Science and Research Questions

There is some evidence that individuals with moderate to severe Alzheimer's who are taking a cholinesterase inhibitor (such as Aricept) might benefit slightly more by also taking an NMDA receptor antagonist (such as Namenda). A 2008 review of nearly 60 different clinical studies observed that combined use of a cholinesterase inhibitor and Namenda lead to a mild improvement in cognition and behavior in dementia patients. Because short-term memory is assessed as part of the cognitive measurement in these studies, combined used of these agents could be said to help to improve short-term memory.

The arthritis medication Enbrel® (generic name: etanercept) is a TNF-alpha antagonist (TNF-alpha is an inflammatory cytokine). Studies suggest that brain inflammation may play a role in damage due to Alzheimer's disease and TNF-alpha secreted by glial cells in the brain may contribute to this damage. In a six-month pilot study in California, scientists found that perispinal injection (administration directly into the central nervous system) of etanercept produced significant cognitive improvements in all Alzheimer's disease patients (ranging from mild- to severe-Alzheimer's disease at the start of the study). Even more recently, these same researchers found that in one patient with late-onset Alzheimer's disease, perispinal injection of etanercept (i.e., injection into the fluid surrounding the spinal cord) induced significant cognitive and behavioral improvements within a matter of minutes. You can read more about this study in The Journal of Neuroinflammation. These results are certainly encouraging, but additional testing will be necessary (such as much larger clinical trials and FDA approval) before any such treatment can be offered to the general public. Because etanercept is currently not approved for the treatment of AD, you can speak to your doctor but it is unlikely that he or she will be able to authorize this line of therapy. However, in the Resources section of our website you can search for Alzheimer's clinical trials in your area that you may be able to participate in.

Collagen is the primary component of blood vessels, cartilage, tendons, and connective tissues. There are many different types of collagen within the body, and specific disorders are associated with each particular type of collagen. Because collagen is such an integral part of vessels and connective tissue, researchers have studied collagen as part of the brain vasculature in their attempts to determine whether changes in brain vasculature have any effect on influencing the development of Alzheimer’s dementia. While the findings are complex, there do not appear to be any studies specifically linking a collagen deficiency to Alzheimer’s disease.

Your overall risk (and your siblings’ risks) of developing Alzheimer’s disease would be influenced by the form of Alzheimer’s your parents have—early-onset or late-onset. Familial Alzheimer’s disease (FAD) or early-onset Alzheimer’s is an inherited, rare form of the disease, affecting less than 10 percent of Alzheimer’s disease patients. It is caused by one of three gene mutations on chromosomes 1, 14 and 21. If even one of these mutated genes is inherited from a parent, the person will almost always develop FAD. All offspring in the same generation have a 50/50 chance of developing FAD if one parent has it. Because FAD is typically rare, the likelihood that one of your parents has FAD is quite low, and the odds that both of your parents have FAD are lower still.

The majority of Alzheimer’s disease cases are late-onset, usually developing after age 65. Late-onset Alzheimer’s disease has no known cause and shows no obvious inheritance pattern. However, in some families, clusters of cases are seen. But genetic risk factors alone are not enough to cause the late-onset form of Alzheimer’s disease—diet and environment may also play a role in the development of this disease. So the best thing you and your siblings can do at the moment is try to eat a healthy diet and exercise your mind and body.

Maintaining a relaxed attitude can help to lower stress levels, and lowering stress is beneficial overall for your body and mind. A calm, non-stressed person will typically have lower stress hormone levels and lower blood pressure, which is good for your heart, your immune system, and your brain among other things. For example, lower blood pressure can reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke, both of which have been implicated as potential contributing factors for the development of dementia. And having a relaxed attitude is good for your memory as well. Studies have indicated that reducing stress not only acts to aid short-term memory, but can also improve a person’s general emotional well-being, which is good for long-term cognitive health. So it is possible, though not proven, that remaining relaxed and non-stressed can help to reduce your overall risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.

Mutations in the presenilin-1 gene (PS1, on chromosome 14), the presenilin-2 gene (PS2, on chromosome 1), and the amyloid precursor protein gene (APP, on chromosome 21) have all been linked to a rare form of early-onset Alzheimer's known as familial Alzheimer's disease (FAD). FAD accounts for less than 10 percent of all Alzheimer's disease cases. At the moment, is only possible to test for the PS1 gene clinically—PS2 and APP genetic testing are currently only performed for research purposes. Even so, tests for PS1 are generally only performed on persons having a family history of FAD, or as an aid to confirm an Alzheimer's diagnosis in persons suspected of having the disease.

If you are concerned about the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, then you should speak to your primary care physician about the possibly of genetic testing. Your doctor can refer you to a genetic counselor who can take a family history and decide on the best course of action. A genetic counselor will be able to explain the implications of genetic testing and what the results mean in terms of your risk of developing the disease.

But in most cases, genetics alone are not enough to cause Alzheimer’s disease - diet and environment can also play a role in whether or not a person develops the disease. So if you are serious about reducing your risk of developing Alzheimer’s, the best thing you can do is to develop or maintain a healthy lifestyle including a healthy diet and exercise. As for diet, you should strive for a diet that is low in saturated and trans fats and high in antioxidants. And evidence suggests that exercising your mind as well as your body can help to reduce memory loss. You can mentally exercise your brain by doing puzzles, word games, learning a new language or technology - anything really that challenges your mind and really makes you think. But don't forget about your body. Physical exercise for your body is just as important because it can help to lower blood pressure, reduce your body weight (or maintain a healthy weight), and decrease stress levels. Reducing stress will not only act to aid your short-term memory, but can also improve your overall emotional well-being, which is good for your long-term cognitive health. Finally, be sure to get enough sleep. Most adults need at least 7-8 consecutive hours of sleep each night in order for their memory functioning to be at its best.

An extensive study performed by the Life Sciences Research Office (LSRO) and experts from multiple fields ranging from toxicology to neurology to immunology (to name but a few) found there to be no correlation between dental amalgams (i.e. mercury fillings) and neurodegenerative disease such as Alzheimer's disease or Parkinson’s disease. In other words, dental amalgams do not cause Alzheimer's disease.