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

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.