New Photos: International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease (ICAD)
Press Releases:
"Memeron Alzheimer's Treatment Ushers in New Wave of Galantamine Products to Expand on Razadyne"
"New Alzheimer's Treatment Helps Reduce Brain Inflammation"
"Memeron Alzheimer's Drug Offers Hope to Patients and Caregivers"
Patient Reports: View Reports Submit Report
Recommended New Study: Alzheimer's disease, amnestic mild cognitive impairment, and age-associated memory impairment: current understanding and progress toward integrative prevention. Alternative Medicine Review, June, 2008 by Parris M. Kidd, PhD, The University of California at Berkeley
"International studies make it clear that dementia occurs in every country of the world. Dementia affects 1 in 20 people over the age of 65 and 1 in 5 over the age of 80. Worldwide there are an estimated 24 million people with dementia. By 2040 the number will have risen to 81 million." -Alzheimer's Disease International
"In America alone, there are currently about 4.5m people suffering from Alzheimer's disease, and their ranks are expected to grow to 6m by 2020. Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), defined as memory loss without any significant functional impairment, is estimated to afflict at least another 4.5m people." -The Economist
"Alzheimer's disease is now the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Center for Health Statistics. The CDC estimates that 72,914 Americans died of Alzheimer's disease in 2006. With an unprecedented historic population shift of 78 million aging baby boomers in the country and this disease poised to strike 10 million boomers - it is clear this escalating epidemic must be addressed now." -Alzheimer's Association
"The Memeron™ formula expands upon the cholinergic hypothesis of Alzheimer's disease. Memeron™ works specifically on the acetylcholine neurotransmitter system, as well as, build new brain cells, reduce inflammation, and remove amyloid beta plaques. Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors on the market today such as Aricept (donepezil), Razadyne (galantamine alone), and Exelon (Rivastigmine) just inhibit the breakdown of acetylcholine, Memeron™ provides additional acetylcholine to the brain through acetylcholine synthesis utilizing Alpha GPC (choline alfoscerate) as a precursor. Memeron™ does two tasks simultaneously- prevent the breakdown of acetylcholine AND supply additional acetylcholine for memory functions. Its not enough simply to slow down the breakdown of acetylcholine. You have to build new neurons, establish new connections between brain regions, reduce brain inflammation, and remove amyloid beta plaques. Memeron™ is perhaps the best treatment currently available to alleviate symptoms and help reverse disease pathology." -Doug Phillips, Director of Research and Development, CerebralHealth.com
The Alzheimer's Brain
img source: http://www.freewebs.com/rbannerm/AD_2003.jpg
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative condition that affects persons and families worldwide. Alzheimer's is usually progressive in nature by slowly altering a person's brain structures and neurochemistry. Often, symptoms of AD are observed by close friends and family members of those afflicted who notice increasing forgetfullness, lapses in long-term memory, severe mood swings occasionally escalating into rage, and withdrawal from social activities. The prevalence of Alzheimer's increases as a person ages with a high incident rate occuring between the ages of 65 and 90 years of age.
While many caregivers and family members may feel that the symptoms associated with AD are a result of the sufferer's own decision-making and personality, it is important to realize that AD is a neurobiological condition that is often beyond the individual's capacity to alter without effective treatment that tagets the biological basis of the disease. As indicated in the diagram above, AD can wreak havoc on specific areas of the brain. In some cases, the neurons themselves which process virtually all of the information in the brain can become seriously diseased and begin to atrophy. A plaque build-up in the microtubules connecting the cell bodies of neurons creates interference that prevents normal informational and cognitive processing. In PET (positron emission tomography) and fMRI brain scans, regions of the brain associated with memory are compromised and severe shrinking can occur. Both the hippocampus and the cerebral cortex, which are essential to the processing of memories, can begin to shrink in size.
Acetylcholine Synthesis
img src: http://www.dementiaguide.com/images/DGI-Ill-Acetylcholine.jpg
Individuals with AD also experience disruption and degradation of neurotransmitter systems that help send signals across neurons. One of the most prominent neurotransmitter systems effected in patients with AD is involved with the synthesis of acetylcholine, which researchers have found to be critical to neurological functions involving learning and memory. Most of the medications currently on the market to treat AD are called 'acetylcholinesterase inhibitors' that prevent the breakdown of acetylcholine. Since AD patients have insufficient levels of acetylcholine in their neurotransmitter systems, acetylcholinesterase inhibitors help maintain proper levels needed for informational processing. The Memeron™ formula is designed specifically to increase acetylcholine synthesis and assist with elevating acetylcholine levels in AD sufferers. Memeron™ provides additional choline for acetylcholine synthesis utilizing choline alfoscerate and prevents the breakdown of acetylcholine by using Galantamine as an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor.
Without proper treatment and disease management, AD symptoms can become more severe and worsen as time goes on. In the late stages of Alzheimer's, sufferers can forget the names and faces of close family members, and in some cases, do not even remember their own names or know where they are. To effectively prevent, treat, and manage the symptoms of AD, it is important to maintain a lifestyle conducive to overall brain health. This includes the following:
1) Proper brain nutrition. A diet high in omega fatty acids, antioxidants, protein and vitamins is key. Oily fish, fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts and seeds, as well as, foods rich in protein such as soy and blue-green algae are essential to the aging brain.
2) Sufficient exercise. Even short walks can help keep the body and mind fit as we age. Mild exercise of any kind can assure us that our blood and neurochemicals are flowing to keep us vibrant and mentally clear.
3) Mental activities. Doing crossword puzzles, playing sudoku, reading books, painting, or even working on a new invention can all help to keep the aging brain at bay.
4) Social activities. Engaging others in conversation is mentally challenging and helps us better formulate our thoughts. The language centers of the brain are activated and interacting with others and socializing with friends, family members, and our local community can expand our mental horizons as we share our experiences with others.
5) Supplementation and Neuropharmaceuticals. Safe and effective brain health supplements and neuropharmaceuticals are now available to help fuel the brain with essential nutrients and neurotransmitters designed to help ensure proper brain functioning. Memeron™ was designed with the sole purpose of helping individuals and their families combat the deleterious effects of AD and various challenges associated with declining memory capacity. Other drugs and supplements are also available which can help treat and prevent neurobiological disease such as Alzheimer's.
As research in the neurosciences continues and our understanding of the brain grows, our knowledge of the precise mechanisms of Alzheimer's will help create novel therapies that will help us fight the symptoms and causes of the disease. Memeron™ is an outgrowth of contemporary neurobiological studies and clinical research that can help augment a healthy lifestyle to preserve our memories as we age.
FDA Notice: Galantamine is FDA approved to treat mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease. Galantamine is well-tolerated and has been studied extensively for over 50 years for both safety and efficacy. Mild stomach irritation may occur if taken without meals. Please consult with a physician if symptoms worsen or if any health conditions arise while using Memeron™.