Memory Loss

Diet and Nutrition: (references)

• Avoid foods with preservatives or sulfites
• Avoid foods with added dyes
• Avoid foods that are not organically grown
• Absolutely no NutraSweet ® (Aspartame)
• Eliminate foods that cause an allergic response or to which there is a sensitivity (fast, use an elimination diet, or allergy test to isolate such foods)
• Avoid sugar and alcohol

Vitamins and Minerals: (references)

• Vitamin B1 (Thiamine): 15-30 mg.
• Vitamin B6: 20 - 50 mg.
• Vitamin B12: 1000 mcg. once a week IM
• Vitamin E: 400 - 800 I.U.
• Folate: 2 - 4 mg.
• Choline: 250 mg.

Supplements: (references)

• Amino Acids: 1 tablet TID
• Phosphatidylserine: 100 mg. TID
• L-Acetyl-Carnitine: 500 mg. TID

Botanicals: (references)

• Ginkgo: 1 capsule TID
• Circulatory Pizazz Tincture - Ginkgo, Panax, Arctium, Zingiber, Zanthoxyllum, Rosmariunus, Capsicum: 1/4 tsp. TID

• Individual botanicals to be considered for this condtion:
  Arctium lappa (Burdock)
  Centella asiatica (Gota kola)
  Eleutherococcus senticosus (Siberian ginseng)
  Ginkgo biloba (Ginkgo)
  Mentha piperita (Peppermint)
  Oplopanax horridum (Devil's club)
  Panax ginseng (Chinese ginseng, Korean ginseng)
  Rosmarius officinalis (Rosemary)
  Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha)
  Zanthoxylum clava-herculis (Southern prickly ash)
  Zingiber officinale (Ginger)

Homeopathic Remedies: (references)

• General memory loss:
  Anac., Bell., Camph., Dig., Hyos., Verat.
• Memory loss after a stroke:
  Anac., Op., Plb.
• Forgetful:
  Amb., Bar-C., Carb-S., Cocc., Colch., Lyc., Petr., Ph-Ac., Phos., Plat., Zinc-P.

(For an overview of Homeopathy, click here.)   

Other Therapies: (references)

• Read intellectually stimulating articles
• Do crossword puzzles
• Take classes
• Physical exercise
• Cranial manipulation
• Postmenopausal women may benefit from estrogen replacement therapy and andropausal men might improve memory with testosterone supplementation
• Replace mercury amalgam dental fillings with porcelain or other materials
• Avoid sources of aluminum (e.g., deodorants, aluminum cookware, polluted water) and lead toxicity (e.g., lead paint, lead water pipes)
• Avoid toxic hydrocarbons (e.g., gasoline, pesticides/insecticides, formaldehyde, carpet glue)

Recommended Labs:

• Rule out Alzheimer's Disease: LYMPro, PET Scan, EEG
• Rule out anemia: CBS with Diff, Iron Deficiency Panel
• Rule out drug toxicity: History, Drug Screen, Drug Reference Information Analysis
• Rule out electrolyte imbalance: Blood Chemistry Panel, Electrolyte Panel
• Rule out heavy metal poisoning: Hair Analysis
• Rule out HIV: ELISA, Western Blot
• Rule out hormonal insufficiency: Hormone Panel
• Rule out hypoglycemia: Oral Glucose Tolerance
• Rule out hypothyroidism: Thyroid Panel with TSH
• Rule out Lyme Disease: Western Blot
• Rule out meningitis and encephalitis: Lumbar Puncture
• Rule out menopause: FSH, LH
• Rule out occult malignancies: Antimalignant Antibody
• Rule out stroke: Non-Contrast CT Scan, EEG, CBC with Diff, Coagulation Profile, Electrolyte Panel, Serum Glucose
• Rule out syphilis: VDRL, Darkfield Microscopy, RPR, MHA-TP
• Rule out Vitamin B-12 deficiency: Microbial Assy Serum B-12

*  The recommended use of this supplement or therapy is based on a physiological mechanism or empirical data and is not necessarily supported by peer-reviewed research studies.

Copyright 1998 - 2008 by L. Vicky Crouse, ND and James S. Reiley, ND. All rights reserved (ISSN 1527-0661).