD. What is sundowning?
I do know that my AD mom has nightmares and talks in her sleep on a regular basis, but that s it.

Joan

Over the past few months I've been progressively less sleepy at night, so this interests me.

Do you know how long it takes to work? As in, some natural remedies take weeks, others work in an hour?

Thanks!

PatM started a thread about Melatonin called Melatonin stops sundowning on the Medications for Alzheimer's forum. In it she included a whole lot of useful information as well as listed several websites where additional information is offered.

Pat's mother has been taking Melatonin nearly 2 months with excellent results. In it she lists the dosage that she gives her mother as well as a time line of the results that were experienced.

Skericheri: Thanks for the addl input. Alan: For me, melatonin worked the first night. The following morning, I was a bit sleepier or thought I noticed some effects. The next day, I awoke with lots of energy that has never left me.

Bud and I are now taking 5-6 of the 3 mg. melatonin capsules every night before going to bed. Most of the time, I just "nod off to sleep" within 15-20 minutes after taking melatonin. I take a book to bed and usually don't read more than 4-5 pages.

Bud also just goes to bed and falls asleep -- no tossing/turning, etc. Sometimes he wakens around 2:00 am, gets up and goes to biffy and returns to bed to sleep until 8:30 am or so.

Once in a while, Bud wakes me up saying he needs something for sleep. He usually doesn't remember it is melatonin he needs. Sometimes he complains he doesn't want melatonin but he always takes it and does go back to sleep.

If he is sniffling/snuffling, etc., then I give him Ibuprofen and sometimes need to give him some Benadryl. We have mixed reports re the Benadryl and I note that many Alz patients do not do well on it. Sometimes Bud just needs it.
Or should I say, "I need Bud to take it..."

As I say, we seldom need anything oher than additional melatonin if either of us has sleep problems whether from increased powerline RF, the house being too warm, or too much green tea close to bedtime, etc. Both of us, however, can drink cappuccino, decaff coffee and a cup of tea before taking melatonin and we still sleep very well.

I should point out that I have stopped using the melatonin that contains the B-6. While the B vitamins are supposed to be so wonderful, Bud worsens significantly when I give him an addl amount of any of the B-vitamins. Melatonin does not state that B-6 is included -- you have to read the back of the bottle. Some can tolerate the B-6 and some can't.....

I started out years ago with one of the 3 mg. tablets of melatonin with B-6. We now both take 5-6 melatonin capsules with no B-6. Bud just turned 75 and I am 71. There is a lot of controversy as to whether aging causes pineal gland to produce less melatonin naturally. EMAF/EMR affects pineal gland in brain thereby reducing output of melatonin. In our situation, we may need the addl amt due to close proximity to the highlines.

We can't afford to move....another very loong story.... Take care - Joanne

This is something I want to try, sounds like. Sometimes I just don't get sleepy, but I know that my brain needs regular rest. Thanks!!

I swear by melatonin. Heard at first 3 mgs. are sufficient. Then heard 10 mgs. are better. I did both, and prefer the 3 mgs. I fall asleep within a half hour of taking it, and wake up with normal sleepiness like normal people, like I used to ages ago. There are no negative side effects that I know of. I've been on it for years.

Recently I read it is also good for cognitive functions and that it is a powerful antioxidant. It is a natural hormone we produce but as we get older, we produce less.

As I said, I swear by it. And I hate meds!

I started giving my Mom Melatonin only a little over a week ago, and it has helped tremendously. She still gets up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom, but is able to go right back to sleep afterward now, unlike before where she would want to stay up. I am lucky as my Dad is with her at night and can help her get up if she needs it. Lately, she's been doing much better with her concentration and alertness since we're also doing the Enbrel for Alzheimer's treatments. Amazing results. There is a big thread about this in the Medication/Treatments forum.

Thanks, Felicia