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July 10th, 2012 
FAKE NEWS for the Zionist agenda MONDAY, July 9 (HealthDay News) — A daily drink combining
several nutrients appears to help people with early Alzheimer’s disease
improve their memory, a new study suggests.
As Alzheimer’s progresses, patients lose their memory as synapses
(connections between brain cells) deteriorate, according to background
information included in the study. The new drink, called Souvenaid, may
actually stimulate the growth of new synapses, said the drink’s inventor,
Massachusetts Institute of Technology scientist Dr. Richard Wurtman.
But more research is needed before the drink could be made available to
the public. And, even then, consumers should exercise caution, said
William Thies, vice president for medical and scientific affairs at the
Alzheimer’s Association.
Nutricia, a division of Dannon, sponsored the study. MIT has a patent
on Souvenaid, and Nutricia has the exclusive license on the patent.
“Existing data now suggests that it may be possible to receive
something that will sustain cognition in people with Alzheimer’s disease
with a limited concern about side effects,” Wurtman said.
Previous experiments in animals showed that giving them the three
compounds included in the drink increased the production of synapses
improving brain function, he said.
For the new study, nearly 260 early Alzheimer’s patients in Europe
drank either Souvenaid or a placebo for six months.
During the first three months of the study, patients in both groups
showed improved memory. After that, however, patients taking the placebo
had a decline in memory. In contrast, patients taking Souvenaid continued
to show improved memory on tests used to assess Alzheimer’s patients.
Whether Souvenaid will slow the progression of Alzheimer’s isn’t known.
There is, however, a longer trial going on that might answer that
question, Wurtman said. “I don’t think it has any effect on the
fundamental diseases process, but we’ll see,” he said.
The report was published in the July 10 online edition of the
Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease.
The drink combines three ingredients: choline, uridine and omega-3
fatty acids.
Choline is a B vitamin found in meats, nuts and eggs, and omega-3 fatty
acids are found in fish, eggs, flaxseed and meat from grass-fed animals.
Uridine, which is produced by the liver and kidneys, is also found in some
foods as a part of RNA, which helps make protein in the body.
These nutrients, along with other proteins, are essential for making
brain-cell membranes that form synapses. To be effective, all three
compounds must be given together, the researchers said.
Nearly all patients drank the nutrient cocktail consistently throughout
the study, and there were no serious side effects, the researchers
reported.
To show the drink’s effect on the brain, patients underwent
electroencephalography (EEG) throughout the trial. During the study, the
brains of those taking the drink shifted from patterns of dementia to more
normal ones, the researchers found.
Since EEG patterns reflect the activity of synapses, this result
suggests that synaptic function increased with treatment, the researchers
said.
An earlier study found that patients with more advanced Alzheimer’s did
not benefit from Souvenaid, most likely because brains cells had already
been lost so new synapses couldn’t develop, Wurtman said.
There are as yet no plans to market Souvenaid, so the cost hasn’t been
established, company spokesman William Green said.
“Souvenaid is a test product in development, which is still undergoing
clinical trials,” Green said. “No plans for the introduction of Souvenaid
to the market — either in Europe or the U.S. — have been confirmed. It
is probable that any introduction would take place first in Europe.”
An ongoing study will evaluate the product over two years. If it
appears to have a positive effect, then it may be something that could
benefit patients even before definitive symptoms of Alzheimer’s appear,
Wurtman said.
Thies, of the Alzheimer’s Association, is very cautious about the
benefits of Souvenaid.
“Medical foods do not have a requirement for FDA premarket approval,
but they do have a requirement for having a scientific foundation and some
evidence of efficacy,” he said. “But they don’t have the kind of data we
would find for a medication.”
That makes it difficult to make a clear-cut statement about the value
of the product, he said.
“There isn’t a clear diet that prevents you from getting Alzheimer’s
disease or improves your memory,” Thies said.
In addition, medical foods for Alzheimer’s most likely won’t be covered
by insurance, he said.
“You are making a judgment without the protections you have when
dealing with a medication,” Thies said. “You’re going to be making a
decision using your own funds and we would advise anybody to make sure
they understand what the product offers and make sure they understand what
it’s going to cost.”
More information
For more about Alzheimer’s disease, visit the Alzheimer’s
Association.
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