ALZHEIMER’s – VITAMINS EFFECTIVE NOT MEDICINES
2/25/2014
“We provide truthful information without emotion or influence from the medical establishment, pharmaceutical industry, national organizations, special interest groups or government agencies.” Charles B Simone, M.MS., M.D.
Lawrenceville, NJ (Dr Simone) – One in 3 seniors dies with Alzheimer’s or another dementia. In 2012, 15.4 million caregivers provided more than 17.5 billion hours of unpaid care valued at $216 billion. In 2013 Alzheimer’s cost the US $203 billion. This is expected to rise to $1.2 trillion by 2050.
So how can we help these patients? Four FDA approved drugs to treat Alzheimer’s are essentially ineffective: Donepezil (Aricept), Galantamine (Razadyne), Memantine (Namenda), Rivastigmine (Exelon). Based on the published evidence using Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Scale-cognitive and the Progressive Deterioration Scale of the drugs’ effectiveness, side effects, tolerability, flexibility of use, and cost that ranges from $177 to $400 per month, patients do not get a meaningful improvement, or a significant delay in the worsening of symptoms.* In fact, many patients stopped taking the medication because they could not tolerate the adverse effects of forgetfulness and confusion, the very symptoms for which the drugs were prescribed. Two antiamyloid drugs in phase 3 trial also failed to show any benefit (Bapineuzumab and Solanezumab NEJM 2014;370:311-21 and 322-33). And look at the price tag of $203 billion in 2013!
In a randomized trial, 2000 IU of vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) per day slowed functional decline in Alzheimer’s patients and decreased caregiver burden when compared to Memantine (Namenda) (http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1810379). And 800 micrograms of folic acid per day in the three year randomized Folic Acid Cognitive Intervention Trial (FACIT) enhanced memory, information processing speed and sensorimotor speed ( http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(07)60109-3/abstract?version=printerFriendly). These findings are corroborated by other studies.
Should the taxpayer (via Medicare/Medicaid) pay for drugs that are essentially ineffective? Or should these patients take nutrients that are inexpensive and also effective?
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*Drug Effectiveness Review Project (DERP)* and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), and an evaluation conducted by the Department of Veteran’s Affairs Pharmacy Benefits Management Strategic Health Group (www.vapbm.org). DERP is an Oregon-based collaboration of public and private organizations, including fifteen states, that have joined together to provide systematic evidence-based reviews of the comparative effectiveness and safety of drugs in many widely used drug classes and to apply the findings to inform public policy and related activities. It is managed at Oregon Health and Science University.
(c) 2017 Charles B. Simone, M.MS., M.D.
