Others
(24-08-2005)
Vitamin E
Vitamin E has been studied in a very large American study paid for by the American government. Unfortunately, there was a mishap during the randomisation of patients, so there was a difference in the patients who were given Vitamin E and those who were given placebo. The study could not directly demonstrate any effect from Vitamin E. If you mathematically make a correction for the difference between the two groups in the study, then there is indeed an indication of an effect. The effect gradually sets in during the course of a couple of years, where the deterioration is slowed down with intake of Vitamin E. The dose that was studied was 2000 IU (International Units) per day. It was a high dosage that may have side-effects, especially in the form of stomach disorders.
Oestrogen - Female Sex Hormone
The results of the studies with oestrogen for Alzheimer's disease have been conflicting, but the most recent study demonstrated that the people who were given oestrogen later in life had an excessive mortality. Consequently, oestrogen is neither recommended for prevention nor treatment of Alzheimer's disease.
Ginkgo Biloba
A number of studies have been done on ginkgo medications. Ginkgo Biloba is made as an extract from the ginkgo tree. It should be noted that there is no standard for what a ginkgo extract may contain. Thus, there may very well be a difference in gingko products and possibly in the same product over time. A small number of studies showed signs of an effect, while the rest have not been able to demonstrate that ginkgo is effective in treating Alzheimer's disease. The scope of the effect of gingko - in the studies that did show an effect - corresponds to appr. ΒΌ of the effect of Alzheimer's medication.
Arthritis Medication (NSAID) and Steroids
Arthritis medication (NSAID is an abbreviation for Non-Steroid Anti-Inflammatory Drugs) has been studied, but none of the studies have been able to demonstrate that it is effective against Alzheimer's disease. Nor has any beneficial effect been demonstrated from steroids (adrenal cortex hormone).