Understanding and Treating Memory Loss

The predominant cause of memory loss is a family of diseases called Alzheimer’s Disease and related disorders (ADRD) which includes but is not limited to Alzheimer ‘ s Disease, vascular dementia, Parkinson ‘ s Disease, and Frontal Lobe dementia. In addition to ADRD, many other conditions cause memory loss. The tables that follow list the major causes of memory loss, the appropriate treatment, and the result of treatment.

Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders

Disease	Treatment	Result of Treatment
Alzheimer ‘ s Disease	Cholinesterase inhibitor and glutamate modulation	Stabilization and sometimes improvement
Parkinson ‘ s Disease	Dopaminergic stimulation	Stabilization and sometimes improvement
Frontal Lobe Dementia	No established treatment	Not applicable
Vascular Disease	Treat illness and risk factors	Stabilization and sometimes improvement

Other Causes of Memory Loss and Dementia

Disease	Treatment	Result of Treatment
Anxiety	Anti-anxiety supplements or meds	Improvement
ADHD	Stimulant supplements or meds	Improvement
Depression	Antidepressant supplement or meds	Improvement
Thyroid disease	Thyroid hormone	Improvement
Diabetes	Diet, exercise, meds	Improvement
Metabolic problems	Diagnose etiology and treat	Improvement
Alcohol dependence	Alcohol cessation	Improvement
Drug abuse	Drug cessation	Improvement
Vit. B-12 deficiency	Vit. B-12 replacement	Improvement
Vit. D deficiency	Vit. D replacement	Improvement
Brain infections	IV antibiotics	Improvement
Medications	Adjust medication	Improvement
Fatigue	Diagnose cause and treat	Frequent improvement
Head injury	Cognitive therapy and medication	Frequent improvement
Hydrocephalus	Shunt	Frequent improvement
Cancer	Diagnose and treat	Frequent improvement
Cancer chemotherapy	Brain healthy program	Frequent improvement

• Types of Memory
• Memory Problems
• Understanding and Treating Memory Loss
• Medical Tests to Consider to Evaluate Memory Problems
• Supplements That May Be Helpful to Enhance Memory

March 7, 2009 – 9:12 am

The bacteria Helibacter pylori has been found to be one of the main cause of ulcers. In an important new study, just published in the Journal of Neurology, it was also found to also be involved with Alzheimer’s disease. If this finding holds up, everyone with memory issues should be screened for the bacteria and treated for it.

Eradication of Helicobacter pylori may be beneficial in the management of Alzheimer’s disease

Abstract Infectious agents have been proposed as potential causes of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Recently, we documented a high prevalence of Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection in patients with AD.

We aim to access the effect of Hp eradication on the AD cognitive (MMSE: Mini Mental State Examination and CAMCOG: Cambridge Cognitive Examination for the Elderly) and functional (FRSSD: Functional Rating Scale for Symptoms of Dementia) status parameters.

In the first part of the study, a total of 50 consecutive patients with AD and 30 age-matched anaemic controls underwent an upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, and gastric mucosal biopsies were obtained to detect the presence of Hp infection by histologic analysis and rapid urease test.

Serum anti-Hp-specific IgG level was analysed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. In the second part, Hp-positive AD patients received a triple eradication regimen (omeprazole, clarithromycin and amoxicillin), and all patients were followed up for 2 years, while under the same treatment with cholinesterase inhibitors.

Hp was detected in 88% of AD patients and in 46.7% of controls (P < 0.001). Hp eradication was successful in 84.8% of treated patients.

At the 2-year clinical endpoint, cognitive and functional status parameters improved in the subgroup of patients where Hp eradication was successful (P < 0.001 and P = 0.049 for MMSE and CAMCOG, respectively; P < 0.001 for FRSSD), but not in the other patients.

Hp eradication may positively influence AD manifestations, suggesting a possible common link between Hp and AD.

http://www.springerlink.com/content/83147756538×7031/