New Treatment?

Mick77 · April 14

Hello,

I recently read about studies using Benfotiamine to treat early AD and MCI. It seems to work. According to the NIH "Results: Participants were treated with benfotiamine (34) or placebo (36). Benfotiamine treatment was safe. The increase in ADAS-Cog was 43% lower in the benfotiamine group than in the placebo group, indicating less cognitive decline, and this effect was nearly statistically significant (p = 0.125)." The University of Michigan (and many other universities) is now running a study using Benfotiamine at increased doses to see whether the slowing of the disease can be further increased. See benfoteam.org for more info on this study. I just wonder why benfotiamine isn't more talked about and prescribed, since it seems pretty clear that it works—at least a bit, and with no real danger involved. Does anyone here take it, or have any ideas about its use? Thanks

SusanB-dil · April 15

It probably isn't talked about nor prescribed as yet because it is still in just trial stage.

I really hope it does help. A lot of us have been let down, with promising studies, and then 'poof'.

harshedbuzz · April 15

@Mick77

Two things struck me in your post— 70 participants in a study the showed a result that was "nearly statistically significant".

That said, benfotiamine is a form or thiamine aka B1. A deficiency of B1 can lead to permanent memory loss from Wernicke-Korsakoff's. This has been seen in people with HIV/AIDS, some cancers, eating disorders, extreme morning sickness, starvation and alcohol use disorder.

My father, an active alcoholic, had WKS. He was diagnosed during an ED visit for change in mental status— this was a psychotic episode. He was admitted and treated, starting before he even had a room assignment on IV Thiamine for almost a week. He did improve for a time— short term memory and executive function remained impaired, but he was able to do ADLs and was no longer psychotic— so long as he remained abstinent and before his Alzheimer symptoms worsened.

HB

New Treatment?

Comments

Commonly Used Abbreviations

Community Guidelines

Categories