Don’t Fall for Fake Alzheimer’s Remedies

Maybe you’ve noticed: There’s never a situation so dire that someone can’t make it worse by preying on desperate people.

Think about it. The COVID-19 pandemic, the 9/11 attacks in the U.S., earthquakes, hurricanes, and tornadoes — all of these tragedies have been exploited by someone willing to deceive kindhearted people who wish to intervene in humanity’s suffering. How sick and odd is that?

Fake Alzheimer’s remedies

Imagine the grit it takes to build a fake business to bilk thousands of dollars out of people. Right now, there are fake health companies hawking bogus remedies and cures for Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. Their claims are outrageous, but you can understand how someone recently diagnosed would be willing to try anything to thwart disease progression. Please don’t fall for these outrageous claims. A cure for Alzheimer’s disease is on the horizon, but it hasn’t arrived yet.

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The danger

Hitching onto medications that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) hasn’t approved can be dangerous to your health. Unsubstantiated claims that certain treatments can clear the brain of Alzheimer’s disease are harmful on multiple levels. The claims cause false hope and may prevent someone already suffering from the illness from seeking help.

Signs of dementia can appear many years before a person seeks treatment, and sometimes the changes are noticeable only to the patient. Hoping to avoid dementia, that person might take self-help drugs, rubs, or pantry items touted by so-called experts.

Self-help remedies may or may not hurt you, but they won’t help, and you can’t expect a placebo effect. Protein deposits in the brain cause Alzheimer’s disease. Scientists have already identified the amyloid deposits and tau protein that affect brain cells, so we are learning more about the “why” of the disease. But there’s no cure yet, so be careful about promises that sound too good to be true — because they are.

Recognize a fake claim

Don’t trust a treatment for Alzheimer’s disease that isn’t developed by a reputable pharmaceutical company, backed by the FDA, and tested in multiple clinical trials. Additionally, the Alzheimer’s Association is wholly involved in research for a cure. Don’t trust medications the Alzheimer’s Association refuses to support. Don’t waste your time and money, and perhaps risk your health.

You can take steps to lessen the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, such as watching your weight and paying close attention to blood pressure and blood glucose levels, for instance. High blood pressure and diabetes are risk factors that contribute to Alzheimer’s disease. Get regular health checkups, take prescribed medications, exercise, and eat healthy meals.

If you’re experiencing unexplained changes in behavior or memory loss, seek professional assistance. Please speak with your healthcare professional and follow their instructions.

Finally, report all fake products and advertising for Alzheimer’s cures to the FDA.

Note: Alzheimer’s News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Alzheimer’s News Today or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to Alzheimer’s disease.