www.perpetualcommotion.com
"Give with a free hand, but give only your own."
-- J.R.R. Tolkien The Children of Hurin
I have nothing to sell you but reasons to try, and those I give you for free.
Dedicated to the memory of my mother Patricia, who I couldn't save because of what I didn't know.
If only I knew then what I know now.
I give it to you.
Please save someone.

There are ways to combat dementia...

Study these things. If you want to see what I've found out, follow the links below for backup information. Go to the original research papers or news articles. Print out the information you are interested in, read it, and take it with you the next time you see your physician.

1. Drugs currently on the market that have been shown to slow the progression of neurological disease

   1. Liraglutide (Victoza) “halts the progression of Alzheimer’s disease”

   2. Memantine (a.k.a. Namenda: AD)

   3. Enbrel (Etanercept: AD)

   4. Lithium (ALS, tauopathies?)

   5. Methylene blue (tauopathies)

   6. Simvastatin (Zocor: Parkinson's)

   7. Desferrioxamine (intramuscular)-- chelates iron, aluminum. Halts AD progression.

   8. Deferasirox (oral)-- chelates iron, probably others. Possible alternative to desferrioxoxamine.

   9. Clioquinol - pre-occupies AB metal ion binding sites, halts AD progression.

   10. Lisinopril - (For MS)

   11. Actos - mitochondrial dysfunction of Parkinson's Disease

   12. Metformin – tauopathies

   13. Gleevec - In mouse studies, "the drug dramatically reduced beta amyloid not only in the blood, but also in the brain where the drug cannot penetrate."

   14. Zileuton - an FDA approved drug used to treat asthma can reduce the formation of amyloid beta.

   15. Tetracycline - Disassemble amyloid beta, suppress or eliminate spirochete infection of the brain.

   16. Doxycycline - suppress or eliminate spirochete infection of the brain.

   17. Bexarotene -(AD/amyloid beta: A drug used to treat a type of skin cancer called cutaneous T-cell lymphoma.)

   18. Epothilone D -(Epo-D)

   19. Davunetide - Tau [Reported to have failed a clinical trial in 2012 for PSP]

   20. Dimebon

   21. Nilotinib - Used to treat chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). Low doses prompt clearing intracellular proteins, prevents their accumulation in Lewy bodies and/or tangles, and also prevents amyloid secretion into the extracellular space between neurons.

   22. Trazodone hydrochloride - an FDA approved antidepressant
       Prevented the emergence of signs of most prion-disease and neurodegenerative disease mouse models (i.e. not humans), and restored memory in the frontotemporal dementia (FTD) mice. Reduced brain atrophy.

   23. Dibenzoylmethane - a compound being trialled as an anti-cancer drug
       Prevented the emergence of signs of most prion-disease and neurodegenerative disease mouse models (i.e. not humans), and restored memory in the frontotemporal dementia (FTD) mice. Reduced brain atrophy.

2. Substances found in nature that have shown promise in relieving the symptoms or even the causes of neurodegenerative diseases

   1. TIMP2 – a protein from human umbilical cord blood that appears to repair hippocampus function

   2. Curcumin - (a.k.a. turmeric extract) Similar effect as scyllitol in "standard animal model",
      plus other positive effects.

   3. Cinnamon - Inihibits tau protein hyperphosphorylation & untangles tau fibers that have already formed.

   4. Niacinamide - Inibits tau protein corruption, reduces quantity of tau protein aggregations.

   5. Niacinamide riboside – NAD+, helps cells repair DNA copying mistakes

   6. MCT - "Medium-chain Triglycerides" provides an alternate energy source for neurons which have trouble metabolising glucose. Coconut oil is rich in several MCTs.

   7. Fisetin - Neuroprotective Blood Brain Barrier Penetrating Flavonoid

   8. Coffee - 3 or 4 cups per day appears to prevent or at least delay progression of MCI (Mild Cognative Impairment) to AD.

   9. Myricetin -

   10. Walnuts - 1 to 1.5 oz of walnuts per day for humans - Mouse study showed a diet with 6% to 9% walnuts showed a significant improvement in memory

   11. Cocoa – Flavanols

   12. Trehalose - Promotes autophagy

   13. Ginkgo-biloba

   14. Scyllitol - Dissolves amyloid beta (AB) plaques and restores mental abilities in transgenic mice (standard "animal model" for AD research). Most abundant plant source is the coconut palm.

   15. Phosphatidylserine (PS)

   16. Huperzine A

   17. Vinpocetine

   18. Adaptation of The Sinatra Solution to neurodegenerative diseases with glucose hypometabolism: Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), L-carnitine (or maybe acetyl-L carnitine), D-ribose and magnesium to improve production of ATP by neuronal mitochondria[EDIT NOTE: NEED LINKS TO DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THESE]

   19. Alpha-lipoic Acid - Antioxidant, supports mitochondrial function, may halt the progression of AD.

   20. Grape Seed Extract - Inihibits tau protein hyperphosphorylation & untangles tau fibers that have already formed. [?]

   21. Aphanizomenon flos-aquae (AFA) - May halt progression of AD and related neurodegenerative diseases for as long as three years, 6 month improvement period.

   22. Colostrinin - Shows promise in slowing progression of AD.

   23. Apple Juice - May inhibit amyloid beta of Alzheimer's disease

   24. Rosemary - May have compounds that prevent the breakdown of acetylcholine.

   25. Green Tea (EGCG, epigallocatechin gallate) - Inhibits alpha-synuclein and amyloid-beta fibrillogenesis, higher consumption of green tea was associated with a lower prevalence of cognitive impairment.

   26. Anatabine - Reduces "brain inflammation". A component of tobacco.

3. III.Dietary changes to improve artery disease and reduce the chance of strokes
   See McDougall and Mirkin

   1. Improve circulation, reverse artery disease

   2. In combination with statin drugs

   3. Increase scyllitol intake from grains and legumes

4. Physical or mechanical devices that show promise in arresting the progression of dementia

   1. COGNIShunt [proven ineffective?]

   2. Infrared / heat

   3. RF

   4. Angioplasty (see more at CCSVI)

   5. Ultrasound breaks apart the neurotoxic amyloid plaques characteristic of Alzheimer's Disease (and CBS-AD?)

5. Metals involved with neuro-degenerative diseases

   1. Aluminum and Aluminosilicates

   2. Copper [EDIT NOTE: ARTICLE IN NOVEMBER 2009 SCIENCEDAILY.COM THAT COPPER IS IMPORTANT IN IMMUNE RESPONSE???]

   3. Iron metabolism in Parkinsonian Syndromes

6. Chelation agents that can be taken orally
   - to open up arteries
   - remove metal ions that may cause nerve cell damage
   - remove metal ions that may cause normally harmless (even crucial) proteins present in the brain to become toxic by a catalytic
   action (amyloid beta plaques)
   - remove metals from the body. It is not known for sure if this causes or exacerbates AD, but the cost is very low, and the risk of adversely affecting your health is low. At the worst, they will be ineffective.

   1. Phytic Acid (myo-inositol hexakisphosphate, IP6, InsP6) Naturally occurring "anti-nutrient" that binds to free metal ions, allowing the body to flush them out.

   2. Oral EDTA. EDTA is a common food additive used to preserve the flavor and color of processed foods. Perhaps it can be found in bulk, since food processing companies must use it in this way themselves!

   3. Cilantro: An herb found to mobilize aluminum, mercury and some other metals that are then chelated by a chelating agent such as phytic acid or EDTA. Cheap and easily available.

   4. Curcumin: Curcumin, amoung its other salubrious qualities, is a powerful iron and copper chelator.

6. Do blood thinners and anti-platelet medications reduce the risk of strokes and therefore the worsening of vascular dementia?

   1. Aspirin (reports of developing aspirin resistance?)

   2. Cumadin, etc (brand name or generic pharmaceuticals)

6. Are there any natural blood thinners and anti-platelets?
   -to prevent ischemic strokes (can exacerbate hemorrhagic strokes)
   -Natural blood thinners

   1. Garlic

   2. Ginkgo-biloba

6. Have statin drugs used to reduce cholesterol levels been found to slow the progression of Alheimer's disease or reduce the the risk strokes by reversing arterial sclerosis?
   - Statins - lowers cholesterol, delays AD progression.

6. Are there any alternative therapies available?

   1. IV EDTA chelation therapy-- chelates most metals. Reported by chelation therapists to halt and reverse AD symptoms.

   2. Infrared (1072nm)

   3. Heat

   4. Ultrasound

6. Potentially treatable conditions that may mimic the symptoms of dementia, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, corticobasal degeneration (CBD), etc.

   1. NPH (Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus)

   2. Lyme Disease

   3. Helicobacter pylori infection

   4. Celiac disease (gluten metabolism) [EDIT NOTE: NEED LINKS TO MORE DISCUSSION OF THESE]

   5. Sleep apnea, Sleep Deprivation and the Glymphatic System

   6. Cold sore virus (HSV-1, Herpes Simplex Virus-1), see Lauric Acid, Acyclovir

   7. Vitamin B12 deficiency

   8. CCSVI - Chronic CerebroSpinal Venous Insufficiency

   9. Carotid artery disease (Carotid stenosis)

   10. Neurospirochetosis - Invasion of the brain by spirochete bacteria such as Periodontal pathogen Treponemas (T. pectinovorum, T. amylovorum, T. lecithinolyticum, T. maltophilum, T. medium, T. socranskii) and Borrelia burgdorferi (Lyme disease)

   11. Porphyromonas Gingivalis bacteria originating in periodontal disease but invading the brain.

Nutritional alternatives: Things you can try while coaxing the physicians to get off their butts and try something. [EDIT NOTE: THE NUTRITIONAL ALTERNATIVES PAGES IS OUT OF DATE AND NEEDS MUCH UPDATING]

"First Aid" for AD Sundowning:

1 cup apple juice (or non-alcoholic apple cider) 2 times per day
(1 cup about 45 minutes prior to "sundowning time".)
20g of MCT oil from coconut meat, coconut oil, or refined "MCT oil".
- 2 "Mounds" candy bars, or
- 2x2" square of fresh coconut meat, or
- 3 coconut macaroons, or
- "coconut milk" as sold for Thai cooking (quantity TBD), or
- 7 tsp. of "MCT oil", as sold for bodybuilding
Curcumin
- 500mg capsules 2x per day, or
- 1 Tbsp unrefined ground turmeric spice 2x per day, or
- Curry dishes, at least 3x per week

See also Prazosin

The Distillery
(In other words, "I found it interesting, but haven't had the time to catagorize it yet.)

See also The Grand Index

The PC Reading List

This is my “online notebook”. The original purpose of this web site was to compile the information I was finding in my efforts to help my mother, and then my father. Now, I maintain it as an educational service to others. I needed a way to keep track of the mountains of information I was digging up on the various neurological diseases she had been diagnosed with by the various physicians she had seen. So, I started to put it on this web page for my own use, and that of my family. It is literally my electronic notebook, which I am constantly updating, revising, correcting, and expanding. Perhaps you can also gather some information from all this for when you meet with a physician to discuss what can be done for someone suffering from brain failure: Alzheimer's disease (AD), Vascular Dementia (VD), Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH), or any of the Parkinsonian Syndromes such as corticobasal degeneration (CBD) or progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP). You will have a list of questions to ask, and sources to read so that you will know what to ask.

The real challenges may be…

You may think that the real challenge is just finding something to help this person you care about-- some treatment, medication, supplement, or lifestyle change. However, the real challenge will be faith. Even if you find something in these pages you think will help, you will find that others do not believe, no matter how much evidence you produce. And you will need others to help you. The people taking care of the afflicted person may not believe that mere lifestyle change or eating habits or herbs or medicine or anything can help. Fatalism or a state of denial on the part of the caregiver can doom the dementia sufferer to an inevitable decline. After all, the only way pills can help is if you have enough faith to swallow them. Since these people, whom you must depend upon to help you care for the dementia sufferer, do not share your convictions about the effectiveness of the treatments you believe in, these “caregivers” will drag their feet, “forget”, and find all sorts of innovative ways to frustrate your efforts. You will find that even doing the simple things like making sure an incontinent person's diapers are clean and dry, making sure a person with dementia gets enough water, isn't constipated, or eats enough is beyond the ability of most nursing home staff and management.

Habits and behavior will be a great obstacle. This is like watching your cigarette addicted grandfather smoke himself to death. You know they are bad for him, and that he is smoking way way too much. But what can you do? There really just isn't a way to stop someone hell-bent on self destruction, so all you can do is just stand there helpless, watching him pound nails in his own coffin.

Another challenge will, of course, be getting the afflicted person to “take their medicine. A person who is starting to show the signs of Brain Failure (dementia, Alzheimer's Disease, Vascular Dementia, NPH, etc.), may not even be physically or mentally able to help themselves. They may refuse to take pills and capsules. They may not have an appetite to eat better food. They may not be able to swallow pills or feed themselves. This may be your greatest challenge. This, more than anything else, you may not be able to overcome.

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June 13, 2012

As I walk through the nursing home to visit my father, I pass by so many elderly people, most of whom are there because their minds are failing and they just can't take care of themselves any more. I know things, things I have presented to you here.  It breaks my heart to see people that I believe I could help just by telling someone of the things I know.  But I can't.  They would think me crazy.

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Home

Preface Brain Failure Notes Notes II References pg. 1 References pg. 2 Nutritional Alternatives Patricia's Protocol Tauopathy Discussion Forum The Grand Index Correspondence Newsletters Memory Enhancement PC Home Curcumin The Distillery

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You can reach me by mai|ing to "perpetualcommotion.com", at gmail dot com.

Updated July 29, 2016
Inception June 5, 2006

A "Death Club" refers to an on-line community, such as a message board or discussion group that is obsessed with death as the ultimate solution-- the final solution-- to all the problems of life. It is a collection of people who, at best, seek to find justification for inaction that will expedite the demise of someone who has become an emotional or physical drain on them. At worst, they want to actively hurry things along. The "Club" provides support for actions that would cause a burdened conscience. This is a form of "collective salvation". Unfortunately, people must face judgment as individuals, not as a member of a group. And even if a group approves, this does not remove guilt, as former members of the German National Socialist party (Nazi) came to realize. With regard to Internet discussion groups, "death club" means that the topics of discussion are dominated by people who regard death of other people as the ultimate solution to all their problems, and push an agenda of depression and hopelessness.

Alz.org's "Medications and Treatments" forum
In December of 2011, the Alzheimer's Association removed the "Medications and Treaments for Alzheimer's Disease" discussion forum and deleted some very lengthy threads which contained a lot of good information. This is truly sad development since that was one of the most informative discussion groups for AD I have found. I have not found an alternative, other than to steer people to the Yahoo Group "Tauopathies" (See the link above). There is (for the time being) a link to an archive of the posts to that board available.