Flowers for Alzheimer’s disease?

Flowers are usually given to sick people to make them feel better and brighten up their day. A drug made from compounds found in daffodils appears to be doing the same for people with Alzheimer’s disease.

Although it is not a cure for the disease, the drug called galantamine may slow down the development of Alzheimer’s disease – a condition that experts say will affect 22 million people worldwide by 2025.

Galantamine is derived from the bulb of the daffodil flower which has been used as a medicine since ancient times.

“Alzheimer’s is not the first medicinal use of the daffodil. The bulbs were used in Roman time as the basis of a drink designed to induce vomiting. Plasters for wounds were also made from the bulb material, while the powdered leaves were turned into a syrup to cure catarrh. The hot juice of the bulb was used by Victorians to clean the skin and to clear the ears of wax,” revealed Roger Dobson of the Daily Mail.

Galantamine belongs to a class of drugs known as cholinesterase inhibitors. They drugs are usually prescribed in the early and middle stages of the disease.

Cholinesterase inhibitors work by increasing acetylcholine levels in the brain or improving the nerve cells’ reaction to this chemical messenger. Patients with Alzheimer’s disease normally have low levels of acetylcholine which is important for alertness, memory and thought.

“Galantamine is used to treat mild to moderate confusion (dementia) related to Alzheimer’s disease. It does not cure Alzheimer’s disease, but it may improve memory, awareness, and the ability to perform daily functions. This medication works by restoring the balance of certain natural substances (neurotransmitters) in the brain,” according to WebMD.

Common side effects of the drug include nausea and vomiting although not everyone may experience this. Inform your doctor if you have heart problems since heart attacks and strokes have been reported in those taking the drug.

“Studies involving more than 2,000 people with MCI showed a significantly higher rate of death in those who took galantamine, compared with those receiving placebo. Half the deaths in the galantamine group were associated with heart attacks and strokes,” warned the Mayo Clinic.

To be on the safe side, consult your doctor before taking this or any other drug. That way, you’ll get the most out of the medicines you’re taking.

As research continues to make life better for people with Alzheimer’s disease, it won’t hurt if you send some flowers to a patient.

| | | | | |