Countdown to National PBS …. Last night at our Newport Beach clinic we had the first prescreening for my new PBS special, Change Your Brain, Change Your Life, scheduled to start airing next week nationwide. It was an exciting time. I hope you get to see it. It was great fun to produce and I am hoping it will help many peoiple. We are having another prescreening for our internet friends this coming Monday at 6PM PST.
I also wanted to share with you a fascinating article reported on in Science News about the use of l-acetyl carnitine for ADHD and Fragile X syndrome. It is a treatment we should consider for many ADHD children and adults, as it often wors and has been shown to have few if any side effects.
ScienceDaily (Feb. 21, 2008) “” Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is the most common hereditary form of mental retardation. Many children with FXS also suffer from attention deficit and/or hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), which complicates social relationships at home and at school. Although stimulant medication such as Ritalin ® is often successfully used to treat children with ADHD, studies have shown that while it is effective in children with mental retardation, it also causes side effects such as increased irritability, decreased verbalization and social withdrawal.
A previous study showed that L-acetyl carnitine (LAC), a form of the amino acid carnitine, significantly reduced hyperactive behavior in FXS boys with ADHD who were treated with it for one year without causing adverse side effects. The same authors have now conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled multicenter study to determine the effectiveness of LAC in a larger group.
Led by M. Giulia Torrioli and Giovanni Neri of the Università Cattolica in Rome, the study involved 51 boys between 6 and 12 years old with FXS and ADHD who were treated in one of eight centers in Italy, France and Spain. Each patient followed the treatment for 12 months, which involved 500 milligrams of LAC or a placebo given twice daily. Patients were evaluated by an interdisciplinary team of child neuropsychiatrists and psychologists at the start of the study, after one month, six months and 12 months. The effects of the drug and placebo were evaluated using a set of neuropsychological tests to assess behavior.
Those treated with LAC demonstrated reduced hyperactive behavior and increased attention. No side effects were exhibited, confirming that LAC is a safe alternative to stimulants. The patients treated with the placebo also showed reduced hyperactive behavior, although not nearly to the extent as the LAC-treated patients. The patients treated with LAC also had significantly improved social ability compared to the placebo-treated group. Both groups took intelligence tests, but LAC did not improve overall intellectual functioning.
“We propose that LAC be recommended as a treatment of ADHD in FXS children,” conclude the authors, “since it effectively reduces hyperactive behavior and improves social abilities without adverse side effects.” They also suggest that these results may be applicable to children with autism, who also do not easily tolerate stimulants.
Journal reference: “A Double-Blind, Parallel, Multicenter Comparison of L-acetylcarnitine with Placebo on the Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in Fragile X Syndrome Boys,” M. Giulia Torrioli, Silvia Vernacotola, Laura Peruzzi, Elisabetta Tabolacci, Montserrat Mila, Roberto Militerni, Sebastiano Musumeci, Feliciano J. Ramos, Marìa Frontera, Giovanni Sorge, Elisabetta Marzullo, Giusi Romeo, Louis Vallee, Edvige Veneselli, Elena Cocchi, Eleonora Garbarino, Umberto Moscato, Pietro Chiurazzi, Stefania D’Iddio, Menotti Calvani, Giovanni Neri, American Journal of Medical Genetics Part A; April 1st, 2008.
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Thank you for all the work you are doing to make peoples lives better. Some people want things to happen, some people watch things happen, and some people make things happen, thank you that you make things happen. Kind Regards Joanie
So, what is the dosage of the L-acetyl carnitine that should be used? I am seeing it in different strengths, and want to try this with my children. Thanks!
JC
Is the L Acetyl Carnitine the same as Acetyl L. Carnitine?
My son was seen at the Amen clinic and extreme brain activity was his dignosis. Will the new treatment listed above help with his symptoms? He is very hyper!
Pleas help and respond.
Can LAC be taken with Focalin and Risperdal? Is it effective in kids with ADHD but without the known FXS Dx?
My son has been on Focalin and Risperdal for 7 yrs but talks constantly. I’m suprised no one on his medical team has mentioned that excessive verbalization was a side effect of the Focalin! On Adderal he developed gross motor tics but they were eliminated by being taken off the Adderal and using Focalin instead.
To avoid any confusion for useage and/or interaction of L-acetylcarnitine with other drugs the University of Maryland’s website is fantastic:http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/carnitine-l-000291.htm
Highlights of importance to note:
Dementia and Memory Impairment
Some studies have shown that L-acetylcarnitine (LAC), a form of L-carnitine that readily enters the brain, may delay the progression of Alzheimer’s disease, relieve depression related to senility and other forms of dementia, and improve memory in the elderly. Unfortunately, however, results from other studies have been conflicting. For example, one trial suggests that this supplement may help prevent the progression of Alzheimer’s disease in its early stages, but it may worsen symptoms in later stages of the disease. For this reason, carnitine for Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia should only be used under the direction and supervision of your physician.
Down’s Syndrome
In a study of individuals with Down syndrome, L-acetylcarnitine (LAC) supplementation significantly improved visual memory and attention.
Valproic Acid
The anticonvulsant medication valproic acid may lower blood levels of carnitine and can cause carnitine deficiency. Taking L-carnitine supplements may prevent deficiency and may also reduce the side effects of valproic acid.
You can check that website for a great deal more information.
Cheryl
Gerontologist
p.s. L-Carnitine as mentioned in the article above, is readily available over the counter in places such as GNC – typically used to strengthen the heart and “touted”, but not confirmed as a weight-loss supplement!
The PBS special is not scheduled to air in Dayton, OH? I’ve followed your work for about a year and have a niece with ADHD.
Any suggestions and how to see the special?
Thanks for everything you do.
Bill Bridges
Hello, I caught the last portion of your PBS special on KQED the other evening … fascinating. In light of what you talked about regarding Fish Oil supplements, I wanted to pass along a new find …. I ordered “Nature’s Code” 1200mg Fish Oil capsules on QVC last month and am delighted with them….for the first time ever I found a supplement that doesn’t give you “aquarium breath” 30 minutes later
. They actually have a hint of “Pina Colada” scent when taking them. They’ve become a regular part of my vitamin regime. I’m hoping to find your special on our other local PBS stations during the pledge periods. Thanks for all you do, and I’m looking forward to learning more. ~ TJ
Is this PBS series airing on the east coast??
I have a friend ( age 50) Who has suffered with Biplar for many years. He was on lithium for a long time, but later put on Zyprexa which seemed to help. But due to an
increase in anxiety, the doctor prescribed Adavan sometimes twice a day. Do you
think that L-acetyl carnitine would be helpful to him?
Thanks, Shirley
Please feel free to email any info that might be helpful.
Will Change Your Brain, Change Your Mind be available on KPTS, Wichita, KS? If not, how can I view it? Thanks. Lisa Schriefer
Where do I find the answers to these blog questions?
Thank you!
P. S. – Your work is fascinating! I’ve followed it for many years. I think you are very cutting-edge.
my son is currently taking Aderall for ADHD. he is 14. can I use LAC in addition with no problem? is L Acetyl Carnitine Arginate the same?
I have read some of your books, they are easy to read and very inhformative.
THANKYOU
My son is 15 and is on Vyvantz. Would it be safe to take LAC as well. What amount and frequency? He weighs about 135 lbs.?
Thanks,
Ken
My 15 yr old son fits this description, Ritalin or stimulants have been ineffective & made him edgy. He’s on Depakote for mood disorder & this helps to stabilize mood just a bit, but the hyperactivity a real problem still.
How would I know if he is FXS child? he was adopted.
Thnx for your work. I have been following you for many years.
When is the PBS program on on in Boston?
I have been unable to the PBS brain special. You listed my station but it wasn’t aired. How can I view this and what time and DATE will it be mountain time?
Thanks,
Barry
Hello,
I would like to know the answers to some of the questions listed. Is this possible? Many times your audience asks the same questions that I’m thinking of.
I too was unable to watch the special. I did see it on the internet, thanks! I would like to watch it again on PBS but don’t know if we’ll be getting it. I’m in NM on Mountain Standard Time.
Thank you! Jana
Dr. Amen, I watched “Change Your Brain, Change Your Life” the first night it was shown on PBS. No doubt you are brilliant, but you were not at all how I envisioned your personality: adorable, comedic, empathic. Now that the world has discovered the memorable “You”, much further success in treating the whole person, starting with the brain [makes perfect sense to me], not just the poor souls who have the bleak, sorrowful diagnoses of Depression, ADHD, etc.
Hope to see your charming presence in the global media!!
Kindest regards,
Claudia [a longtime fan]
Dr. A,
Ooops!! A clarification: I envisioned you as serious, preachy, boring, but instead you were adorable, comedic, empathic.
C
We have a 9 year old son who we adopted from Romania when he was 13 months old. He has struggled in so many ways but is making progress. He has extreme ADHD, anxiety and a few attachment disorder symptoms. He sees a behavioral therapist twice a month and has a psychiatrist as well. He is now only taking Provigil for the ADHD and Trileptal for mood. We are most impressed with the bits and pieces we have seen of your program on PBS, as well as information from your website. We would love to learn more about nonmedicinal ways that we could teach him to cope with his ADHD and anxiety. He has an amazing IQ, but struggles to focus and complete tasks in his school work, as well as low self-esteem. He also have dysgraphia. We would love to hear more about what you suggest for a child like ours, as well as to hear from other parents who may have a similiar situation. Thanks so much! Keep up the wonderful work. We actually scheduled an appointment at your clinic in Virginia last June, but we cancelled it b/c Caleb has extreme anxiety where needles are concerned and we did not want to put him through the trauma. Is there any way to have the brain imaging done without the usage of an IV dye??
We watched the pre-presentation on my computer, but it stopped before the last 1/3 of the program. Is there a DVD of the entire presentation which we could purchase?
My 6 year old son is on concerta 18 mg. for adhd and was unable to take any other meds. for adhd/ add as they made him either very angry or more hyper.
The Concerta works well and he is doing much better in school with the exception of it making him a little sleepy and sad.
We take him off of it on weekends and holidays and he is back to his happy self in a day or two.
I would love to try l-acetyl. How would I go about the change? How many mg. ect. His Pediatrician is totally against stimulants by the way and would be very supportive and pleased in the change. We have already tried cod liver oil, 5- htp as well as many other natural sup. to no avail. We enjoyed you on PBS but did not hear anything about this subject. Thanks so much for all the hard work you and your team do. God Bless.
This would be great if it worked. We would love to give it a good chance.
If Amen clinics are here to help! why does it cost 3,000!
What does Dr. Amen have to say about ECT?
I would like to know if Dr. Amen is or has done research on mental retardation using specs. Recently my 6 y/o was DX with MR what kind of services can your clinic offer her?
Best regards,
Liz Brown
My son is on Focalin XR 15mg in am and 10 mg at noon and 4mg cirophepdadine for appetite 2x a day. I have him on zinc, magnesium, calcium, iron, omega 3s, primrose oil, B6, P5P and (st johns wort per your book)What dosage of acetyl l carnitine do I give him? Any drug actions I need to worry about?