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Join us at noon CT (1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT) on Tuesday, Feb. 22, for an hour-long chat about the results of alternative medicine, with the Tribune's health reporter Trine Tsouderos and panelist Dr. Steven Novella.

Alternative treatments for Alzheimer's, MS, Parkinson's, ALS and other neurological diseases: Do they work? A diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease, MS, Parkinson's or ALS is devastating. There are no cures. Mainline treatments are not miraculous. Desperate, many patients and their families turn to the world of alternative medicine for help. They spend thousands of dollars on (often cash-only) doctor visits and therapies, which are advertised with promises of improvement and relief. Some even promise a cure. But do these therapies work? What is the science behind them? Are they worth a try, or are they risky wastes of time and money? We'll discuss all of this with Dr. Steven Novella.

Dr. Steven Novella is an academic clinical neurologist at Yale University School of Medicine. He is the president and co-founder of the New England Skeptical Society. He is the host and producer of the popular weekly science podcast, The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe. He is also a fellow of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry (CSI) and a founding fellow of the Institute for Science in Medicine. Dr. Novella also contributes every Sunday to The Rogues Gallery, the official blog of the SGU, every Monday to SkepticBlog, and every Wednesday to Science-Based Medicine, a blog dedicated to issues of science and medicine. Dr. Novella can also be heard every Wednesday morning in The Skeptical Zone -- part of Nat and Drew in the Morning on Virgin Radio 95.3 FM in Vancouver.

Health Chat: Alternative medicine

(02/22/2011)

  

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11:52

Chicago Tribune:  Thank you for joining our chat. Feel free to send questions. We will start the chat at noon. Tuesday February 22, 2011 11:52 Chicago Tribune

12:00

Trine Tsouderos:  Thanks so much for coming to this chat. This is a tremendously important topic for so many people dealing with these diagnoses. We are extremely lucky to have Dr. Steven Novella, a Yale neurologist and author of the excellent NeuroLogica blog. So let's go! Tuesday February 22, 2011 12:00 Trine Tsouderos

12:00

[Comment From GuestGuest: ]  Will you be talking about the Tango and Parkinson's Disease studies of Earhart and Hackney? Tuesday February 22, 2011 12:00 Guest

12:01

Steven Novella:  I think that there are benefits to physical activity, but there is no reason to think that there is anything special about Tango or even dancing in general Tuesday February 22, 2011 12:01 Steven Novella

12:01

[Comment From suesue: ]  I have Primary Lateral Sclerosis (PLS) which is an upper motor neuron disease. I've read about a trial in Mexico(now in stage 3) that injects your own derived stem cells into the brain. They've shown neuron growth from this treatment. What can you tell me about this or any other promise for treating/curing neuron disease?~~Sue Tuesday February 22, 2011 12:01 sue

12:02

Steven Novella:  The clinics that are out there promising stem cells for ALS or other motor neuron disease like PLS are not legitimate. Tuesday February 22, 2011 12:02 Steven Novella

12:02

Steven Novella:  Be aware of any clinics offering stem cells outside of an approved clinical trial, and especially of stem cell tourism in other countries, esp. those with lax regulations Tuesday February 22, 2011 12:02 Steven Novella

12:03

Steven Novella:  There are many cases of adverse effects from these dubious treatments - they should not be considered safe Tuesday February 22, 2011 12:03 Steven Novella

12:03

[Comment From gary kublygary kubly: ]  Is there anything that might work with ALS? Tuesday February 22, 2011 12:03 gary kubly

12:04

Steven Novella:  "Might" is vague -- but I will say that at the moment (oither than riluzole) everything is experimental. We probably need to do more basic science to understand the disease better - right now we are mostly shooting in the dark with clinical studies. They are based on animal studies or in-vitro assays, but they have not been a great guide to clinical effects in humans Tuesday February 22, 2011 12:04 Steven Novella

12:04

Trine Tsouderos:  Re: Stem cells: In my reporting, I have found overseas stem cells are offered for just about any disease under the sun - autism, Parkinson's, MS, you name it. They make big claims, but when you look for evidence backing those claims, it's just not there. Tuesday February 22, 2011 12:04 Trine Tsouderos

12:05

[Comment From MariaMaria: ]  Hello Dr. Novella. What are reliable sources for evidence-based alternative treatments? Tuesday February 22, 2011 12:05 Maria

12:05

Steven Novella:  "evidence-based alternative treatments" is an oxymoron. If they are truly evidence-based they are not alternative. Tuesday February 22, 2011 12:05 Steven Novella

12:06

Steven Novella:  I advocate science-based medicine - considering plausibility as well as clinical evidence. I also think the false dichotomy of "alternative" is counterproductive - treatments are either science and evidence based or they are not. Tuesday February 22, 2011 12:06 Steven Novella

12:06

Trine Tsouderos:  Why is it important to have clinical evidence? Tuesday February 22, 2011 12:06 Trine Tsouderos

12:07

Steven Novella:  clinical evidence is important because: 1) the body is very complex, and we cannot always figure out what will happen just from what currently makes sense, 2) placebo and psychological effects are very deceptive and will lead us to false conclusions without rigorous observation, 3) there are many ideological and financial interests at work that distort information Tuesday February 22, 2011 12:07 Steven Novella

12:08

[Comment From GuestGuest: ]  My girlfriend has recently been diagnosed with MS. She has no symptoms at this time & it was discovered when school overstressed her body. As the MS hasn't started a downward trend yet, is there anything specifically useful in prevention or delay of the progression of the disease? Tuesday February 22, 2011 12:08 Guest

12:09

Steven Novella:  MS is actually highly treatable today. There are a long list of proven medication that actually slow the progression of the disease and prevent exacerbations. But which one to use is tricky - I recommend either an MS specialty clinic or a neurologist with experience in MS treatment. Tuesday February 22, 2011 12:09 Steven Novella

12:09

[Comment From RickRick: ]  Which supplement or CAM remedy comes closest to meeting its claim? I heard that it was echinacea. Is it true that some CAM treatments that should be studied are not being studied due to a bad rep among the science community? Tuesday February 22, 2011 12:09 Rick

12:11

Steven Novella:  Again - depends how you define CAM. Herbs and supplements have the most plausibility, and they are being studied - and have been studied. Research is funded by the NIH, for example. Right now there are little incentive for industry to study these - but that has mostly to do with the fact that they are not required to do so by regulation Tuesday February 22, 2011 12:11 Steven Novella

12:11

[Comment From ExpatExpat: ]  A family member was diagnosed with likely axonal Charcot-Marie-Tooth, though he tested negative for known genes. What research is being done in this area, and are there any likely treatments in the foreseeable future? Thanks. Tuesday February 22, 2011 12:11 Expat

12:12

Steven Novella:  I don't know of any treatments in the pipeline. This is a tough disease. It is primarily being researched by neurogeneticists - just trying to figure out how the disease works. Tuesday February 22, 2011 12:12 Steven Novella

12:12

[Comment From suesue: ]  OK. My neuro doc says there is promise in a new drug entering stage 3 trials (als) is called hex(something). Tuesday February 22, 2011 12:12 sue

12:13

Steven Novella:  There are plenty of drugs entering stage 2-3 trials - but all but one of such trials so far has been negative. So while we need to continue to do this research, we also have to be cautious about premature optimism. Tuesday February 22, 2011 12:13 Steven Novella

12:14

[Comment From AngelaAngela: ]  My mom is 75 has beginning stages of dementia and is taking Abilify and is a diabetic. I know there are treatments to slow the process of Alzeimers. How would that affect her? Tuesday February 22, 2011 12:14 Angela

12:15

Steven Novella:  The treatments for Alzheimers disease (AD) are all symptomatic at this time. They do help, but they are not a cure and they do not stop progression. But the diagnosis of AD is usually not made - it requires a biopsy to make, which we don't do. People are rather diagnosed with Alzheimers type dementia - and underlying treatable causes need to be looked for. So make sure she gets a thorough workup Tuesday February 22, 2011 12:15 Steven Novella

12:16

[Comment From Marty MurrayMarty Murray: ]  MS can be completely solved by using a holistic approach to solve the emotional issues underlying the development of the condition. Tuesday February 22, 2011 12:16 Marty Murray

12:17

Steven Novella:  MS is demonstrably an auto-immune disease. It is not an emotional disease nor can it be cured by emotional interventions. And again - "holistic" is a vague marketing term without any operational definition. Tuesday February 22, 2011 12:17 Steven Novella

12:18

Trine Tsouderos:  A group of neurologists have been examining alternative treatments for ALS, and evaluating their claims. They actually looked at Marty's therapy: http://www.alsuntangled.com/pdf/martymurray.pdf Tuesday February 22, 2011 12:18 Trine Tsouderos

12:18

[Comment From cristinacristina: ]  my husband has a difficult time keeping his balance and walking is this normal he is 88 and has benn diagnose with dementia Tuesday February 22, 2011 12:18 cristina

12:19

Steven Novella:  Poor balance is never normal. People can be high functioning beyond their 80's. You should discuss this symptom specifically with his doctor - he could easily have treatable underlying condition. Tuesday February 22, 2011 12:19 Steven Novella

12:19

Steven Novella:  For example - he may have a vitamin B12 deficiency, or other cause of neuropathy Tuesday February 22, 2011 12:19 Steven Novella

12:20

[Comment From Jane WattJane Watt: ]  What about Nita Scoggan and her low carb diet, any results there? Her husband, she says has improved. Also Mary Newport using coconut oil. Tuesday February 22, 2011 12:20 Jane Watt

12:21

Steven Novella:  Anecdotes are not very compelling. You cannot control for variables. So you can never interpret an individual case. There is no scientific evidence for low-carb diets in MS or other neurological disease, and no basis to recommend it. I have reviewed the evidence for coconut oil - also not compelling. Too preliminary to make any recommendations - and plausibility is low Tuesday February 22, 2011 12:21 Steven Novella

12:22

[Comment From RickRick: ]  Are ALS and Alzheimers genetically related? Tuesday February 22, 2011 12:22 Rick

12:23

Steven Novella:  ALS and AD are both neurodegenerative diseases. ALS is actually a category of many diseases. There may be some undelerying predisposition - but their causes are likely distinct. They do occur together is some rare variants. Tuesday February 22, 2011 12:23 Steven Novella

12:23

[Comment From WilliamWilliam: ]  How much of an impact do alternative treatments have on the the research side of legitimate, science-based medicine? Do scientists have a harder time getting funding or approval to proceed with their work when misinformation is putting so much light on alternative treatment? Or are the two groups separated enough that the scientific research can go on without being terribly hindered? Tuesday February 22, 2011 12:23 William

12:25

Steven Novella:  This is hard to answer. The NCCAM certainly funds specifically so-called CAM modalities. But you can get funding from other sources. Certainly pseudoscience and bad science can taint a topic - but if you can put a good case together, you can find funding. Tuesday February 22, 2011 12:25 Steven Novella

12:25

[Comment From anneanne: ]  My dad died of Alzheimer's at 68 y/o. What do you think about my getting the test for predisposition? I've seen studies that show it can be identified so you know your risk. Tuesday February 22, 2011 12:25 anne

12:26

Steven Novella:  The genetics tests tell risk - not whether you have it or will get it. If you want this information, it can be useful for genetic and health counseling. But that is a very personal decision. Tuesday February 22, 2011 12:26 Steven Novella

12:26

[Comment From suesue: ]  Would you give any hope to people with motor neuron disease as far as you see the research trends? Tuesday February 22, 2011 12:26 sue

12:26

Steven Novella:  The research is very active, and we do have a lot of information - so there is always hope. But we are not far enough along to predict specific treatments in the future. Tuesday February 22, 2011 12:26 Steven Novella

12:27

[Comment From GuestGuest: ]  Any opinion on Botox for treating Parkinson's posture problems? Tuesday February 22, 2011 12:27 Guest

12:27

Steven Novella:  Botox is useful if there is a specific muscle area that is causing problems and relaxing that muscle group can improve function. So it may be worth a try in selected cases - but then the response to treatment will be the test Tuesday February 22, 2011 12:27 Steven Novella

12:28

[Comment From Janet CampJanet Camp: ]  If a disease is exacerbated by stress, what stress interventions work best or is this just up to personal preference? Tuesday February 22, 2011 12:28 Janet Camp

12:29

Steven Novella:  Stress is the "universal risk factor" - anything that reduces stress seems to help as much as anything else - so whatever stress reliever works for you is fine Tuesday February 22, 2011 12:29 Steven Novella

12:29

[Comment From RickRick: ]  What's the difference between "FDA approved" and "FDA registered?" Tuesday February 22, 2011 12:29 Rick

12:30

Steven Novella:  FDA approved means that a drug has been tested for safety and effectiveness for a specific indication. FDA registered does not mean this. For devices it just means that the devices functions and won't fail as a device - it makes no claims about how the device is used or any safety or efficacy for its use Tuesday February 22, 2011 12:30 Steven Novella

12:30

Steven Novella:  But companies often use FDA registered to imply it was tested for effectiveness - so beware this Tuesday February 22, 2011 12:30 Steven Novella

12:31

[Comment From CathyCathy: ]  I am taking Rebif for MS and I am also a diabetic. Since being on Rebif my blood sugar levels have been off the charts. My doctor says Rebif should not cause this. Is there any corolation between the 2? Tuesday February 22, 2011 12:31 Cathy

12:32

Steven Novella:  Blood sugars can go up from steroid use. So if you are on any steroids that can do it. I have not seen this with Rebif, but it can always be an unusual effect - but I would explore other possibilities with your diabetes doctor Tuesday February 22, 2011 12:32 Steven Novella

12:32

[Comment From Janet CampJanet Camp: ]  So who gets these goofy "machines" that claim to diagnose and treat disease off the market? Tuesday February 22, 2011 12:32 Janet Camp

12:33

Steven Novella:  That is really a job for the FTC - they can investigate such machines for commercial fraud, just like anything else on the market. But they are overwhelmed and can only tackle a small percentage - so again, buyer beware Tuesday February 22, 2011 12:33 Steven Novella

12:34

Trine Tsouderos:  In my reporting, I've found the FDA and FTC doesn't have the manpower to police the entire industry... Tuesday February 22, 2011 12:34 Trine Tsouderos

12:34

[Comment From BonnyBonny: ]  I have suffered from Epilepsy for 20 years. I experience anywhere from 2 - 20 complex partial seizures a month. One thing that is very difficult is when people say to my face "I would never take the amount of medication you take, I would go to alternative methods". When in the hospital being tested for possible brain surgury the severity of my seizures were incredible. I just wish some people would realize there sometimes are no alternatives. Tuesday February 22, 2011 12:34 Bonny

12:35

Steven Novella:  The only thing that matters is safety and efficacy - risk vs benefit. If you are tolerating the medication and they are working, then that is what works. Whether they are "natural" or "alternative" again is just a false dichotomy used for marketing and ideology. They often divert from what matters - safety and effectiveness Tuesday February 22, 2011 12:35 Steven Novella

12:37

Trine Tsouderos:  Hi Bonny. This is something that rarely gets discussed - the pressure on patients to go alternative, and the idea that if you are really "fighting" you would try anything under the sun. Even if these things are neither proven safe or effective. Tuesday February 22, 2011 12:37 Trine Tsouderos

12:37

[Comment From Dan HarkinsDan Harkins: ]  I am a 37 year old male Guillain-Barre Patient (started Sept.'08) and was paralyzed for a long while. I'm off the cane and working, but still have a lot of neuropathy, still have the sensation of a girdle or tightness around my midsection, nerve pain and lots of pins and needles in my legs and terrible in my feet, and weakness. While I'm happy to be where I'm at compared to people I rehabbed with- it's still very frustrating. Do you have any holistic treatments / or other clinical treatments you would reccomend - other than hormonal (testosterone / already doing that)?? Tuesday February 22, 2011 12:37 Dan Harkins

12:38

Steven Novella:  The only things that really works for nerve recovery is time. Nerves like to be left alone and they will recover best they can on their own. There are no proven interventions that help. You do want to maintain good nutrition overall., and there is some evidence for B6 (but not in megadoses - that is toxic). Also - excercise - but do not exercise to the point that your nerve pain worsens because that can slow recovery Tuesday February 22, 2011 12:38 Steven Novella

12:38

[Comment From Bob RogueBob Rogue: ]  Steve, How has physicist Stephen Hawling survived so long with ALS? Tuesday February 22, 2011 12:38 Bob Rogue

12:39

Steven Novella:  ALS is not one disease - it is a category of diseases. Some people get motor neuron disease and it stops progressing after a while - because they have something different than those who relentlessly progress. Tuesday February 22, 2011 12:39 Steven Novella

12:39

[Comment From PiramniPiramni: ]  I have migraines with aura and have been treated with a wide range of medicines. Is there any real science behind the treatment with anti-siezure, anti-depressannts, beta-blockers and other things they keep trying on me, or are they just shooting blind? 30 medicines in 6 years and none work to prevent them. Is there an alternative medicine that seems more viable? Tuesday February 22, 2011 12:39 Piramni

12:40

Steven Novella:  There is good evidence behind the drugs used for migraine prevention. But they work by a variety of mechanisms and only trial and error can find the best one (or combination) for an individual. Non-pharmacological interventions include - avoid triggers, avoid caffeine, good sleep, exercise, regular meals, and exercise Tuesday February 22, 2011 12:40 Steven Novella

12:41

[Comment From JordanJordan: ]  My father is 62 and is in stage 3 Parkinson's. I have been dabbling with a juice made from a mangosteen, a super-fruit grown in Southeast Asia. Do you believe in benefits from this super fruit for a Parkinson's patient, and if so, how could my dad benefit? Tuesday February 22, 2011 12:41 Jordan

12:42

Steven Novella:  The super-fruit thing is a scam that has been around for over a century - there is always the latest super tropical fruit drink. There is no evidence behind any of them. Today many of them are marketed through mutli-level marketing companies, which are also a scam. So I would just save your money Tuesday February 22, 2011 12:42 Steven Novella

12:42

[Comment From RhondaRhonda: ]  What is your opion on this CCSVI study that blood flow from the brain may cause MS? Tuesday February 22, 2011 12:42 Rhonda

12:43

Steven Novella:  Complicated - but briefly - this is an interesting idea, but it is very preliminary. Most such ideas do not pan out. Attempts at replication so far have been more negative than positive. So while he may be onto a symptomatic treatment, I doubt he has overturned all of MS science, and the data is just not compelling at this time. So - wait until more research is done, and don't be surprised if it's negative., Tuesday February 22, 2011 12:43 Steven Novella

12:44

[Comment From Janet CampJanet Camp: ]  How can people keep asking you if here any "alt" or "holistic" treatments? What can you recommend people with little hope for a cure should do--I think this is really what they want to know. Tuesday February 22, 2011 12:44 Janet Camp

12:45

Steven Novella:  It is reasonable to try experimental treatments if you have an incurable disease. But standard ethics dictate informed consent, and that experimental treatments be given as part of approved protocols. What I object to is selling people false hope with dubious treatments, lying about their effectiveness, and not using proper ethics. Tuesday February 22, 2011 12:45 Steven Novella

12:45

Trine Tsouderos:  I think this can't be said enough - that studies need to be replicated. One positive study should be noted, but probably ignored by the general public until it has been confirmed strongly enough by more independent studies. Steve, can you talk a little more about why this is so important? I feel like I hear from so many people that this or that is known about a disease based on one small study that has never been replicated. Tuesday February 22, 2011 12:45 Trine Tsouderos

12:46

Steven Novella:  Most preliminary studies turn out to be wrong - and false positive. There is researcher bias, and publication bias toward the positive. Replication and also definitive well-controlled studies are needed to get reliable answers. That's what we want - reliable information to make treatment decisions Tuesday February 22, 2011 12:46 Steven Novella

12:46

[Comment From Ann BlairAnn Blair: ]  My 56 year old husband was diagnosed 18 months ago with PCA, visual variant of AD, here in France. His treatment is Aricept, anti-depressants and speech therapy. Are there any other treatments? Tuesday February 22, 2011 12:46 Ann Blair

12:47

Steven Novella:  There are other medication, like namenda or Excelon. But nothing else proven at this time. Tuesday February 22, 2011 12:47 Steven Novella

12:47

Steven Novella:  There is always research, if you want to enter a trial. Tuesday February 22, 2011 12:47 Steven Novella

12:48

[Comment From Marty MurrayMarty Murray: ]  Trine, actually, why would a person who is staring death in the face wait for a study? Might as well give things a shot. Studies are all well and good when you have time on your hand. Tuesday February 22, 2011 12:48 Marty Murray

12:49

Steven Novella:  The problem is that there are thousands of things you can try - how do you choose among them? Also - I have seen plenty of patients harmed by false hope. I have seen patients waste what time they have left that they would have rather spend with their families, and bankrupt their families for false hope. They greatly regret these decisions afterwards in many cases. So chasing every slim hope is not always the best path. At the very least I think that we should offer patients a realistic hope Tuesday February 22, 2011 12:49 Steven Novella

12:49

Trine Tsouderos:  I remember speaking to the husband of a woman who died of ALS. He and his wife had been taken in by a dubious therapy touted by Patricia Kane. They spent thousands, but that wasn't the worst part, he said. The worst was the emotional rollercoaster they were on, and the amount of precious time they wasted. First they had the elation of hope, and then the dashing of hope. And then the realization they would never get that time back. Tuesday February 22, 2011 12:49 Trine Tsouderos

12:50

[Comment From SandraSandra: ]  What are the nutritional strengths of Spirulina and the contributions to the weakness of ALS? Thank you. Tuesday February 22, 2011 12:50 Sandra

12:51

Steven Novella:  There is no clinical evidence for any benefit from spirulina or any other superfood. the claims are exagerated by companies selling this product. It's just another food - and you can get better nutrition from more easily accessible and cheaper foods. Tuesday February 22, 2011 12:51 Steven Novella

12:51

[Comment From RickRick: ]  If something is "not intended to diagnose, prevent or cure any disease," then why is it on the shelf in my drugstore next to the medicine? How hypocritical is that? The real question: why do our regulators not seem to care about this deceptive marketing? Tuesday February 22, 2011 12:51 Rick

12:52

Steven Novella:  That is DSHEA - a 1994 law that removed supplements from FDA approval requirements. So companies can market products without evidence for safety or effectiveness and make pseudo-health claims, as long as they put that disclaimer on the label. Tuesday February 22, 2011 12:52 Steven Novella

12:52

[Comment From Jane WattJane Watt: ]  I realise that one case does not prove anything, but since there is no cure, it might be worth checking what could have happened with any particular person who has seemingly beaten the disease and repeating the treatment they have been having..just in case. Tuesday February 22, 2011 12:52 Jane Watt

12:53

Steven Novella:  Yes - anecdotes are useful to generate questions and hypotheses. But they cannot be used to test hypotheses. So sure - they can lead to research. But they should not be used as a basis for claims. Tuesday February 22, 2011 12:53 Steven Novella

12:53

[Comment From CatherineCatherine: ]  Are there ANY "alterantive therapies" that, thru replication, have become acceptable treatments for neurological disorders? Tuesday February 22, 2011 12:53 Catherine

12:55

Steven Novella:  Again - depends on how you define "alternative". The answer is a clear no for anything really alternative, like homeopathy, acupuncture, energy medicine, or the like. When you get to diet and exercise type interventions, I don't consider these alternative. They can be helpful in many cases, but they are not miracle cures either Tuesday February 22, 2011 12:55 Steven Novella

12:55

[Comment From Bob RogueBob Rogue: ]  Steve, How has this alternative medicine craziness impacted our nation's medical schools? Tuesday February 22, 2011 12:55 Bob Rogue

12:56

Steven Novella:  It is infiltrating medical schools, and leading to confusion among some medical students in my experience. While most students eventually figure out that it is largely pseudoscience, they are being exposed often to credulous and unscientific promotional treatments of dubious treatments. Tuesday February 22, 2011 12:56 Steven Novella

12:56

[Comment From VivianVivian: ]  Is is true that aspartame could make MS worse? and could Omega 3 help MS symptoms? Tuesday February 22, 2011 12:56 Vivian

12:57

Steven Novella:  Aspartame is basically an internet urban legend - there is no evidence to suggest it is harmful or causes MS. Omega 3 is overall healthy, at least a diet rich in omega 3. The evidence for supplements is less clear Tuesday February 22, 2011 12:57 Steven Novella

12:58

[Comment From David BDavid B: ]  My father has cranial-cervical dystonia with blepharospasms. He has tried every medical treatment from muscle relaxers to botox injections with little help. He'd like to go ahead with the deep-brain stimulation surgery but my mother (and the insurance company) are against it. He's tried acupuncture and supplements as well. Any other information or advice out there for dystonic patients? Tuesday February 22, 2011 12:58 David B

12:59

Steven Novella:  The most effective treatment for dystonia is Botox - you should make sure this has been fully explored. DBS is somewhat experimental, but is a reasonable choice for those with refractory symptoms. I would get an evaluation by an expert center and push for this if no other options works Tuesday February 22, 2011 12:59 Steven Novella

12:59

[Comment From Nancy JohnsonNancy Johnson: ]  My mother is 77 and has Alzheimers. What are some Alternative treatments? She has been given medications such as Aricept with little success. Tuesday February 22, 2011 12:59 Nancy Johnson

1:00

Steven Novella:  There are no proven therapies for AD beyond symptomatic therapy from a few classes of medications. There are lots of claims for dietary interventions, but little evidence to back them up. And no other modalities considered CAM have any evidence or plausibility Tuesday February 22, 2011 1:00 Steven Novella

1:00

Trine Tsouderos:  Thanks so much to everyone for coming. We had so many questions, sorry we couldn't get to everyone's. Clearly, people are hungry for good answers about alternative treatments for these diseases. Thanks especially to Dr. Novella for taking the time to answer so many of these. A transcript of the chat will be available after this, so feel free to send a link around. I will probably be writing a story about this topic in the future, so feel free to contact me anytime if you have experiences to share. Thanks so much again, and have a great afternoon. Tuesday February 22, 2011 1:00 Trine Tsouderos

1:00