Alzheimer’s Disease, “Nancy’s Protocol,” and You

Dear Natural Health Solutions Reader,

In a recent mailing, I discussed how “Nancy’s protocol” can yield remarkable improvements in memory and cognition in some Alzheimer’s disease (AD) patients.

Further, I revealed that this protocol (in other words, treatment plan) was supplementing the patient’s diet with turmeric, the traditional Indian culinary spice.

In response, reader Eric wrote the following to us:

“Turmeric?? Am I seriously reading this right?? That’s the Nancy’s 90-day remedy for Alzheimer’s? I would like to speak with Brad Lemley on this. My father in law is quickly falling to Alzheimer’s. Huge changes are being made as we speak: living wills, selling land and property, and full time care is currently being established. If this is truly the simple solution that is reversing this horrible disease, I need proof or at least to speak to someone immediately.”

Since responding to Eric’s letter may include information that helps other readers, I do so here.

First, I fully appreciate how difficult it is to watch a loved one decline day by day in the throes of this disease.

However, it’s important to note that each individual case is different.

The Japanese research we cited¹ explored positive changes in three patients who received 764 milligrams of turmeric daily along with their conventional AD care.

Of that total, 100 milligrams consisted of curcumin, regarded as the most therapeutically active constituent of turmeric.

That’s the treatment we dubbed “Nancy’s protocol” (a reference to Nancy Reagan, whose husband, President Ronald Reagan, died from AD in 2004).

That research paper is far from the only one indicating the promise of turmeric/curcumin in treating both AD and dementia.

One of the most compelling is from Annals of Indian Academy of Neurology, titled “The Effect of Curcumin (Turmeric) on Alzheimer’s Disease: An Overview.”²

The paper’s authors, based at the University of Southern California, compiled more than 1,000 studies showing the value of turmeric and/or curcumin against a wide range of diseases.

It’s fascinating to note that they don’t mince words. As someone who reads mountains of medical research papers, I can assure you that this language is unusually direct:

“Curcumin as an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and lipophilic action improves the cognitive functions in patients with AD.”

The important point, however, is that there is no guarantee that this protocol will work in every case. This is true of any treatment, including those based on FDA-approved drugs, many of which have negative and extensive side effects.

So…

It’s unfortunate that turmeric supplementation is not typically a part of mainstream Alzheimer’s treatment in this country.

Turmeric and its active component, curcumin, are the most promising natural preventive and treatment agents for Alzheimer’s I’ve ever encountered. Alzheimer’s treatment protocols in the U.S. should virtually universally recommend turmeric/curcumin supplementation.

The fact that many don’t is a travesty.

But Alzheimer’s also has a genetic component and can even be worsened by environmental factors such as a life history of head trauma.

Again, every case is different.

Given all of this, my recommendation to Eric and to all readers is twofold:

• American physicians are waking up to the power of botanical remedies, but their interest and receptivity is hugely variable. If your current physician knows little about these remedies — and seems dismissive when informed of the good research backing their utility — look for another physician

• In the meantime, given the fact that no treatment is guaranteed to work for everyone, it’s important to keep your father-in-law within the medical system that currently provides his care.

I wish you, Eric, and everyone whose life is affected by this devastating condition all the best. There is indeed hope, and it’s vital that the current treatment protocols for Alzheimer’s and dementia are revised to reflect the best unbiased medical science.

Brad Lemley
Editor, Natural Health Solutions

Citations

1. Effects of turmeric on Alzheimer’s disease with behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia. Ayu. 2012;33(4):499-504. doi:10.4103/0974-8520.110524.

2. Mishra S, Palanivelu K. The effect of curcumin (turmeric) on Alzheimer’s disease: An overview. Annals of Indian Academy of Neurology. 2008;11(1):13-19. doi:10.4103/0972-2327.40220.