DON'T YOU BELIEVE IT DEPARTMENT

A MULTIBILLION DOLLAR INDUSTRY WANTS YOUR LAST DOLLAR!

 Pseudoscience, snake oil by any other name, preys on our fear of Alzheimer's disease. Sadly, this industry thrives because of the lack of treatments for Alzheimer's. There is always somebody willing to exploit our fear if there is a buck to be made.

Of course the most devastating effect of Alzheimer's is the deterioration of cognition and brain health - -  loss of your memories.

Several dietary supplements claim to reverse the process and they are widely available without a prescription. Twenty-five percent of folks older than 50 spend a lot of money  on daily dietary supplements that claim to improve the health of their brains. According to AARP studies, none of those supplements does what it claims. There is no clinically proven dietary supplement that improves cognition or brain health. You should always remember that dietary supplements are not subjected to US Food and Drug administration review and approval. Check with your doctor before taking dietary supplements.

The maker of one of the supplements, Prevagen, makes claims for it's active ingredient - - a biofluorescent protein from a jellyfish  - -  in improving 'mild memory loss.' This claim is based on a 'facade of proven benefits.' As was pointed out in an article written by three neurologists in JAMA, the so-called scientific research done by the company  in support of its product Prevagen lacks the critical elements of real scientific research. First, the studies were conducted by in-house people who have a vested interest in obtaining impressive results. The research was not reviewed by independent researchers (peer review). The number of participants was too low to provide significant variation. There was no randomization of treatment and, finally, the study did not include limitations. In 2017 the Federal Trade Commission charged the maker of Prevagen with false and deceptive advertizing. The suit is on-going and Prevagen is still available at pharmacies. What you should remember is that there is no valid scientific basis for the claim that Prevagen has any effect on 'mild memory loss.'

The AARP study noted that some dietary supplements can be dangerous for you if you have certain conditions such as cancer, are about to undergo surgery, or are taking drugs such as blood thinners. Again: check with your doctor before maybe spending  your money needlessly

The AARP study does note that for that small part of the population that is deficient for vitamin B12, which can be associated with cognitive function and dementia, B12 supplements can be helpful.