A Caregiver's Perspective on Huperzine A
Huperzine A benefited my Dad while he was living with Alzheimer's Disease (AD). I could tell because his demeanor was different. Initially, he would take the tablet. On some occasions his demeanor would revert to the unpleasant. Thinking he might need two tablets, I acted accordingly. Then it happened. I caught him taking the tablets out of his pocket and throwing them in the trash. To combat this circumstance I started grinding them up and put them in his food or smoothie.
Once I started doing that his demeanor stabilized and that was that.
What do I mean by “his demeanor?” His attitude regarding his cooperativeness, responsiveness, and his need for assistance with things like dressing, shaving, and selecting clothes are what I call his demeanor. In the beginning he was expressing confusion in the morning when it came to dressing. He didn't know what the articles of clothing were or how to put them on. This would lead to frustration and then uncooperativeness. The Huperzine A, in combination with the other supplements, helped to mitigate the cycle.
Consequently, our interactions became more cordial and less stressed.
Throughout the day his interactions became more situation appropriate. He did not demonstrate the “lost look” as he went about his daily routine. My Dad was always a sedentary man with few words. He wasn't a sportsman or an outdoor kind of person. He enjoyed reading and watching “classic” television – including the news. For a season he stopped communicating about what he had seen on the news or read in the paper. After starting the Huperzine A he became more talkative.
Once I started doing that his demeanor stabilized and that was that.
What do I mean by “his demeanor?” His attitude regarding his cooperativeness, responsiveness, and his need for assistance with things like dressing, shaving, and selecting clothes are what I call his demeanor. In the beginning he was expressing confusion in the morning when it came to dressing. He didn't know what the articles of clothing were or how to put them on. This would lead to frustration and then uncooperativeness. The Huperzine A, in combination with the other supplements, helped to mitigate the cycle.
Consequently, our interactions became more cordial and less stressed.
Throughout the day his interactions became more situation appropriate. He did not demonstrate the “lost look” as he went about his daily routine. My Dad was always a sedentary man with few words. He wasn't a sportsman or an outdoor kind of person. He enjoyed reading and watching “classic” television – including the news. For a season he stopped communicating about what he had seen on the news or read in the paper. After starting the Huperzine A he became more talkative.
The real treat was when other family members would visit and then comment about Dad “being his old self.” I took about two or three months for that to occur, but when it did, my sister and I shouted “Hallelujah!”
How did I discover Huperzine A? I was looking for something natural to replace or augment Dad's prescription Aricept. Why? The side effects of the Aricept (Donepezil) were becoming more pronounced. Actually, the benefits were not as apparent as they were originally. By this point Dad had been on prescription AD medication for about five years.
We were seeing loss of appetite, weight loss, dizziness, difficulty falling asleep and changes in behavior. These are all listed as common side effects of Aricept listed on PUBMED. The uncommon side effect we never could overcome once it started was the inability to control urination. Each new side effect was met with consideration, empathy, and adaptation. Our primary care giving objective was to ensure Dad had good quality of life.
I did not do a web search for “natural Alzheimer's Disease medication replacement.” I started searching for natural supplements for handling the symptoms and side effects that Dad was displaying. I kept seeing various forms of the word Choline (say: Ko-lean) as I read about the symptoms of AD.
A Cholinesterase (say: Ko-lean-s-ter-aze) inhibitor is a drug designed to keep more of the neurotransmitter Acetylcholine (say: Ah-seat-uhl-ko-lean) intact in the brain and body by blocking an enzyme called cholinesterase from breaking it down. Acetylcholine is a very important neurotransmitter and it is the most abundant neurotransmitter in the brain.
How did I discover Huperzine A? I was looking for something natural to replace or augment Dad's prescription Aricept. Why? The side effects of the Aricept (Donepezil) were becoming more pronounced. Actually, the benefits were not as apparent as they were originally. By this point Dad had been on prescription AD medication for about five years.
We were seeing loss of appetite, weight loss, dizziness, difficulty falling asleep and changes in behavior. These are all listed as common side effects of Aricept listed on PUBMED. The uncommon side effect we never could overcome once it started was the inability to control urination. Each new side effect was met with consideration, empathy, and adaptation. Our primary care giving objective was to ensure Dad had good quality of life.
I did not do a web search for “natural Alzheimer's Disease medication replacement.” I started searching for natural supplements for handling the symptoms and side effects that Dad was displaying. I kept seeing various forms of the word Choline (say: Ko-lean) as I read about the symptoms of AD.
A Cholinesterase (say: Ko-lean-s-ter-aze) inhibitor is a drug designed to keep more of the neurotransmitter Acetylcholine (say: Ah-seat-uhl-ko-lean) intact in the brain and body by blocking an enzyme called cholinesterase from breaking it down. Acetylcholine is a very important neurotransmitter and it is the most abundant neurotransmitter in the brain.
Neurotransmitter
Neuotransmitter {daviddarling.info}
There are many neurotransmitters in the body. You have probably heard of adrenaline. It is a neurotransmitter as is acetylcholine.
As you look at the image, the knob structure is the axon and the other stucture in the dendrite. The gap between the two is called the synapse. The axon is said to be in the presynaptic position. The dendrite is said to be in the postsynaptic position.
The signal to release a neurotransmitter comes from the brain to the axon. A biochemical reaction takes place that releases the contents of the synaptic vesicle out of the axon. On the dendrite side there are different shaped receivers. Each neurotransmitter has a specific shaped receiver.
As you look at the image, the knob structure is the axon and the other stucture in the dendrite. The gap between the two is called the synapse. The axon is said to be in the presynaptic position. The dendrite is said to be in the postsynaptic position.
The signal to release a neurotransmitter comes from the brain to the axon. A biochemical reaction takes place that releases the contents of the synaptic vesicle out of the axon. On the dendrite side there are different shaped receivers. Each neurotransmitter has a specific shaped receiver.
The highest concentrations of Acetylcholine are in the areas of the brain that control muscle tension and movement, the tendency to be obsessive compulsive, blood pressure and heart rate, and sleep and alertness. The areas of the brain that control attention span, learning, memory, will power, creativity, and other executive functions are also very high in Acetylcholine concentrations. With so many mental and muscular functions in peril, the development of medications like Donepezil and other Cholinesterase inhibitors was a God send.
Then I discovered that the body produces a declining amount of acetylcholine as we grow older. In some cases as much as a ninety percent decline have been discovered. So while the inhibitors are keeping the Acetylcholine from being destroyed, there is also less being produced. Interestingly, prescription Cholinesterase inhibitors inhibit all Cholinesterase, not just what is in the brain. We do need the natural enzyme in our body – why else would it be there?
Enter Huperzine A. While it does not help the body to manufacture more Acetylcholine, it does target the Cholinesterase in the brain. Studies as far back as the late eighties demonstrate this. The efficiency of Huperzine A has been a field of study by Molecular, Biochemical, and Neurological scientists. Most recently, a company is reported to have developed a chemical formula for creating Huperzine A in the laboratory.
I discussed Huperzine A with my Dad's Neurologist, as I did with all his supplements. He would not tell me it was ok for Dad to take Huperzine A. He did agree that if the prescription was resulting in more side effects than benefits then taking the prescription was not medically beneficial. I asked if that would end the doctor-patient relationship. He said if Dad and I still wanted to continue being monitored by him, he was willing. So we did, for another three years. My Daddy had an impact on that doctor. Yes, Dad's memory still declined – just not as severely. No, his AD was not cured – but that wasn't the objective.
My Dad did not die of Alzheimer's Disease; he died of congestive heart failure – his heart just wore out. In an earlier time it would have been called “natural causes.” But his quality of life was good, due to a good medical partner and Huperzine A.
Then I discovered that the body produces a declining amount of acetylcholine as we grow older. In some cases as much as a ninety percent decline have been discovered. So while the inhibitors are keeping the Acetylcholine from being destroyed, there is also less being produced. Interestingly, prescription Cholinesterase inhibitors inhibit all Cholinesterase, not just what is in the brain. We do need the natural enzyme in our body – why else would it be there?
Enter Huperzine A. While it does not help the body to manufacture more Acetylcholine, it does target the Cholinesterase in the brain. Studies as far back as the late eighties demonstrate this. The efficiency of Huperzine A has been a field of study by Molecular, Biochemical, and Neurological scientists. Most recently, a company is reported to have developed a chemical formula for creating Huperzine A in the laboratory.
I discussed Huperzine A with my Dad's Neurologist, as I did with all his supplements. He would not tell me it was ok for Dad to take Huperzine A. He did agree that if the prescription was resulting in more side effects than benefits then taking the prescription was not medically beneficial. I asked if that would end the doctor-patient relationship. He said if Dad and I still wanted to continue being monitored by him, he was willing. So we did, for another three years. My Daddy had an impact on that doctor. Yes, Dad's memory still declined – just not as severely. No, his AD was not cured – but that wasn't the objective.
My Dad did not die of Alzheimer's Disease; he died of congestive heart failure – his heart just wore out. In an earlier time it would have been called “natural causes.” But his quality of life was good, due to a good medical partner and Huperzine A.
References:
- HyperHealth Version 8 computer software. We recommend that Hyperhealth be used only as a starting point for further investigation and that users seek the advice of relevant health care professionals. In-Tele-Health © 2008. The author of this site has an affiliate relationship with the developers of HyperHealth software.
- Search Google Scholar for research on Huperzine A done prior to 2000 {opens in a new window.}
- Search Google Scholar for research on Huperzine A done between 2000 to current {opens in a new window}
===This educational information in no way constitutes nor claims to be medical information for the treatment of any condition. A physician or other health care profesional must be sought for medical information and/or treatment of any condition or disease.===
