Anona for Alzheimer's

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Alzheimer's disease eats away at the mind and the memory.

Some doctors are now prescribing a "medical food" as part of their treatment. But not everyone who works with Alzheimer's patients thinks it will help.

Draw some water, pour in the powder, stir, and voila. That's all it takes to make this milkshake neurologist Doctor Gerald Calegan is prescribing to some of his patients.

"It's a medical food that is approved for treating Alzheimer's disease."

The "medical food" is called Axona.

According to doctors, the treatment that contains a derivative of coconut oil helps fuel the brain with ketones, an alternative brain fuel to glucose which is what those suffering from Alzheimer's are losing.

"Just sip on it for a few minutes after you eat breakfast and it's shown to improve memory scores in patients with Alzheimer's disease."

While Axona was approved by the FDA back in 2009, some are still skeptical as to how effective it is in treating Alzheimer disease.

"People will try anything when they have a terminal disease."

Barbera Autin is the executive director for Alzheimer's Services in Baton Rouge. Her mother recently succumbed to the disease and says some under stress might be tempted to try something new.

"As the disease progresses, it's as though the person regresses to almost infancy. Where they need 24 hour care. So it demands so much attention from the caregiver it just wears them out."

But her organization and some other critics aren't ready to recommend the use of medical foods like Axona in place of long standing medications for Alzheimer's just yet.

In the meantime, Doctor Calegan says it's working, and is impressed by his patients' improvement.

"Remembering a grandchild's birthday, being able to remember a doctor's appointment, knowing that you're taking your medicines properly. those things make a big difference.""Medical food" being prescribed by some doctors to treat Alzheimer's

Drink away Alzheimer's disease

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TheDenverChannel.com

TAMPA, Fla. -- Imagine slowly losing the sense of who you are and not being able to stop it. Millions of people in the U.S. live with Alzheimer's disease or watch a loved one suffers from it.

Now, researchers are looking at a high-powered prescription shake to ease the symptoms.

At 93, Teresa Alfonzo has seen and done a lot. But because of a devastating diagnosis 10 years ago, she's now fighting to keep her most precious "We started noticing she couldn't take care of herself," Rafael Alfonzo, Teresa's son, said.

The Alfonzo family is one of 35 million families dealing with the devastating effects of Alzheimer's disease. A few months ago, Teresa's ability to remember the most basic skills started to go. She couldn't even draw a clock.

"There was a lot of resistance. I don't understand," Margaret Alfonzo, Teresa's daughter, said.

That's when they decided to try something new. Teresa started on Axona, a medical shake regulated by the FDA. It's like an energy drink for the brain.

"It basically gives the brain an alternative food source," Richard S. Isaacson, M.D., an associate professor of clinical neurology at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine

"It's a powder, so they mix it with usually a high protein drink, usually a milkshake or Boost, and they drink it right after breakfast," Susan Steen, M.D., a neurologist at South Tampa Memory center, said.

Alzheimer's patients lose the ability to use glucose in the blood. Two hours after drinking Axona, it's converted into ketone bodies that circulate to the brain and produce energy.

"Ketone bodies are the only things aside from sugar your brain can use as food." Dr. Richard S. Isaacson said.

In a 90-day, double blind study of 152 Alzheimer's patients, 77 took Axona. 45 percent of them showed signs of improvement after 45 days. While it doesn't work for everyone, Isaacson says it's worth a shot.

"You have at least a 40 to 45 percent chance of having this medical food work, in my opinion, 40 percent is a lot higher than zero," Isaacson said.

After three months on Axona, Teresa wa able to draw a clock.

"It's a blessing really. It's a huge progress," Margaret said.

Axona is a prescription medical food. The FDA does not approve medical foods, but they do regulate them. It costs $70 to $90 for a 30-day supply.

Isaacson says a genetic test can actually help figure out if Axona will work on patients. Axona's website says the side effects include mild stomach aches and diarrhea.

Axona: Medical food to treat Alzheimer's

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MayoClinic

Glenn Smith, Ph.D.

Axona is a prescription supplement that claims to target the nutritional needs of people with Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer's is thought to hinder the brain's ability to break down glucose. According to Axona's marketing materials, the supplement provides an alternative source of glucose that the brain can use for energy.

It's not clear what benefits, if any, Axona provides. A small study, funded by the manufacturers of the product, found that memory and cognition improved for people with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease. However, more studies are needed to determine its safety and effectiveness.

Axona is marketed as a medical food. Medical foods are dietary supplements that help manage a disease or condition that causes nutritional deficiencies. The Alzheimer's Association, however, disputes the notion that Alzheimer's disease causes nutritional deficiencies and requires a medical food. Medical foods are given only under the supervision of a doctor. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) doesn't approve medical foods, nor does it test medical foods for safety or effectiveness.

Until more is known, the Alzheimer's Association doesn't recommend the use of medical foods, including Axona, for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

Axona, a new drug for Alzheimer's

Alzheimer's and dementia weekly
Axona is a new medical food product for the clinical dietary management of mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's Disease (AD). Axona has been shown in randomized, placebo controlled clinical trials to safely improve cognitive function and memory in patients diagnosed with mild-to-moderate AD. It will be marketed as an adjunctive therapy to currently approved AD drugs. Axona will be administered under physician supervision and dispensed by prescription, in accordance with applicable FDA regulations.

Axona provides........read the whole article

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