Medical Services | Health Information | Appointments | Education and Research | Jobs | About

Connect with an expert

Alzheimer's blog

With Mayo Clinic health education outreach coordinator Angela Lunde
Back to posting index
April 23, 2008
Miracle cures are hype until proved
38 comments posted
Read comments | Post a comment
By Angela Lunde

Like all of you, I remain optimistic and hopeful that a cure for Alzheimer's will soon come. I personally have family members affected and I witness firsthand, each day, the impact it has on persons with the disease and their families.

I also understand that during this painful journey, we can become enchanted by news of what appear to be miraculous cures; case in point an arthritic drug you may have heard being touted as a "miracle cure."

The drug, approved for treatment of immune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, is not currently available as a treatment for Alzheimer's. Keep in mind, this "miracle cure" rests on just a handful of case studies rather than on randomized clinical trials. Before it could become an accepted therapy for Alzheimer's, it would need to go through the FDA approval process, including randomized, blinded clinical trials.

I often receive questions from families affected by Alzheimer's who have heard or read about a "cure" such as the one I described above. While I desperately want to confirm for them that the cure is just around the corner, I cannot in good conscience offer that at the present time. I am saddened by the premature media attention that only builds unrealistic expectations for families who are far better served when well researched information reaches them.

One source for reliable information can be found at Alzheimer's Disease Education and Referral (ADEAR). As a government-funded resource, the ADEAR Center strives to be a current, comprehensive, unbiased source of information about Alzheimer's. All information and materials about the search for causes, treatment, cures, and better diagnostic tools are carefully researched and thoroughly reviewed by NIA scientists and health communicators for accuracy and integrity.

38 comments posted
Read comments | Post a comment
Back to posting index
November 17, 2008 12:20 p.m.
It is now Nov 2008. Is there any clinical trials started on Enbrel for Alzheimers?
- Corrine
September 3, 2008 4:21 p.m.
Make sure you get tested for Lyme disease. They share symptoms and often Lyme disease is sometimes misdiagnosed as Alzheimers. Just a heads up. There is great research into Lyme disease symptoms that are shared with Alzheimers over at http://www.lyme-disease-research-database.com.
- Lyme disease advocate
July 22, 2008 11:22 p.m.
The APO E Gene Diet can be found at http://www.apoegenediet.com/ www.apoegenediet.com
- Melissa
July 22, 2008 11:21 p.m.
I too have been hopeful for further research on Alzheimer's Disease. The APO E Gene Diet is a book by Pamela McDonald that is based in science on the treatment of Alzheimer's prevention and recovery from. Medicine, science, and diet are now delivering powerful answers to chronic illnesses. I would highly recommend this book.
- Melissa
July 14, 2008 9:26 p.m.
What can be done to help patient that has sundowners syndrome and the nursing home sends the family home when visiting to be able to medicate them and it is hard for us who want to visit and the patient
- cydny
May 13, 2008 8:49 a.m.
I did not waste time not telling my mother how loved she was, I would just like her to know it and hear it as she approaches death. Currently it has cost a quarter of a million dollars to keep her in a state of existence, just existence. What is wrong with wanting her to be able to feel the love around her again. The time she has is wasted now, suspended in life with no end in sight and also no hope. Give her one or the other. At this point she has NOTHING to lose. And i know my mother, she would volunteer. Never assume I did not tell my mother she was loved. But those are words that can not be heard enough, especially when you are facing really bad times. Also, the side effects can be bad,but no more severe than dying without a brain.
- dawn
May 12, 2008 11:29 p.m.
Back again, For the many who do not suffer from dementia, but are very aware of their arthritis, vision and hearing loss, just how much of the reseach money and medicare/ insurance funding are they suppossed to get? there are far more in this catagory. Trapped with good minds behind blind eyes and deaf ears for years and years. We all have an agenda. Sorry if I don't hop on your band wagon Felicia, I have other concerns about the priorities of the FDA and reseach. People with cancer and severe pain, while totally aware. Dawn, with all respect, I offer my condolences that you waited so late to tell your Mother of your love for her and to hear her speak your name. I heard my Daddy scream my name in great pain as he suffered. Go ahead, trade dementia for lymphoma and get your wasted chance back at her expense. You are selfish.
- Suzy
May 12, 2008 9:24 p.m.
I have watched my mom deteriorate over the years with AD. For the last several months she has not recognized me. i do understand the need for further studies but in my opinion, Mom has nothing but along, drawnout, undignified passing at the point.Our family feels with this disease it would be worth any risk just for the opportunity to have her for even a week, to have a chance to tell her how much she is loved and to possibly hear our names come from her lips one more time. Yes, my motives are purely selfish but the alternative is much worse, hand feeding her daily, changing her depends, giving her baths, dressing her like a Betsie Wetsie doll. If i know my mom, she would have her hand up as the first guinnea pig in the study group. It reaches a point where the risks are worth it.
- dawn
May 11, 2008 12:44 p.m.
Sorry, didn't budget my space. Ca-ching, break the bank. Pull out the card and fork it over, The docs involved and the drug company involved don't want tests and approval, they want everyone to sign a release and be off the hook. FDA approved fen-fen, Vioxx, others, but when the negatives surfaced, who got sued?? Not the FDA. As long as it is off label, and you sign that release, who you gonna sue, Ghost Busters? That is how Dr. T likes it. That is how amgen likes it. You may work around it, find a doc who will prescribe enbrel for a labeled use, surely the patient has some sign of psoriasis or RA. You say, ahh, bad reaction at that injection site. Use this one. Done. I used to think just maybe Felicia worked for Dr.T., but no more. Dr. T doesn't want the FDA approval that she is pushing for.
- Suzy
May 11, 2008 8:05 a.m.
I have tried to follow the discussion about this treatment for the past few months. Many things bother me. First, the diagnosis of Alzheimer's is not always correct. Many doctors don't do the testing necessary to rule out other causes of dementia. It seems that Dr T does some extensive tests before treating people. Is he looking for patients with something other than alzheimer's to treat? I wonder if he ever tells a patient that this proceedure is not appropriate for them or if it is just a "show me the money" criteria. At least a few of these people are likely to have some other cause for their dementia. All the more reason for proper tests to be done. It seems to treat something, but what? Most of the argument seems to be about the money. The supporters of Enbrel don't seem to want answers they simply want insurance or medicare to cover the cost. Since this would be a patented proceedure, will it remain in the hands of a few doctors who may or may not accept what insurance or medicare will pay. A fast track by the FDA will not quarentee that this would become available to all at a reasonable price. There is a reason why the makers of enbrel do not pursue this. I don't know what it is, but since they don't pursue it, clearly they have a reason. The FDA has stated that a request must be submitted by the company or patent holder, or trial conductors in order for them to consider this. It is not based on a popular vote. Ca-ching, break th
- Suzy
Post a comment
COMMENTS PAGE
1 2 3 4

ALZHEIMER'S

More Information

Advertising and sponsorship policy
Nov 20, 2008