Tacrine or THA (tetrahydroaminoacridine) has
been demonstrated in research by Dr. Mohs and
by Dr. Summers to consistently improve memory
in Alzheimer's patients.
Dr. Summers has had very hopeful results
treating Alzheimer's with a combination of
deprenyl and THA plus the nutrient lecithin.
Deprenyl increases availability of the
neurotransmitters dopamine, norepinephrine, and
phenylethylamine, which play a critical role in
motor, behavior, and cognitive functions. THA
helps to preserve acetylcholine in the brain, and
lecithin is a nutrient from which the body
manufactures acetylcholine. Although deprenyl
and THA plus lecithin work according to different
mechanisms, it is believed the combination of the
two is more effective in improving memory in
Alzheimer's patients.
Summers used THA plus lecithin extensively with
patients with good success until July 1990, when
the FDA forced him to stop his project.
Unfortunately, THA is hard to obtain, and
deprenyl has been approved only for treating
Parkinson's disease. As a result, research into
improving this treatment is slow, and approval
doesn't look likely, which has lead to an outcry
by Summers and the families of Alzheimer's
sufferers. In 1991, they filed a class-action suit
against the FDA. Under pressure from the
lawsuit, the FDA decided to allow "expanded
access" to THA under its "treatment IND
program." However, Saul Kent, publisher of Life
Extension Report, points out that the promised
access is, in fact, limited by many restrictions.
As an alternative, Summers's group established
an Alzheimer's Buyer's Club in Costa Rica.
Copyright �1993: Beverly Potter & Sebastian
Orfali. Excerpted from Brain Boosters: Foods &
Drugs That Make You Smarter. Permission given
by Ronin Publishing, Inc., Berkeley, CA to Smart
Basics Inc. to distribute on web site only. This
material may be downloaded by individuals for
personal use only, but it may not be reproduced
and distributed to others without specific written
permission of the publisher. All Rights Reserved.
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