How Traditional Herbal Medicine Impacts the Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease

Background:

Alzheimer’s disease is characterized by progressive deterioration in intellect, including memory and cognitive functions. There are currently no medications on the market that prevent Alzheimer’s altogether, only medications that suppress its symptoms. However, AD medications that are available have had little effect on patients. The search for effective medicines to reduce the impact of AD symptoms has been ongoing for a long time. One country that will experience a significant increase in elderly population is China, so having more effective medications available is vital to protecting these elderly individuals. Many traditional Chinese herbs have been found to treat dementia diseases in clinics, but solid research on the topic has yet to be done. 

Objective:

The studies being analyzed in this article hope to understand the efficacies of various traditional Chinese medicines against Alzheimer’s Disease. It is widely accepted that herbal medicines cannot eliminate the disease altogether, but can it help with symptom management? Because there are many symptoms attributed to AD, what type of symptoms do these medicines manage: physical or emotional? Through analysis of these studies, overall understanding of the impact of medicinal qualities in traditional herbal remedies will be broadened. 

Study/Methods:

In these studies, the flavonoids (phytonutrients in plants) found in herbal medicines were used on patients with Alzheimer’s Disease in order to monitor its efficacy. Animal studies were also put in place. Trials were “conducted randomized, double-blind, cross-over, and placebo-controlled”.

Results:

The studies conducted revealed that many flavonoids helped in managing the symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease, but were not effective in reversing symptoms that were already present in a patient. The flavonoids found in herbal medicines were helpful in managing many of the psychological symptoms of AD, including suppressing inflammation, stress reduction, improving memory and cognitive functioning, and promoting nerve growth. 

Conclusion:

Although studies done on Chinese herbal medicine are very limited and hard to control in terms of efficacy comparison to other remedies, it is still inexpensive and very accessible relative to traditional medicine. Having an option like this available in areas such as China with high elderly populations will greatly benefit those diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease who cannot otherwise afford alternatives.