Alpha-Lipoic Acid as a New Treatment for Patients with Alzheimer's disease

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Alpha-Lipoic Acid as a New Treatment for Patients with Alzheimer's disease

http://www.vitasearch.com/CP/weeklyupdates/

Reference: " Alpha-lipoic acid as a new treatment option for Alzheimer's

disease--a 48 months follow-up analysis, " Hager K, Kenklies M, et al, J

Neural Transm Suppl, 2007; 72: 189-93. (Address: Department of Medical

Rehabilitation and Geriatrics, Henriettenstiftung, Hannover, Germany).

Summary: In a study involving 43 patients with Alzheimer's disease

(mild or moderate), supplementation with alpha-lipoic acid (600 mg/day)

was found to be associated with dramatically lower progression of the

disease over a period of 48 months, as compared to data from patients

not receiving alpha-lipoic acid. The authors first cite a previous

open-label study in which 9 patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD)

receiving standard treatment with choline-esterase inhibitors were given

600 mg/day alpha-lipoic acid for a period of 12 months. The results of

that study found stabilization of cognitive functions as assessed via 2

neuropsychological tests. In this study, the authors extended the

analysis to include 43 patients over the course of 48 months. Results

found that in patients with mild dementia (ADAScog <15), progression of

the disease was extremely slow and in patients with moderate dementia

(ADAScog: +1.2 points/year; MMSE: -0.6 points/year), progression of the

disease was twic e that rate. Compared with data from untreated patients

or patients on choline-esterase inhibitors alone, the progression of the

disease was dramatically lower among the subjects in this study taking

alpha-lipoic acid. The authors conclude, " 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. "

--

ne Holden, MS, RD < fivestar@... >

" Ask the Parkinson Dietitian " http://www.parkinson.org/

" Eat well, stay well with Parkinson's disease "

" Parkinson's disease: Guidelines for Medical Nutrition Therapy "

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