Alzheimer Disease: Clues from traditional and complementary medicine

Abstract

Despite modern medicine's incredible innovation and resulting accumulation of valuable knowledge, many of the world's most problematic diseases such as Alzheimer Disease (AD) still lack effective cures and treatments. Western medicine has revealed many genetic, cellular, and molecular processes that characterize AD such as protein aggregation and inflammation. As the need for novel and effective treatments increases, researchers have turned towards traditional medicine as a resource. Modern, evidence based research examining traditional and complementary remedies for AD has generated promising results within the last decade. Animal based products inhibiting cellular toxicity, anti-inflammatory nutraceuticals such as omega-3 fatty acids, and plant based compounds derived from herbal medicine demonstrate viability as neuroprotective treatments and possible application in developing pharmaceuticals. Analysis of antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective phytochemicals used in various traditional medicines around the world reveal potential to ameliorate and prevent the devastating neurodegeneration observed in AD.

Systems Pharmacology Approach to Investigate the Mechanism of Kai-Xin-San in Alzheimer’s Disease

“…Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), which embraces centuries of knowledge and practical experience, has been used to treat many complex diseases in China for over 2,000 years (Cooper and Ma, 2017;Jiang et al, 2017). TCM has advantages for multi-targeting in intervention and treatment and has provided comprehensive prospects for understanding physiopathology and drug development for neurodegenerative diseases, including AD (Ho et al, 2010;Law et al, 2017).…”

Solanum Betaceum Improves Cognitive Function by Decreasing N-Methyl-D-Aspartate on Alzheimer Rats Model

“…It was well established that AD has been related to debilitating cognitive decline and the most common form of dementia with symptoms such as memory loss, disorientation in time, and space, difficulty solving problems, and among others [5,4]. In this study, we have chosen the fresh S. betaceum fruits to evaluate its ameliorative effect against AD.…”

“…Alzheimer's disease (AD), a progressive, irreversible age-related neurodegenerative disease, is characterized by gradually progressive debilitating cognitive decline such as memory loss, disorientation in time and space, difficulty in problems solving, language impairment, psychosocial impairment, behavioral symptoms (hallucinations, paranoia, and delusions), and among others [1][2][3][4][5]. AD is the sixth leading cause of death and a leading cause of dementia among elderly populations of Americans [5]. AD remains a big problem with a significant social, health, and financial burden on society [2].…”

“…Until now pharmacologic management trying to treat AD is only partial inhibitors rather than curative [10]. AD still a big health problem due to lack of efficacy and adequacy of current treatments [5]. Fundamental strategy to combat AD is understanding about the underlying neurobiological processes of cognitive decline [17].…”

Hypoglycemia, Hyperglycemia and Astaxanthin: An <i>in Vitro</i> Alzheimer’s Disease Model

“…Despite the prevalence of this disease, few treatment options are available, and no cure exists [2]. A hallmark of AD is the presence of amyloid beta peptide (Aβ) deposition in the brain [3]. Aβ peptides are known to increase reactive oxygen species (ROS) production [4] [5] [6].…”