These are some of the many problems that a patient with a progressive dementia -- such as Alzheimer's disease -- suffers with on a daily basis. However, there is a saving grace for the affected individual. As the patients become more demented, they typically have no insight into what ails them. But for the family members and caregivers this situation is a living nightmare.

Currently, an estimated 4 million people in the United States suffer from Alzheimer's disease, while millions of others suffer from various other forms of dementia. In fact, the rate of increase in Alzheimer's disease is so alarming that many experts fear it will bankrupt and cripple the economy. Most family members are panic-stricken with the thought that one day, they too might be suffering with a similar condition, thanks to their gene pool.

An article published in the Archives of Neurology gives some hope. More than 4,700 individuals participated in this study. Between the years 1995 to 1997, individuals 65 or older were assessed for dementia. These individuals were then reassessed between the years 1998 to 2000. At the onset of the study of the 4,700 individuals, 200 were diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, with 104 new cases diagnosed during the follow-up period a few years later. It was found that those individuals who took at least 400 units a day of vitamin E, along with at least 500 mg of vitamin C as a supplement, reduced the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease at the beginning of the study by 78%. And subsequently, the risk of developing the disease in follow-up was reduced by 64%. Those individuals who took the typical once-a-day multi-vitamins containing inadequate amounts of vitamins C or E, vitamins C or E alone or B complex were found to have no protective effect against the onset of Alzheimer's disease. The researchers concluded: "our findings suggest that vitamins E and C may offer protection against Alzheimer's disease, when taken together in the higher doses available from individual supplements."

This is not the first time that vitamin supplementation has shown benefit for dementia-inducing illnesses, such as Alzheimer's disease. In a landmark study published in the New England Journal in 1997, researchers from Columbia University studied 341 patients in a multi-center, randomized clinical trial, with Alzheimer's disease rates of moderate severity. Patients treated with 2,000 units a day of vitamin E showed statistical significance in slowing down the progression of the disease, when compared to a placebo group.

Vitamins C and E are not the only nutrients that can help with cognitive disorders. The FDA allowed two health claims for the nutrient phosphatidylserene (PS). The first claim stated that phosphatidylserine may reduce the risk of cognitive dysfunction in the elderly. The second claim stated that PS may reduce the risk of dementia in the elderly. There have been several clinical trials showing that PS at 300 mg daily did show some statistical significant improvement, in terms of behavior and cognitive parameters.

Additionally, there was a nationwide study reported in JAMA on the benefits of standardized gingko biloba. Gingko biloba at 120 mg a day was felt to be safe and appeared to stabilize -- and in a substantial amount of cases, improve -- the cognitive performance and social functioning of demented patients for six months to one year.

There are also other nutrients that can help with cognitive functioning. One amazing nutrient is acetyl-L-carnitine. This nutrient has been studied both in humans and animals, and has been shown to have a modest benefit for slowing down the progression of Alzheimer's disease. In one fantastic study in animals, acetyl-L carnitine, coupled with alpha lipoic acid, actually demonstrated regeneration of certain brain cells, and the animals treated with these nutrients actually performed at a significantly higher level.

In a recently published study in the Archives of Neurology, B vitamins in and of themselves did not show benefit for slowing down the progression of Alzheimer's disease. However, a good deal of literature in the last few years has indicated that elevations in homocysteine can actually be neurotoxic (toxic to the nerves or nervous tissue) to the brain. The treatment for elevations in homocysteine is a combination of adequate doses of vitamins B6, B12 and folic acid.

For those individuals already suffering the effects of memory loss, or family members or friends who are concerned about this developing, it's suggested that the following nutraceuticals should be taken: vitamins C and E, and B-Complex, along with phosphatidylserine, acetyl-L-carnitine, standardized gingko, and many other important antioxidants and nutrients. If you are just looking for an excellent core multi-vitamin that contains many of these nutrients, I would suggest our high quality multivitamin-multimineral. This multi contains the levels of C & E discussed in this landmark study.

It's better to throw away or return the ineffective mass market vitamins containing RDA levels of nutrients, and take the correct vitamins every day. They're good for your brain (and for your other organs as well).