Recent scientific evidence points to carnitine supplements’ role in slowing down Alzheimer’s disease’s progression (also, check out vitamins alpha lipoic acid). In a research performed at the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Medicine, headed by Jay Pettegrew, MD, carnitine supplements (specifically acetyl l carnitine) were found to cause “significantly higher” cognitive scores among Alzheimer’s patients.
Pettegrew and his team gave seven probable Alzheimer’s patients with 3 grams of acetyl-L carnitine everyday, for one year. Acetyl-L carnitine is the acetylated, more powerful form of L carnitine, and it has been shown in other studies to boost memory and learning. In this study, five other Alzheimer’s patients got a placebo, whereas 21 healthy patients served as the control group. Cognitive assessment tests were given to all the patients at 6 and 12 months.
The result of the study showed that the patients who received carnitine supplements (acetyl-L carnitine) scored way higher than the other groups, although all patients were noted to have virtually identical cognitive scores at the study’s onset. Meanwhile, the cognitive function of those in the placebo group had deteriorated.
Pettegrew’s team also monitored other neurochemical signs indicating that acetyl-L carnitine slowed down the disease’s progression, such as levels of phosphomonoesters and high-energy phosphates. The findings still showed the delay in the disease’s progression.
The significance of Pettegrew’s study’s findings is that the recipients of carnitine supplements were older patients—those considered to be usually resistant to treatment. Acetyl-L carnitine’s positive effects and efficacy in normalizing membrane phosphor-lipid changes caused by Alzheimer’s provide hope that mankind is on the right path toward the effective management, or cure, of the dreaded disease.
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May 27th, 2010