More on Natural Substances to Combat Alzheimer’s

How coconut oil is showing great promise in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. New studies show that other natural substances are also offering big breakthroughs, and the drug industry is trying to jump on the bandwagon with them too.

Fish oil reduces inflammation, including the inflammation associated with dementia. The DHA form of fish oil also converts into neuroprotectins, which, as the name suggests, protect our nerve tissue. A recent study suggests that the risk of Alzheimer’s may be reduced by a third if we consume this regularly. Another broad study suggested that the risk of all forms of dementia could be reduced by almost half with fish oil.
Nattokinase is an enzyme extracted from a fermented, cheese-like soy food called natto, which has been eaten in Japan for many years. Nattokinase has a well-documented ability to dissolve clots, so it plays a role in cardiovascular health. Now it is being studied for another set of abilities. Alzheimer’s disease is characterized by brain deposits of a certain type of amyloid—a group of abnormal proteins that cause disorders in various organs. Getting rid of amyloids is one of the targets of Alzheimer’s disease research. A recent study shows that nattokinase removes amyloid plaque.
Other encouraging Alzheimer’s news comes from the University of California at Irvine, where a study recently showed that mice with cognitive impairment had dramatic improvement with niacinamide. Niacinamide is one of the water-soluble B-complex vitamins known as B-3. Niacin, or nicotinic acid, is another form. When an amide molecule attaches itself to niacin, it becomes niacinamide (also called nicotinamide). The body can convert niacinamide back into niacin but is unable to make niacinamide out of niacin. One major difference is that in doses exceeding 50 mg, niacin typically produces flushing of the skin, but niacinamide does not. Niacin and niacinamide also have different applications. In the niacinamide form, it reduces inflammation. Since many studies indicate that inflammation may trigger Alzheimer’s, researchers wondered if niacinamide would help Alzheimer’s.
Researchers gave mice the equivalent of a human dose of 2000 to 3000 milligrams of niacinamide, and the results were shocking. “Cognitively, they were cured,” said Dr. Kim Green, the head of the study. “The vitamin completely prevented cognitive decline associated with the disease, bringing them back to the level they’d be at if they didn’t have the pathology.” Niacinamide also improved memory in mice without Alzheimer’s.
Pioneering integrative physician and researcher Jonathan V. Wright, MD, notes that niacinamide has been widely used for a variety of purposes for more than 60 years, and its safety is well known. He reports that as far back as 1943, William Kaufman, PhD, MD, a psychiatrist and exceptionally thorough clinical researcher, showed that niacinamide deficiency causes impaired memory, easy distractibility, an inability to concentrate, mental fog, slowed thoughts, difficulty comprehending, unwarranted anxiety, a lack of initiative, being uncooperative or quarrelsome, etc. And he discovered that all of these symptoms—and many more—“disappeared or…improved considerably” with the use of niacinamide.
Niacinamide isn’t the only B vitamin that may help significantly with Alzheimer’s. A study from Oxford University found that fairly high dosages of three B vitamins (folic acid, B6 and B12) could reduce the rate of brain atrophy in patients with mild cognitive impairment—because these vitamins reduce homocysteine. (Other studies have found that TMG, or trimethylglycine, also controls homocysteine and is useful if the B vitamins are not enough.) Around 50% of people with mild cognitive impairment go on to develop Alzheimer’s.
But this study, widely trumpeted in the world press, wasn’t quite what it seemed. It was a study of B vitamins, yes, but it was at the same time a study of a patented drug. How could that be? Why was a drug company happy to see the curative role of B vitamins established? Here’s why: TrioBe Plus—the formulation of the B vitamin used in the study, is a patented drug, even though it is really just a blend of three ordinary vitamins and shouldn’t have received a patent. It is made by a Swedish drug company, Meda AB, based on a patent held by the chief researcher. As our colleagues at ANH-Int’l point out, the lead author of the research had to declare a conflict of interest because the patent for the use of these vitamins in this particular form is in his name. He will therefore personally gain massively if your local doctor starts to prescribe this to everyone who’s complaining about losing their car keys on a regular basis.
So the pharmaceutical industry is once again patenting and promoting a drug that’s not a drug, but is merely three forms of vitamin B you can get from any health food store. Supplements are not drugs—but drug companies are so unsuccessful in producing new drugs that they are looking greedily at supplements.

45 comments

  1. Thank you so much for following these important developments. The benefits you provide are far greater than you will ever know.

  2. A pill is never going to cure you. The cure is in nature and Big Pharma does not care about the patient. I wish people would believe it.
    One thing I was wondering about is taking fish oil. I stopped taking it because it isn’t tested for mercury and I had some problems. I am surprised it would be recommended. Any thoughts?

      1. I LOVE Dr. Mercola’s Krill Oil for Women. It is a fantastic product. In fact, Dr.Mercola’s products are ALL outstanding and well-researched. You will not be disappointed! Be well and be healthy! Let us all be strong in our stand against the pharma industry. Their greed is killing us!

    2. Some fish oil supplements do have mercury issues…but if you research you can find a safe supplement. Mercola.com offers Krill Oil which is very safe and is a high quality supplement.

    3. There are many fish oils that are molecularly distilled and tested for mercury and PCBs (which are a bigger concern than mercury in the oil). Read the labels. Two that I often recommend to patients are Nordic Naturals and Carlson Labs. Both are purified and tested to the limits of detection and have no mercury or PCBs (at least not the last time I checked).

    4. I have been useing Carlson fish for a long time. It is from the Noriegien Fiords,a cold water fishing ground, that is reortedly far less contamination. In addition, the companies extraction process is very well documented as one of the purest and finest. Another fine source of omege 3 oil, is Krill oil. One can
      research it thru Dr. Mercolas webbsite @ Dr. Mercola.com. i hope this helps.
      cordially, Steve Jones

    5. You need to take fish oil that has been molecularly distilled, it is a process that removes all the heavy metals from the oil, it will say this on the bottle. There are several brands that molecularly distill their oils, one of which is Now, they have several forms and concentrations of omega 3 fish oils.

  5. I hate Big Pharma… That Said, I have No Problem with Natural Substances Being produced by them as long as they are High potentcy and effective… The Patent Thing is Questionable…and should be ruled upon by the people…if it increases to the cost, That IS a Problem…

  6. The nattokinase study appears to be in vitro (I couldn’t find a clear description online, but I figure if this study had involved live animals the articles it would have been mentioned). Is there any evidence that nattokinase crosses the blood-brain barrier? How do we know nattokinase can work in vivo in the brain?

  7. Vitamin supplements are not drugs. Please, do not take our vitamins away; they keep us healthy and in the long run out of hospitals and therefore keep healthcare cost down. The greed of these pharmacuticle company has to be stopped now. All this goes to the expense of ordinary citizens who are trying to stay healthy as possible without being a burden and increase our health care costs. Trudi Thomas

  8. This world has to be ready for a spiritual awakening, most of have to get near the end before we really turn to trust spirit, so I believe that is what is happening. Thank you for posting this valuable information for all of us who need to know.

    1. I so TOTALLY agree with you!! Those of us who read and find out such valuable information, need to consider ourselves to be messengers. I will continue to pass on such beautiful and eye opening information. I wish these articles had a share button on them like on Dr. Mercola’s site.

      1. Hi Satsuma, We do have a share button. At the bottom of each article, before the comments section, you’ll see a little green icon with a white mark shaped like this: < and beside the green icon it says "Share This". If you hover your mouse over Share This a box will pop up with options to share on Facebook, Twitter, Digg, and more.

  9. Coconut oil hurt me… I have MS. I agree with B vitamins/fish oil. Niacin flushed my brain and unclogged it of fat…but niacinamide, I never noticed it helped me. I think Alzheimer’s is just Celiac (can’t eat dairy/gluten/sugar/starch), heavy metals, low thyroid, low sex hormones, need Vitamins/good oils, Vit D3, Vit B12 shot, HCl and enzymes with meals and dairy free acidophilus. I do EDTA/DMPS IV chelation to remove heavy metals that block my thyroid and other chemical reactions in my body…it also lowers inflammation and unclogs blood vessels…it would greatly help people with brain issues. Starch/sugar swells by brain/body.
    I don’t want vitamins patented…they are trying to take over what is cheap/easy to use.

  10. For many years in my practice of veterinary medicine I saw older cats and dogs which had CNS symptoms which ran from mental haziness to total wipe-out. Some even had seizures.
    I often had success in treating these pets by first putting them on a well balanced diet and then supplementing that diet with a product containing methionine, choline and B vitamins, which included niacin.
    These very dramatic results lead me to believe the same might be produced in humans. I hope so.

  11. I like the articles and action alerts put out my ANH-USA. Thanks for keeping us informed.
    One thing; on your e-newsletters, PLEASE remove the sequence of staggered photos. It is very distracting to try to read while that thing is in the upper right-hand corner moving around and switching photos. For those of us with poor vision or eye problems, it can be most annoying. I have somewhat a photosensitivity problem so for me it’s an even bigger problem.
    Please consider making that change. Thanks.
    D.

  12. ” When an amide molecule attaches itself to niacin, it becomes niacinamide (also called nicotinamide). The body can convert niacinamide back into niacin but is unable to make niacinamide out of niacin.”
    Can you clear up my confusion on the above? Why can’t the body make niacinamide out of niacin – does it not have amide molecules to attach to niacin? I take niacin – should I be taking niacinamide instead or in addition?

  13. I could’ve sworn that I recently read that amyloid plaques were recently found to be a side effect, not a cause, of Alzheimer’s. Scientists may have been chasing a symptom, not a cause.

  14. I just read/heard that amyloid plaques were recently found to be a symptom, not a cause, of Alzheimer’s. Scientists may have been chasing a symptom, not a cause.

  15. My older Brother was just put into care for dementia. I need to keep alert on my brain health. There was a product I took last year and will use it again in January. I recently found a friend I took care of the yard called, left a message, I returned her call and she said “ther was a call from this # who ever you are. I will call her daughter to find out if she lost it. Help is deperatly needed for this decease.

  16. i would be very interested in knowing more about this procuct for the treatment of alzheimers

  17. How about kombucha? It has a lot of the B vitamins in each bottle but only about 20% of the RDA so you would still need a good B complex.
    I’d like to see the day when all docs tell people to drink a kombucha and call me in the morning ! Even before they reformulated it, one a day wouldn’t get you tipsy.

  18. Tried the coconut oil and right away my friend had dizzy spells and diarrhea, Maybe he should have started with small amounts working up to what the article said????

  19. Ameliorating Alzheimer’s is desirable. but preventing it is even more important. Fluoride causes a disease like Alzheimer’s.
    Fluoride in water is recommended for tooth protection. Fluoride in water no longer provides this protection, probably because of increasing fluoride in food from fluoride insecticides and tooth paste. However even if it did, it would not be worth it because it is more poisonous than lead and only marginally less so than arsenic. Once in the environment, it has an infinite life. If you know how long it takes to reach the groundwater, please let me know.
    It inhibits thyroid (http://www.fluoridealert.org/health/thyroid/steyn-1955.html ), synergistically with aluminum causes a disease similar to Alzheimer’s disease http://jech.bmj.com/cgi/content/abstract/50/4/401 (Masters) , causes bone degeneration [Reddy] [Susheela and Mohan] for fluoride interferes with the hydroxylation of proline to hydroxyproline. And fluoride exposure disrupts the synthesis of collagen and leads to the breakdown of collagen in bone, tendon, muscle, skin, cartilage, lungs, kidney, trachea and arteries. [Susheela and Sharma] [Sharma] [Susheela and Mukerjee] [Marian Drozdz et al]. It decreases intelligence in children (Lu). (See http://charles_w.tripod.com/fluoride.html )These side effects are far more serious than tooth caries especially since caries can be prevented with a diet adequate in calcium, magnesium, copper, vitamin D, and phosphate. Also they can be cured with anacardic acids in cashew plants and nuts (see http://charles_w.tripod.com/tooth.html ).
    In addition to the above circumstances mildly adversely affecting health (“mildly”, that is, if applied properly in minute amounts), fluoride enters the bodies of people in wildly varying amounts. Fluoride is applied largely for the purpose of protecting children. But to expect small children to apply tooth paste poison correctly without medical instruction, or for that matter even with instruction, is inane. There is also the danger that some parts of the adult population will have more than small intakes. Many municipal water supplies have fluoride added, so that people who must drink large amounts of water, such as people with damaged kidneys, or who do drink large amounts of water because of recommendations of health purists, will receive large amounts. Richmond says that fluorinating water has no perceptible affect on kidneys in children, but that fluoride in water for dialysis should be controlled [Richmond]. Another group at risk are people who eat large amounts of dried food that must be reconstituted with water such as babies and maybe soldiers. All this with no or little reduction of tooth caries from water fluoridation [Seppa]. The ADA has warned mothers not to make up formula with fluoridated water.
    This increased fluoride intake is also true for people who drink much tea [Gulati], since tea leaves pick up large amounts from some soils , and probably other plants do also [Xie]. Coffee has high amounts of fluoride from insecticides. Fluoride compounds are applied to plants as insecticides, especially grapes. Most of these fluorides end up in the soil, and therefore probably in many plants.
    I would like to gain your support in getting poisonous fluoride and fluoride insecticides removed from United States food . It has bad side effects on the thyroid and the brain. It is especially damaging to people who drink a lot of fluoridated water such as babies drinking made up milk formula, old people with kidney problems, and perspiring people who use reconstituted fruit juice, If it can not be removed, at least a tax should be put on it sufficient to pay for the diseases it causes. That would be only fair.
    If you can not get fluoride removed, perhaps you can at least acquaint people about an iodide cure or antidote. You may see these concepts discussed in http://charles_w.tripod.com/fluoride.html .
    Sincerely, Charles Weber, MS
    REFERENCES
    Arnesen AKM 1998 Effect of Fluoride Pollution on pH AND Solubility of Al, Fe, Ca, Mg, K and Organic Matter in Soil from Årdal (Western Norway). Water Air and Soil Pollution 103 (1-4); 375-378.
    Bibby BG Zander HA McKelleget M Labunsky B 1946 Preliminary reports on the effect on dental caries of the use of sodium fluoride in a prophylactic cleaning mixture and in a mouthwash.J Dent Res 25(4): 207-211, 1946.
    Bryson C 2004 The Seven Stories Press.
    Dhruva N. Rao1 and Dhirendra Pal 1978 Effect of fluoride pollution on the organic matter content of soil. Plant and Soil 49; 653-656.
    Eichbaum FW 1946 Biological properties of anacardic acid (O- pentadeca dienylsalicylic acid) and related compounds. General discussion-bactericidal action. Memorias do Instituto Butanen 19 71-86.
    Emsley J, et al 1981 An unexpectedly strong bond: Ab initio calculations and spectroscopic studies of amide fluoride systems. Journal of the American Chemical Society 103; 24-28.
    Gulati P et al 1993 Studies on the leaching of fluoride in tea infusions. The Science of the Total Environment 138 (1-3); 213-221.
    Holick MF 2004 Sunlight and vitamin D for bone health and prevention of autoimmune diseases, cancers, and cardiovascular disease. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 80; No. 6, 1678S-1688S.
    Lu Y, Sun ZR, Wu LN, Wang X, Lu W, Liub SS 2000 Effect of high fluoride water on intelligence in children. Fluoride 33; 74-78.
    Marian Drozdz et al., 1984 “Studies on the Influence of Fluoride Compounds upon Connective Tissue Metabolism in Growing Rats” and “Effect of Sodium Fluoride with and without Simultaneous Exposure to Hydrogen Fluoride on Collagen Metabolism,” Journal of Toxicological Medicine, Vol. 4, pp. 151-157.
    Masters RD and Coplan M 1998 Water Treatment with Silicofluorides and enhanced lead uptake, Fluoride, Vol. 31, No 3, Aug,
    Orcel P, et al 1990 Stress fractures of the lower limbs in osteoporotic patients treated with fluoride. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research 5 Suppl 1:S191-4.
    Pendrys DG Katz RV 1989 Risk of enamel fluorosis associated with fluoride supplementation, infant formula and fluoride dentifrice use. American Journal of Epidemiology 130; 1199-1208.
    Reddy GB, Arjun L. Khandare, P. Yadagiri Reddy, G. Shankar Rao, N. Balakrishna and I. Srivalli 2003 Antioxidant Defense System and Lipid Peroxidation in Patients with Skeletal Fluorosis and in Fluoride-Intoxicated Rabbits Toxicological Sciences 72, 363-368.
    Richmond VL 1985 Thirty years of fluoridation: a review. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 41; 129-138.
    Seppa L Karkkainen S Hausen H 2000 Caries trends 1992-1998 in two low-fluoride Finnish towns formerly with and without fluoridation. Carries Research 34(6):462-8.
    Sharma YD, 1982 Effect of Sodium Fluoride on Collagen Cross-Link Precursors, Toxicological Letters, Vol. 10, pp. 97-100
    Susheela SK and Mohan Jha, 1981 Effects of Fluoride on Cortical and Cancellous Bone Composition,” IRCS Medical Sciences: Library Compendium, Vol. 9, No.11, pp. 1021-1022
    Susheela AK and Mukerjee D, 1981 Fluoride poisoning and the Effect of Collagen Biosynthesis of Osseous and Nonosseous Tissue,” Toxicological European Research, Vol. 3, No.2, pp. 99-104
    Susheela and Sharma 1981 Fluoride poisoning and the Effects of Collagen Biosynthesis of Osseous and Non-osseous Tissue”, Toxicological European Research, Vol 3, No.2, pp99-104.
    Varner, J.A., et al., 1984 Chronic administration of aluminum-fluoride or sodium fluoride to rats in drinking water: Alterations in neuronal and cerebrovascular integrity. Brain Medicine, Vol. 4, pp. 151-157.
    Weber CE 2006 Eliminate infection (abscess) in teeth with cashew nuts. Medical Hypotheses 65; 1200.
    Weisman G et al 1972 Leukocyte proteases and the immunologic release of lysosomal enzymes. American Journal of Pathology 68; 539-569.
    Xie ZM Ye ZH Wong MH 2001 Distribution characteristics of fluoride and aluminum in soil profiles of an abandoned tea plantation and their uptake by six woody species. Environmental International 26; (5-6) 341-346

    1. Thanks for this- more great stuff. Hard to believe they can get away with adding a poison to the water supply claiming it is good for our teeth. If something seems to good to be true- it probably is.

  21. IMO “vaccination” is a clear and present danger for Alzheimer’s. The “seasonal flu vaccine” has been conclusively proven worthless or worse for seniors and IMO should be avoided like the plague it is. Vitamin D solves most of your seasonal flu problems much more salubriously than a jolt of proven brain toxic, plaque producing mercury.
    “Seven of the characteristic markers that we look for to distinguish Alzheimer’s disease can be produced in normal brain tissues, or cultures of neurons, by the addition of extremely low levels of mercury.” Doctor Boyd Haley, Professor, Chair Chem Dept, UK
    “We have found that clinically normal individuals aged 60-65 who receive influenza vaccine three or four times during a five-year period, will five years later have an incidence of Alzheimer’s disease 10-fold greater than age-matched individuals who did not receive it.” H. Hugh Fudenburg, MD
    “Are we defectively designed so that we cannot be happy or concentrate or remember things without pills? Is depression a Prozac deficiency? Is ADHD a Ritalin deficiency? Is Alzheimer’s an Aricept deficiency? I think not. ” Doctor Mark Hyman MD
    “Vaccination may inflame your brain for as long as TWO YEARS after you get the vaccination.” Doctor Russell Blaylock MD
    “The elderly have a particularly strong need to maintain vitamin D sufficiency. Not only are they likely to produce less vitamin D from solar UVB irradiation because they generally spend less time in sunlight than do younger people, but their efficiency of photoproduction is less. In addition, diseases such as cancer and osteoporotic fractures are most likely among the elderly.” William B. Grant, PhD, and Michael F. Holick, PhD, MD
    “An association between decreased levels of vitamin B12 and a decline in brain volume was detected. Decreased brain volume has been linked to Alzheimer’s disease. Vitamin 12 deficiency is a public health problem especially among the elderly, so more vitamin B12 intake could help reverse this.” Vogiatzoglou et al
    “The fluoride/aluminum association is of particular importance as it relates to Alzheimer’s Disease. Aluminum by itself is not readily absorbed by the body. However, in the presence of fluoride ions, the fluoride ions combine with the aluminum to form aluminum fluoride, which is absorbed by the body. In the body, the aluminum eventually combines with oxygen to form aluminum oxide or alumina (53). Alumina is the compound of aluminum that is found in the brains of Alzheimer’s disease.” Ronsivalli, LJ, “Addenda to Fluoridation of Public Water Supplies”, Note I don’t think things can be clearer than this.
    “Over-Medication and Drug Interaction: The average person aged 65 is likely to be taking between 8 and 10 different prescription and / or over-the-counter drugs. Drug interactions, coupled with a nutrient poor diet, often results mental symptomatology in addition to physical problems. Chronic alcohol abuse can lead to symptoms closely resembling Alzheimer’s disease. Solutions: Cut down the number of medications as much as possible.” Doctor Michael Lam MD
    “Nattokinase was found to degrade three different forms of fibrils: A-beta-40 fibrils, linked to Alzheimer’s; insulin fibrils, linked to diabetic complications and prion peptide fibrils, responsible for prion diseases.” Ruei-Lin Hsu et al
    “An increased plasma homocysteine level is an independent risk factor for the development of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.” NEJM 2002
    “Alzheimer’s disease was more than twice as common among the women with the highest levels of homocysteine than among those with the lowest, and the risk for any kind of dementia was 70 per cent higher. These days, we in our clinical practice use homocysteine analyses mainly for assessment of vitamin status. However, our results mean that we could use the very same analysis for assessment of individual’s risk profile for dementia development. This opens the possibility for future preventive treatment at a very early stage.” Doctor Dimitri Zylberstein University of Gothenburg
    “Curcumin and vitamin D3 may help the immune system clear protein plaques linked to Alzheimer’s.” Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease

  22. Recent thinking is that Alzheimer’s is a form of diabetes in the brain (“Type 3”) caused by cerebral insulin resistance. Since diabetes is typically a lifestyle disease (with a genetic component that can be triggered by lifestyle), it makes sense that any nutrient that would increase the circulation and energy in the brain would be of benefit.
    Nattokinase could help by clearing out blockages/plaques in cerebral arteries and capillaries (if it can cross the blood-brain barrier). Niacin helps circulation (hence the “flushing.”). B-Vitamins and DHA can reduce inflammation, which also impairs circulation and energy. Coconut oil provides ketones, which are a non-glucose form of energy an insulin resistant brain can easily use.
    All makes sense to me…

  24. 7 of 10 alzheimer’s brain bank tissue samples showed strong correlation between location of amyloid plaques and Borrelia Bergdorferi colonies in the brain (research done by Ian MacDonald, MD). Niacin has anti-Lyme properties. Nattokinase breaks down biofilms, which means it has the potential to break up the colonies in the brain. Vitamin B12 helps Alzheimer’s and other causes of Dimentia because nerve tissue cannot heal without it.

  25. Correction to my previous comment: The Alzheimer’s brain research was done by Dr. Alan MacDonald, not Dr. Ian MacDonald…

  26. Can I just say what a reduction to seek out someone who actually is aware of what theyre talking about on the internet. You undoubtedly know learn how to deliver an issue to gentle and make it important. Extra people need to learn this and perceive this aspect of the story. I cant imagine youre no more popular because you definitely have the gift.

    1. I practice integrative and integrated medicine. But I still find the tone of many of your articles to be very biased. I think the company that patents a combination of 3 vitamins is soon going to find everyone is back on the cheaper alternatives. But remember when you take vitamins, minerals or supplements in large doses you are using them as drugs. 1/3 of the current pharmaceuticals listed in the PDR came from natural sources. What makes them a drug? Not the molecule per se but the fact that we use them in such high doses. So please be honest and admit that there are many supplements that are over the counter, that technically are dosed higher than the usual requirements and are thus a drug. I believe in using many of these supplements but I also believe in exercising caution in the use of BOTH pharmaceuticals and nutraceutical, supplements and prescription drugs. They all may harm and individual and it’s important to know what you are taking this for, what research is there to show benefits and harm, and how will it affect other things you are already taking. This is one aspect of the EMR that has been helpful since I can’t possibly know all the interactions. Perhaps it’s the Libra in me but I would like to see less sensationalism and more balanced presentations.

  27. Oh my goodness! an incredible article dude. Thanks However I am experiencing difficulty with ur rss . Don’t know why Unable to subscribe to it. Is there anyone getting equivalent rss problem? Anyone who knows kindly respond. Thnkx

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