Senile Dementia: Improve Your Memory And Help Protect Yourself From The Symptoms Of Dementia

Senile dementia is a cruel and progressive illness, causing misery to at least 500,000 victims and their families in the UK. Conventional senile dementia treatments are few and far between, prompting open-minded scientists to look further afield for inspiration.

One chemical in particular is generating much excitement. Memantine is a derivative of a naturally-occurring compound called adamantine, which occurs in teeth and other 'bony' structures in your body. Memantine has been in use for some years in Germany, but the rest of Europe and North America have yet to wake up to its brain-boosting effects.

Now, after reviewing the available data, HSI Panellist and anti-ageing expert, Dr Marios Kyriazis, believes that a new, synthetic form of memantine has enormous potential as a protector of brain and nerve cells in senile dementia, Parkinson's disease, epilepsy and alcohol dependence.

Memantine promotes efficient brain functioning by blocking the production of glutamate
Brain cells communicate with each other by means of chemicals or neurotransmitters that facilitate the passing of messages, chemical or electrical, from one part of your brain to another. This is vital for functions such as thought process, memory and cognition.

One of the most important neurotransmitters is glutamate. It works by attaching itself to special receptor sites on a cell surface, in order to stimulate the release of chemical messengers from within your cells. These receptors are like custom-made 'locks' that can only be opened by a particular key, in this case glutamate. Scientists call these receptor sites 'NMDA' (N-methyl-D-aspartate) receptors.

If there is too much glutamate present, the receptor is over-stimulated with deleterious effects on your brain - increasing your risk of conditions such as senile dementia, Parkinson's disease and other chronic brain disorders 1.

Memantine has been shown to be an NMDA blocker. It occupies the receptor site on brain cells and prevents glutamate access. In this way, the brain is protected from excess glutamate (glutamate toxicity) and symptoms of senile dementia are reduced 2.

Improves memory in senile dementia patients by up to 20%
Animal and human studies have both shown that when memantine is administered by injection, a marked increase in activity occurs all over the brain - particularly in the frontal lobe. This is the part of your brain which is responsible for memory, rational thought and creativity 3.

In a study conducted by researchers at New York University, 175 patients with advanced senile dementia were given memantine over a six-month period. The results showed the treatment slowed down mental decline, improved cognition and quality of daily activities by 10-20 per cent 4.

The supplement's senile dementia-fighting benefits were also documented by Swedish researchers at the Karolinska Institute. Their research found that memantine was able to improve memory, learning and general function in senile dementia patients by an average of 20 per cent 5.

Memantine is particularly effective in a particular form of senile dementia, known as small vessel dementia - responsible for up to 8 per cent of all cases. Small vessel senile dementia is caused by a blockage of the small arteries in the brain that starve cells of vital nutrients and oxygen. Eventually these brain cells die and associated memory problems, depression and other symptoms of dementia can soon follow.

Memantine, perhaps due to its ability to regulate the NMDA receptors which are abundant in small arteries, can improve cognition and memory much more efficiently than many other treatments 6.

Memantine helps control involuntary movements caused by disorders like Parkinson's disease

This same mechanism is believed to be the key to memantine's beneficial effects in other brain-related problems.

A Russian study has shown that memantine can block the activity of certain parts of the brain which cause abnormal muscle movements - thereby reducing epileptic fits, shakiness associated with Parkinson's disease, and other movement disorders 7.

Scientists working at the Department of Pharmacodynamics, at the Medical University of Lublin in Poland, believe that memantine is also an effective agent against alcohol dependence8.

Animal studies have shown that while there was a marked worsening of memory following the consumption of alcoholic drinks over long periods, treatment with memantine completely reversed this problem 9.

If memantine can protect against the effects of alcohol in the brain, it may also be able to protect against the effects of other toxins such as free radicals, pollution, smoking and drugs. Exactly how this may be achieved is illustrated by the work of scientists at the University of Kuopio in Finland. They found that memantine increases the production of protective brain chemicals such as BDNF (brain derived neurotrophic factor) 10.

What to take for best results
Memantine is a powerful protector of brain cells and has the potential not only to treat the symptoms of senile dementia but also to prevent them. Memantine is currently available on prescription only in the UK. The recommended dosage is between 20mg and 40mg a day (or as otherwise advised by your doctor). No adverse side-effects have been reported following its use.

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