The following study was just published online today (Nov 7).
===

J Neural Transm Suppl. 2007;(72):189-93.

Alpha-lipoic acid as a new treatment option for Alzheimer's disease--a 48 months follow-up analysis.

Hager K, Kenklies M, McAfoose J, Engel J, Münch G.


Department of Medical Rehabilitation and Geriatrics, Henriettenstiftung, Hannover, Germany.

Oxidative stress and neuronal energy depletion are characteristic biochemical hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease (AD). It is therefore
conceivable that pro-energetic and antioxidant drugs such as alpha-lipoic acid might delay the onset or slow down the progression of the disease. In a previous study, 600mg alpha-lipoic acid was given daily to nine patients with AD (receiving a standard treatment with choline-esterase inhibitors) in an open-label study over an observation period of 12 months. The treatment led to a stabilization of cognitive functions in the study group, demonstrated by constant scores in two
neuropsychological tests (the mini mental state exam, MMSE and the Alzheimer's diseaseassessment score cognitive subscale, ADAScog). In this report, we have extended the analysis to 43 patients over an observation period of up to 48 months. In patients with mild dementia (ADAScog < 15), the disease progressed extremely slowly (ADAScog: +1.2
points/year, MMSE: -0.6 points/year), in patients with moderate dementia at approximately twice the rate. However, the progression appears dramatically lower than data reported for untreated patients or patients on choline-esterase inhibitors in the second year of long-term studies. Despite the fact that this study was not double-blinded,
placebo-controlled and randomized, our data suggest that treatment with alpha-lipoic acid might be a successful 'neuroprotective' therapy
option for AD. However, a state-of-the-art phase II trial is needed urgently.

PMID: 17982894 [PubMed - in process]
=========

Alpha lipoic acid (ALA) is classified as a nutritional supplement and can be purchased without prescription online. The more effective form of alpha-lipoic acid is the "R(+)" alpha-lipoic acid in an extended release form. Most forms of ALA you'll find at the local supplement shop will not be the R(+).

Likely the best R(+)ALA product on the market at the current time is manufactured by Advanced Orthomolecular Research (AOR) of Canada. This is an sustained-release form of R(+)ALA, one of only two brands on the market. The name of the product is R(+)SR. Ordinarily, alpha-lipoic acid has a half-life of under a half-hour. This sustained-release product will stay in the circulation for eight hours. So, it will have to be taken three times daily, for a total dosage of about 450mg, perhaps 600mg for a maximum.

This is the manufacturer's page:
http://www.aor.ca/int/products/r+sr.php

A couple of different merchants I just found by web search that actually sell the product (no, I'm not affiliated).


http://www.uniquenutrition.net/shop/item.asp?itemid=210&catid=33

http://www.nationalnutrition.ca/detail.aspx?ID=2770

Alpha lipoic acid can increase a person's need for the nutrient biotin. For this reason, people who supplement with lipoic acid should take a biotin capsule daily. This is an inexpensive product that can be purchased at Wal-Mart for under $2 per bottle. Just follow dosage instructions on the bottle.

Alpha-lipoic acid is very likely not the only nutritional supplement that will be beneficial for Alzheimer's disease. I would recommend a top-notch multi-vitamin product, like the "Life Extension Mix" tabs from http://www.lef.org, a non-profit nutritional supplement company. This is likely the best multi-vitamin product on the market.

In addition, because the supplement Ashwagandha has been shown to be effective in rodent models reversing dementia, I would recommend buying a standardized Ashwagandha supplement (preferably the "NOW" brand) and taking perhaps 1.5 times the dosage recommended on the label. Although lipoic acid can substantially slow Alzheimer's, it does not reconstruct damaged neurons. Ashwagandha has actually shown a potential to potentially reconstruct damaged neurons, meaning that it may help the brain to heal.

Unfortunately, these nutritional supplements are not part of western medicine, and doctors often have little or no knowledge about them. All they know or care about is the prescription drugs with only slight efficacy.

I have been trying this on my mother for six months now. She is about stage 6. I took her off of aricept because she didn't really seem like herself on it and had bowl accidents daily. The disease appears to have slowed considerably and she is more herself. However I did this because she is so far along I figured it couldn't hurt (and is 85). I hope more research is done.
CC

I am new here, my mother is 85, diagnosed three years ago with alz, taking aracept. She has problems with incontinence, but would never admit it. She has had accidents with bm's, but didn't know aracept could be the cause. I am VERY interested in the alpha lipoic treatment. Can anyone give me some feed back? She also has macular degeneration. She worked full time at Walmart in health & beauty until five years ago, and gave it up due to eye site, as she was still driving to work. She is with me, we have been looking into nursing homes. I don't want to go there, but she can not live with any of my other three bros. or sister, and she doesn't want to be with me either. Lot more to the story, but right now just need feed back. She still dresses herself, baths, but she doesn't want to eat, can't remember when she did, can't remember to take meds, very short term memory. Thanks for any help

ALZTalk.Org Forum
Natural Healers
Shari Lieberman,PhD, adjunct assistant professor of nutrition at the University of Bridgeport, CT. A member of the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine and the New York Acaemy of Sciences,author of The Real Vitamin& Mineral Book says Supplement does listed here are higher than the recommended daily intake. Because such doses may have unwanted side effects, check with your doctor before trying any of these regimens. In rare cases,they may interfere with standard drug treatments.Key Supplements...B-complex supplements provides the full complement of B vitamins, including B-1, B-2,B-3,B-6 and B-12.Typical daily therapeutic dose:50 to 100 milligrams of B-complex... plus 500 to 1000 micrograms of B-12 in a separate supplement. Alpha-lipoic acid improves brain function by slowing or stopping the death of nerve cellsTypical daily therapeutic dose:600milligrams. Vitamin E protects brain cells from damage caused by disease-causing molecules known as free radicals.TDRD 1200 international units (IU). Ginkgo biloba improves brain circulation, reduces free-radical damage and may slow the onset of Alzheimer's. WARNING: If you are taking a blood-thinning medication, such as warfarin(Coumadin), consult your doctor before taking vitamin E or Ginkgo biloba. Both have mild blood- thinning effects. I Hope this helps someone.

Posted by Marcus on Feb 19 2007

To All: I appreciate reading info furnished in this thread re Alpha Lipoic Acid and other supplements (have also benefitted from many other posts on Caregivers' portion, etc.) for many reasons.

I am an EMF/EMR researcher/activist/writer. I think I mention supplements in my appeal to Dr. Marilyn Albert at: http://freepage.twoday.net/stories/3038870/

Recently I doubled my husbands Gingko Biloba. I was "amazed" when he reached over and set the clock the very next day when he had been unable to do so for several months. This is car clock. Funny I am writing about this right now when our clocks need to be changed again -- that's the way things go.

Anyway, my not resetting the clock allowed me to observe him try and try many times -- even reading the book -- "no success." To see him just "matter-of-factly" reach over and change the clock in seconds (like he had done in past) actually brought tears to my eyes!!

We both take a multitude of supplements. As result of someone else's post on this forum, I had "upped" Bud's AlphaLipoicAcid and also biotin. I, myself, had been taking more of both because of Type II diabetes (another loong story) and many other suppls.

Bud definitely worsens when I run out of selenium. I make sure tha that does not happen any more.

We both take magnesium -- he twice a day and I take lots due to the diabetes.

Bud worsens whenever I give him melatonin that also contains B-6. Due to his problems, I also take straight melatonin. I now give Bud 6 per nite and I take 5 (3 mg capsules). Radioprotective, powerful antioxidant and considered "anti-aging." My info comes from Dr. Russel Reiter, author of "Melatonin" and also studies on PubMed..some on my website but may be other info..not certain....so many files, etc.

I am not sure about improvement in Bud re AlphaLipoicAcid and don't want to take away to see whether he changes. Have done fair amount of reading about it tho. The Germans have used for well over 30 years. There are links re glutamate/glutathione, etc in the literature to Alz...and as I said, "diabetes" re Alpha..... I initially read about it re prevention of neuropathy (extreme pain in feet due to diabetes) and figured if the Germans used for many years, the "only reason" we aren't being told about it has to do with MONEY!!!!"

Bud worsens when I give him B-12 shot (stopped after first one), try giving him B-12 even methyl B-12 -- tried more than one kind -- and also re the B-complex. Could be that even tho I have moved his electric clock off nightstand, the electric currents that are being induced on his metal mattress springs and metal bedframe as result of the magnetic fields (6.0 to 10.0 milligauss) from the high voltage lines only 50 ft. from bedroom are reason for intolerance re B-vitamins. I have info re toxic effects of B's but in a stack of papers so can't give link right now (may be copied from a book).

Due to Bud's problems re B's, I also do not take extra....we both get some in regular vitamin.

Call or email w/questions. I am computer sensitive and not always able to get back to check respones, to interact, etc. Best wishes and take care - Joanne