Top Natural Remedies for Alzheimer's and Dementia

In India alzheimer is almost non existent and cancer is more rare, especially male types of cancer. Researchers found that it has to do with the consumption of large quantities of turmeric (also known as kunjit) in the curry. Especially the combination of chilly powder, turmeric and cauliflower and broccoli seems to do the trick. If you prepare a curry don't just use the herbal mix form the grocery but add your own paste of vegetable oil (arachide, sunflower or sesame oil), chilli powder and turmeric powder. Wash and cut the cauliflower and broccoli and let them sit for 15 minutes before cooking, as this improves the health benefits.

Hi Connie. I am afraid that I'm not knowledgeable enough to answer the technicalities of your questions!

The Indian diet has changed but it's a complicated point because diet is entirely determined by one's social and economic class. Rich people tend to eat too much and do too little exercise, as a result of which they are plagued by many of the lifestyle diseases of the West (such as type-2 diabetes).

Poorer people don't have the money to eat properly - too little protein and vitamins in their diet - and just carbohydrates to fill themselves up. Even lentils, traditionally the protein for the poor, are becoming very expensive for the very poor in India.

The principles of the Indian diet are excellent and many can and do follow these principles, so it is not as if we have lost our traditions entirely!

Alzheimer's seems to be caused by the herpes virus!!!!!!!!!!!!!! see for yourself-- http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/12/081207134109.htm

If a herpes virus does turn out to be one cause of Alzheimer's Disease then the amino acid Lysine could be a useful addition to any treatment regimen as Lysine is quite effective at treating cold sores. Lysine has been shown to be safe at levels that will control cold sores and can cross the blood / brain barrier as can the antioxidants alpha lipoic acid and melatonin which have both shown benefits of varying degrees in Alzheimer's patients and rodent models. Of course the patient studies seem to be of more practical value for those that feel that rodent models of Alzheimer's diease are a poor substitute for the real thing.

Coconut oil also has the ability to inhibit some herpes viruses and there is increasing anecdotal evidence that it can improve the Alzheimer's disease state at doses that are reasonably practical.

In the case of melatonin, it is not only an antioxidant itself, but it also acts to activate the bodies own antioxidant system, something that not all antioxidants are capable of. Melatonin also acts in an anti-inflammatory role which is an important aspect of Alzheimer's disease progression. Melatonin has also shown the ability to protect the human brain from many of the known damaging effects to the brain caused by Alzheimer's disease. Melatonin also can help alleviate some of the sleeplessness symptoms associated with AD. Another benefit shown in human studies is melatonin's ability to alleviate the symptom refered to as "Sundowning".

The good news is that not only are these supplements generally considered safe, they are readilly available, relatively cheap and are purported to have many other health benefits also!

Art

Can anyone share some preventative measures people can take to help prevent Alzheimer's disease?

You're welcome, Madelyn!

Has anyone ever tried 3% Hydrogen Peroxide for Dementia or Alzymers? If so, can you add details and what the results were?

Did I miss what ocean region/species of kelp?

Hi Johanna! Would you please share what brand of curcumin you give your mom ( I can't take turmeric because it's high in oxalates, but curcumin has less). Thank you!

Would you please share more information...How much do you take? And what brand?

Hi

There are sources of DMSO that don't have the bad smell. Check those out.

Oh joy!!!!! To hear about an older person getting BETTER!!!! Thank you, Mama to Many!

Isn't (or IS) no-flush niacin the same as Niacinamide?

That is wonderful. Very happy for you. If only the same would work on everyone with that dreadful, insidious disease.

You mentioned coconut oil but didn't say how much you gave your mom per day.

Hi, to back up what you said about UTIs, a nurse in the hospital told me the SAME THING!! And it's not just in the Elderly but most common with them. But UTIs can make anyone really ill and cause chronic pain all over the body as well as other problems. Love Andrea C xxx

Nowhereman: This may be a one time thing and she might not be monitoring the site any more. Maybe I could be of assistant. She may have intended to say 100,000iu instead of mg. 1mg of animal a is 1000iu. 1mg of beta carotene is 50iu. Many sites do not recommend palmitate because this is a synthetic isolate and has side effects. The proper ratio of animal a to d3 is 7-1. The daily dosage is 35,000iu of animal a to 5,000iu of d. Eskimos get this from blubber and liver. More is not more beneficial. Less is less beneficial. People also need some iodine and k2 for optimal functioning.

Thank you Hashieaussie for your advice about silica and horsetail tea being good for UTI's. I will try them.

google pubmed and/or ransworld Research Network and/or mercola

When I put in the above search, several articles about pancreatic cancer came up. When I looked up mercola, vitamin A, and Alzheimer's, the search only came up with articles with Alzheimer's and vitamin E, Alzheimer's and vitamin D, Alzheimer's and B12, and Alzheimer's and basically anything except vitamin A. Does anyone have an exact direct link? Thanks in advance.

Vit-A has a specific affinity to epithelial tissue like intestines, lungs, and skin; so it doesn't appear to protect brain tissue.

For antioxidant protection of the brain supplement Ginko Biloba, Chinese Skullcap, Hemp Oil/CBD and Taurine.

I forgot to mention Acetyl L-Carnitine as it is very good for brain function.

Hi can you please give the MG's and frequency on the phosphatidyl serine (PS) L-Carnitine, Tumeric, Gingko, Vinpocetine? You had the dosages for Vitamin A and Niacin but not the ones above. Thank you!

Joyce, could I use these recommendations on my father even when he takes Namenda and Aricept?

How much coconut oil and how is it taken?

My wife is presently on ability, citralopram. Having reactions I don't like. How can I remove her off these meds effectively. Thanks, Robert.

Where did you buy the Mycellized Vitamin A? Where can I buy online?

How did you measure in mg if the product comes in ml, in liquid form?

How long did you make this treatment?

Thanks

Do you really mean " Mycellized Vitamin A 100,000 mg. a day for 3 weeks, (then cut back to 20,000 mg a day maintenance) we noticed a big improvement", or do you mean microgram?

Stig.

Hi, loved your post. Could you pleas give me the dosages for the entire protocol? I have been treating myself for a couple of years with pretty good success for prevention but I am on too many things and would like to reduce my number of bottles! I am 74, still practicing dental hygiene a few days a month but I can tell my memory is skipping a few beats more often. Thanks so much!

Could you share how many drops of the liquid A to reach 100,000iu? Maybe I missed something?

Good comment. It's certainly true that there are often multiple causes and remedies for diseases. However, it is very difficult to research multiple items at the same time. For better or worse, the purpose of any study is to reduce the number or variables to find out is something works. Drug interactions are very problematic and difficult to track down. Anyone taking multiple medications daily can attest to how difficult it can be to figure out what drug is interacting negatively with another drug. I don't know how many Alzheimer's studies are currently in process, but just today I skimmed over at least 50, all different. Alzheimer's does not appear to have one cause: some are genetic, some may be environmental, a lot they're trying to figure out. Research done on one cause or remedy does not invalidate the research. A study is a beginning. Research on a medication, for example, cannot investigate drug interactions until they have the drug developed. No treatment will work on everyone. We are all unique.

Alzheimer's is certainly a very complicated and horrible disease, especially so to those of us who have watched it first hand destroy someone we loved. If niacinamide or anything else can help delay the progress for even a few people, IT IS WORTH IT! It's safe, cheap and has been around for a long time.

What you wrote is true.

Let's take this study for example:

https://www.clinmedjournals.org/articles/jgmg/journal-of-geriatric-medicine-and-gerontology-jgmg-3-021.pdf

The administration of NA alone did not have the desired effects, one should take more factors into account for best results, no matter what.

M.

I agree with most of what you have said. But they did do some in depth experiments on mice to either prove or disprove whether tobacco caused lung cancer. They found out that the mice who were breathing strontium got lung cancer, they found out that those who were breathing Tobacco smoke didn't. When they made a mix up and put the mice who were breathing strontium, onto breathing tobacco, it was found that it protected them, by the fact that the mucous floated the strontium particles out of there lungs.

So the conclusion was that Smoking protected them from lung cancer. this of course was not what they wanted to hear. So the conclusions were shelved and ignored. Moderate smoking of the natural leaf, probably protects the smoker from a host of diseases, Bowel cancer. Parkinson's. Alzheimer's. Obesity. Depression. Schizophrenia. Pellagra. Asthma. There are many more I cant remember. But if self medication is removed from just these, we all know who stands to benefit.

Nicotine stimulates the central nervous system. All longevity experts do not recommend products that stimulate the central nervous system. They recommend products that nourish the central nervous system.

If it is just the nicotine you are after, that can be found in many off the shelf products such as the patch, pills or even non tobacco chew. You seem to be going for moderation or the "a little bit often" approach many have found that difficult with tobacco products including myself. I do still think you would have side effects from the smoke over a period of time. Growing tobacco might make for a fun hobby though.

Colorado Mike;

What we are advocating is that you get yourself some clean, pesticide free, chemical free, tobacco leaf and use that, and see if that gives you niccotine and other tobacco nutrients; without the side effects of toxicity and addiction. Use the natural tobacco leaf without the added man-made poisons.

You do not have to smoke it. Chew it, transderm it thru the soles of the feet, vaporize it, grind it up and take small oral doses of it, etc, etc. Then see if these methods make a nicotine addict out of you, or not. Maybe you can have the good effects without the bad effects. Maybe the commercial products are booby-trapped?

Off the shelf products will be contaminated with the usual applied toxins. If you grow your own you will know that it is clean.

That is what we were trying to say. They are poisoning the tobacco before it ever gets to you.

I have also seen organically grown tobacco leaf for sale on the internet.

Why do people misconcepts nicotinic acid-B3 C₆H₅NO₂ with nicotine C₁₀H₁₄N₂?

This might give a clue as to what nicotine (B3) can do and why the big pharma want in. http://www.sott.net/article/195249-Warning-Nicotine-Seriously-Improves-Health

Uhh... How do "they" know that there's no "magic bullet" to treat alzheimer's? Has anyone tried treating it with azithromycin? A while back I was given some and it cleared my head, gave me a lot more energy, made my stomach feel better, fixed my depression, made me actually feel sociable. It is an antifungal. Please try it.

I am thinking of an ayurvedic herb BRAHMI or its other name GOTU KOLA. It is supposed to repair and revitalize brain cells and nerves. It also decreases senility and aging. It is also a powerful blood purifier. Dr. David Frawley in Santa Fe would be the right professional to consult. Best of luck. Om

I'm looking for some insight into why this would have happened. My mother-in-law has Alzheimer's. She injured herself in a fall and got a steroid shot. The next day we noticed a significant change in her function, it was almost as if she had reverted back to the beginning stages of 5-6 years ago, an amazing improvement.

Now we are digging deeper to figure out why this would be - any thoughts? Nothing else changed except the shot, no drugs, no diet, nothing else.

Any insight would be extremely appreciated. We would like her to not revert back, if at all possible.

So what happened with your dad? Did the coconut oil help?

Hi, Your Vit. D / juice recommendation to help overcome alzeimer's sounds encouraging. Can you please be more specific about the vegetable/fruit juice used. Thanks, Larry

I'm not the original poster, but it sounds like she is referring to the V- F---- juices - in this case, the "strawberry/banana" flavor. The juices have a vegetable base, but are flavored with different fruits that you can choose from - pomegranate/blueberry, strawberry/banana, etc. Hope this helps.

Hi Larry, it is a major brand available in all major grocery retailers. V8-fusion the reg not the low cal. I did poke a hole in the vit D caps and squeeze them in the juice but only because had a hard time getting her to take pills but I don't really think this matters. God bless you!

You can buy liquid Vitamin D with a dropper in health foods stores and then you don't have to cut open Vitamin D gel caps, plus the quality is often better than those in gel/pill form.

Melatonin can cause Crohn's-like symptoms in some people. Sadly, it does that to me.

Hi Mary Jane.... There is all kinds of information about Alheimer's and Virgin Coconut Oil and how much it can help.

Hello Mary Jane,

Could you tell me how much lemon juice you are using and how advanced your dad was with Alzheimers when you started?

Hi there Mary, any update on your dad? How is he doing on the juice?

Thanks M.

Hi, I've just come across this info for using lemon juice for AD, has anyone used this successfully?

Hi. What dose of b-12 did you use for your father's Alzheimer's Disease?

Sugar? There is nothing sweet that is beneficial for anything. For good health, sugar should not exist even in the smallest amount in any diet. It is poison and immediately addictive not to mention that EATING ANY KIND OF SUGAR HAS THE POTENTIAL TO REDUCE YOUR BODY'S DEFENSES BY 75% OR MORE FOR FOUR TO SIX HOURS. Ask Dr. Pauling.

The theraputic dose for Coconut oil for Alzheimer's is five teaspoons a day.

Alzheimer's cured with lithium aspartate???

Lithium, the rediscovered (missing?) element for your brain's regeneration
The Misunderstood Mineral

By Jonathan V. Wright, M.D.
(Reprinted From "Nutrition and Healing"
http://www.oradix.com/health-library/article.php?id=031

excerpt: There are many other research findings that also strongly suggest that lithium will protect against potential Alzheimer's disease and slow the progression of existing cases. Researchers have reported that lithium inhibits beta-amyloid secretion, and also prevents damage caused by beta-amyloid protein once it's been formed.20-23 Beta-amyloid peptide is a signature protein involved in Alzheimer's disease: the more beta-amyloid protein, the worse the Alzheimer's becomes...

Lithium Orotate - Alzheimers Disease, Aluminum, Fibromyalgia: Is There a Relationship?
http://www.smartbodyz.com/Lithium-Orotate-Alzheimers-Disease-Aluminum-Fibromyalgia-Pg2.htm

excerpt:Chris D. Meletis, N.D. reports in Vitamin Research News, "Studies show that lithium, in general, inhibits the atrophy of the hippocampus. Atrophy of the human hippocampus is seen in a variety of disorders including Alzheimer's disease."(1)

thank you so much for your imput, I'm really looking for personal experiences before use it and your comment is of great help. nevertheless i'd like to deep more into this issue.

lithium carbonate is more toxic, it needs high levels in order to cross the brain barrier.

if lithium aspartate has that toxic effect, what is your experience with lithium orotate?

Low dosages of lithium have been found to be safe.[9] Dr. Jonathan Wright suggests 20 to 30 mg. of lithium aspartate or lithium orotate daily as an appropriate dose to stop brain aging. This is 1/3 to 1/6 the dosage of lithium carbonate used to treat manic depressive disorder. Dr. Hans Nieper of Germany has learned that lithium orotate or lithium aspartate penetrate cells more effectively than lithium carbonate so smaller doses can be used. One tablespoon of flaxseed oil daily along with 400 I.U. of vitamin E ensures that no lithium toxicity can develop

HOW TO ENLARGE YOUR BRAIN AND IMPROVE BRAIN PERFORMANCE
By Dr. James Howenstine, MD.
May 5, 2004
NewsWithViews.com
http://www.newswithviews.com/Howenstine/james11.htm

recent research has shown that low doses of lithium preserve and renew[1] brain cells. Eight of ten persons given lithium showed an increase in brain grey matter of 3 % after only 4 weeks. By promoting brain cell regeneration and increasing brain size lithium can function as an anti-aging nutrient for the brain.

Lithium also accomplishes the following benefits for brain cells:

*
Lithium enhances DNA replication which is the first step to formation of new cells.
*
The damaging effects of excitotoxins. (monosodium glutamate (MSG), aspartame (Nutrasweet) etc. can be blocked by lithium.[2]
*
Animal research shows that lithium can decrease the areas of cell death after induced strokes by 56 %.
*
Lithium protects rat brain cells from the. increased levels of brain cell death caused by anti-convulsant drugs (Dilantin phenytoin , Tegretol, carbamazepine etc.)
*
Lithium may protect against adverse effects from mood altering drugs, alcohol, tobacco, caffeine, 'uppers"and "downers", and marihuana all of which cause brain damage with long term use.
*
Abnormally functioning signaling pathways may become repaired by lithium.
*
The aluminum felt to be a possible cause of Alzheimer's Disease (AD). is chelated[3] by lithium so it can be more easily removed from the body.

Research has suggested that lithium blocks the secretion of beta-amyloid in Alzheimer's disease and prevents damage from pre-existing beta amyloid. Overactivity of the brain cell protein tau contributes to death of neurones in Alzheimer's Disease. Lithium inhibits this tau protein damage and the formation of the neurofibrillary tangles seen in AD.

I'm looking for natural neurogenesis boosters, like THC from hemp, but it is illegal in US.

In regards to the Lithium Oratate dosage and Vitamin E or Flaxseed oil to prevent Lithium toxicity, would Krill oil or Coconut oil suffice in this aspect as well, or does it strictly have to be the Vitamin E or Flaxseed oil? Thank you.

Ted, what is your opinion regarding Lithium Orotate. I have been wary of Lithium Aspartate because of the aspartate so it surprised me to read that Dr Wright has been taking it in low doses for years.

Cure of cognitive impairment of down syndrome may help Alzheimer's sufferers.
Changing minds is a protocol to treat the cognitive impairment seen in down syndrome. After only 13 weeks of treatment the IQ start to rise. Here you can find the protocol, a documentary trailer, testimonies and research:
www.changingmindsfoundation.com

and here you can see other fragments. Watch nichole who has a dual diagnostic of down syndrome + alzheimer.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_vHGmPUhQ0

keep in mind that The connection between Down syndrome and Alzheimer's disease is complex. Studies of the brains of people with Down syndrome reveal that, by the age of 40, almost all develop the brain changes characteristic of Alzheimer's disease.

I know the protocol use 2 prescription drugs, but one is no necessary, the other one is prosac, and its main use is for neurogenesis= creation of new neurons with strong synapses. so there is possible cure for the cognitive impairment, and the article about the lithium is very interesting, looks like it does the same as prosac. exercise stimulate neurogenesis and THC also.

changingminds's protocol

Ginkgo Biloba
Ginkgo Biloba - In 2003, Stanford University discovered the main culprit, GABA receptor, an inhibitor, was ON continuously in individuals with Down syndrome. (View details) The result was- it did not allow the nerves in the memory area of the brain to fire. To get the proper level of GABA, a GABA antagonist was used to turn it down. (View details) Ginkgo Biloba is a GABA antagonist which has been used for over 4000 years (View details)

Prozac (Fluoxetine)
Prozac - The University Of Maryland School Of Medicine treated Down syndrome mice with prozac for 24 days (2006). It increased neurogenesis (the formation of new nerves) to a normal level (View details). This is like increasing the hardware on your computer. It allows you to run more complicated software. In fetuses with Down syndrome, neurons fail to show normal dendritic development, yielding a "tree in winter" appearance. This developmental failure is thought to result in mental retardation (View details)

Focalin XR
Focalin XR is an ADHD medicine that increases focus and decreases impulsiveness and hyperactivity. It is a mild stimulant. As our children improved, we became increasingly aware of their inability to attend to the tasks at hand.

Phosphatidylcholine
Phosphatidylcholine is a phospholipid that makes up 50% of the cell membrane. The membrane is the lining of every nerve cell that carries our signals. We are trying to heal the brain by growing new neurons and allowing them to fire. Giving PC is like bringing the bricks to the construction site when building a house. (View details)

Formulated with a 4:1 Ratio of Omega 6 to Omega 3 in Liquid form or Softgel pills.

Of the tens of thousands of molecules that make up the life of a cell, Phosphatidylcholine (PC) stands apart; probably the most important one of all. BodyBio PC is made of only pure phospholipids which automatically form liposomes in the watery environment of the body, but it goes one important step further.... it is also formulated with the essential lipids at a 4:1 ratio. Most PC currently available has an EFA ratio of ~12:1. BodyBio PC not only has a higher concentration of PC, up to 66% but also maintains EFA concentration at the preferred 4:1 ratio, a BodyBio exclusive.

Body Bio Balanced Oil
Body Bio Oil - There is a growing body of evidence that inflammation and degeneration go hand in hand. This oil provides the body with the building blocks to reduce inflammation and improve health. Link to references

4:1 Ratio of Organic Sunflower and Flax Seed Oil Blend in its Virgin State. Fatty acids are not only good for you -- they are ESSENTIAL! One of the very best supplement programs includes additional Essential Fatty Acids of Omega 6 to Omega 3 at a 4:1 ratio. This special formulation of organic sunflower and flax is now available as BODYBIO BALANCE!

Folinic Acid/ B 12 (methylcobalamin)
Folinic Acid/ B 12 (methylcobalamin) - Dr. Jill James has a detailed study looking at methylation and the need for these nutrients in the patient with Down syndrome. (View Details)

Dosage:

• Ginkgo Biloba - The dose is approximately 2.5 mg/lb for the dry herb but must be adjusted on the basis of clinical response and tolerability.
• Prozac - The dose needs to be adjusted in the range of 5 mg to 20mg/day on the basis of clinical response and tolerability.
• Focalin XR - dosage should be individualized according to the needs and responses of the patient
• Phosphatidylcholine - depends on age, check table below
• Body Bio Oil - depends on age, check table below
• Folinic Acid/ B 12 depends on age, check table below

Fico

Thank you for your input, Ruma!! Could you tell us, is the water fluoridated and/or chlorinated there? What do you know about excitotoxins and free glutamic acid consumption in India? Has diet changed there like it did here in the USA from mostly homegrown, home-cooked food mostly free of pesticides and preservatives, to a lot of store-bought premade processed food? What would you say might be the cause of the rise in Alzheimer's disease in India?

Just wanted to point out that the "NAY" above would appear to be more specifically against Turmeric preventing cancer rather than Alzheimer's. There is pretty decent research indicating the *likely* effectiveness of Turmeric.

Turmeric is the fourth anti-inflammatory shown to help Alzheimer's that I am aware of. The other research/examples are: A DMARD injected into the neck (very controversial), NSAID's such as Aspirin (not controversial IMHO), steroids (listed on these very pages)

There are two studies that seemed to link this to the fact that drinking soy milk can help Alzheimers that I think is remotely interesting.

One study showed that the brain of an alzheimer's patient is extremely low in hydrogen sulfide, while on the other hand, it was found that baby infants who drink soy milk had high levels of hydrogen sulfide.

Now I am not saying that hydrogen sulfide is good or bad, it is one of the three gaseous molecules the body uses to control, many biological functions. The other two is nitric oxide and carbon monoxide produced in very low amounts to control the body's physiology.

It is quite possible that by taking soy, Alzheimers might be helped, remotely anyway, through the increase in hydrogen sulfide through driking soy milk. The reason being is Alzheimer's brains are low in hydrogen sulfide while soy milk causes increase in hydrogen sulfide. Ted"

Here are the two research studies. By the way, neither soy nor cow's milk is recommended for infants.

----------------------

1: J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2001 May;32(5):534-41.

Gas production by feces of infants.

Jiang T, Suarez FL, Levitt MD, Nelson SE, Ziegler EE.

Fomon Infant Nutrition Unit, Department of Pediatrics, University of Iowa, 200 Hawkins Drive, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA.

BACKGROUND: Intestinal gas is thought to be the cause abdominal discomfort in infants. Little is known about the type and amount of gas produced by the infant's colonic microflora and whether diet influences gas formation. METHODS: Fresh stool specimens were collected from 10 breast-fed infants, 5 infants fed a soy-based formula, and 3 infants fed a milk-based formula at approximately 1, 2, and 3 months of age. Feces were incubated anaerobically for 4 hours at 37 degrees C followed by quantitation of hydrogen (H2), methane (CH4), carbon dioxide (CO2), hydrogen sulfide (H2S), methanethiol (CH3SH), and dimethyl sulfide (CH3SCH3) in the head-space. RESULTS: H2 was produced in greater amounts by breast-fed infants than by infants in either formula group, presumably the consequence of incomplete absorption of breast milk oligosaccharides. CH4 was produced in greater amounts by infants fed soy formula than by infants on other diets. CO2 was produced in similar amounts by infants in all feeding groups. Production of CH3SH was conspicuously low by feces of breast-fed infants and production of H2S was high by soy-formula-fed infants. CH3SCH3 was not detected. Only modest changes with age were observed and there was no relation between gas production and stool consistency, although stools were more likely to be malodorous when concentrations of H2S and/or CH3SH were high. CONCLUSIONS: Gas release by infant feces is strongly influenced by an infant's diet. Of particular interest are differences in production of the highly toxic sulfur gases, H2S and CH3SH, because of the role that these gases may play in certain intestinal disorders of infants.

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Alzheimer is low in hydrogen sulfide: Brain hydrogen sulfide is severely decreased in Alzheimer's disease

Authors: Eto K.1; Asada T.2; Arima K.2; Makifuchi T.3; Kimura H.1

Source: Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, Volume 293, Number 5, May 2002, pp. 1485-1488(4)

Abstract:

Although hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is generally thought of in terms of a poisonous gas, it is endogenously produced in the brain from cysteine by cystathionine-synthase (CBS). H2S functions as a neuromodulator as well as a smooth muscle relaxant. Here we show that the levels of H2S are severely decreased in the brains of Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients compared with the brains of the age matched normal individuals. In addition to H2S production CBS also catalyzes another metabolic pathway in which cystathionine is produced from the substrate homocysteine. Previous findings, which showed thatS-adenosyl-l-methionine (SAM), a CBS activator, is much reduced in AD brain and that homocysteine accumulates in the serum of AD patients, were confirmed. These observations suggest that CBS activity is reduced in AD brains and the decrease in H2S may be involved in some aspects of the cognitive decline in AD.