Alternative Treatment For Mild Cognitive Impairment

As per statistics, there has been an increase in the population suffering from mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease in the United States. It is estimated that people suffering from these diseases will increase to 13 million by 2050.^[1]

The cause for people suffering from mild cognitive impairment could be traumatic brain injury or a stroke. There has been no effective remedy for treating Alzheimer’s disease or mild cognitive impairment. These days’ doctors are moving towards alternative treatment methods for treating cognitive impairment disorders. These alternative methods work on the biological system, mind and body, and energy for treating cognitive impairments. These conventional measures have little scientific evidence about the safety and efficacy, but still, they have been increasingly practiced and have found to be effective.

Ginkgo Biloba. This Chinese medicine has been traditionally used across the globe. Ginkgo biloba has been used in Europe as an alternative treatment of dementia and other neurodegenerative disorders and the same herb has also been used in North America for the treatment of cognitive disorders such as mild cognitive impairment.^[2] It is consumed at a dose of 120 to 600 mg per day or as prescribed. People taking Ginkgo biloba have found to improve the memory and general cognitive functioning and it has helped in improving the day to day activities. It is found to be effective in improving the symptoms of memory and cognition in patients with Alzheimer’s disease and multi-infarct dementia.

People consuming Ginkgo biloba are at increased risk of bleeding because Ginkgo biloba has strong anti-platelet aggregation action. When this drug is taken along with Aspirin, warfarin, heparin, or other medications which interfere with the platelet activity can increase the bleeding time and putting the patient at risk. In case mild cognitive impairment patients are planning for surgery, the use of Ginkgo biloba should be discarded at least two weeks before surgery.^[3]

Huperzine-A. This is an alkaloid product derived from the herb Huperzia serrata. The product has been used as an alternative treatment for improving memory status in patients with mild cognitive impairment associated with aging. This drug acts by inhibiting anticholinesterase enzyme which is responsible for the breakdown of acetylcholine. It also stops the production of nitric oxide in the brain which is probably responsible for age-related neurotoxicity. The product can be consumed at a dose of 200 to 400 grams per day. The side effects associated with this drug are dizziness, nausea, and diarrhea.^[4]

Phosphatidylserine. It is one of the most important phospholipids which are present in the nerve cell membrane. There is increasing evidence that phosphatidylserine can improve functioning and memory in age-related cognitive decline. It can be consumed a daily dose of 300 mg per day for mild cognitive impairment.^[5]

Cytidine Diphosphate Choline (CDP Choline). This ingredient helps in increasing the mitochondrial energy production and there will be an increase in the levels of dopamine in the brain. It is found to be an effective alternative treatment for patients with short term memory loss. It is particularly useful in patients who have suffered cognitive impairment because of cerebrovascular disease and traumatic brain injury. CDP choline can be consumed at a dose of 500- 1000mg per day for mild cognitive impairment.^[6]

Idebenone. The agent is similar to coenzyme Q10. It increases intracellular production of energy in mitochondria. The product can be consumed at a dose of 350 mg per day for mild cognitive impairment.^[7]

Dietary Changes. A person who consumes high fat and high-calorie diet are expected to develop the risk of mild cognitive impairment. The diets rich in Omega 3 fatty acids are inversely related to cognitive impairment. In order to increase the intake of Omega 3 fatty acids in the diet, people should consume fish 2 to 3 times weekly. This helps in reducing the risk of cognitive decline in the elderly population. Also, people who consume wine in moderate amount reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. Alcohol and wine should be consumed in moderate amount this significantly reduces the risk of vascular dementia mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease.

A number of alternative treatments including but not limited to Ginkgo biloba, Huperzine-A, Phosphatidylserine, CDP choline, and idebenone are available which are found to be effective in treating mild cognitive impairment.

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Also Read:

• What Causes You To Have A Mild Cognitive Impairment?
• What Is The Best Treatment For Mild Cognitive Impairment?