Aricept
and other Cholinesterase inhibitors actually increase the progression of
dementia.
One study found 'The mean time to dementia was 30% quicker in the ChEI treated group than the untreated group'.
Here is an excerpt from Dennis' book: Increasing IQ, Cognition and COVID-19 Cure Rate with Essential Nutrients (link to book provided at end)
"Efficacy of Cholinesterase Inhibitors
and Memantine
Many
people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and mild Alzheimer’s disease (AD)
are prescribed a cholinesterase inhibitor (ChEI). Those with moderate to severe
AD (e.g., Mini-Mental State Examination [MMSE] scores below 15) are prescribed
memantine, with in some cases a ChEI. Administration of a ChEI increases the
concentration of acetylcholine by inhibiting its breakdown. These drugs treat
some of the symptoms of MCI, such as memory loss, agitation, apathy, and
psychotic symptoms including delusions, hallucinations, and disordered thought.
Examples of ChEIs are:
•
Galantamine (trade name Razadyne) is approved by the FDA for treatment of
vascular dementia and mild to moderate AD. It enhances memory in brain-damaged
adults544.
•
Rivastigmine (trade name Excelon) is approved to for mild and moderate AD.
•
Donepezil (trade name Aricept) is approved to treat all stages of AD.
A
study was published in 2011 on the efficacy of these three ChEIs and memantine
taken by patients diagnosed with MCI or mild AD. Approximately one-half of 392
MCI patients and two-thirds of 188 mild AD patients were APOE-4 carriers. Among
the MCI patients 33.4% received only ChEIs, 11.7% received ChEIs and memantine,
and 54.9% received neither. Among the 188 AD patients 38.9% received ChEIs,
45.7% ChEIs and memantine, and 15.4% neither817.
The
patients with MCI were divided into three groups, only 22% of the non-treated
group progressed to dementia, 43% of the ChEI treated group progressed to
dementia, and 56% of the group treated with both memantine and ChEI progressed
to dementia. Therefore, there is a greater risk of dementia among people
taking these drugs. The mean time to dementia was 30% quicker in the ChEI
treated group than the untreated group and 42% quicker for the memantine and
ChEI treated group than the untreated group. Both MCI patients and AD patients
who received ChEI treatment had a more severe decline in cognition than untreated
patients. Therefore, these drugs may reduce symptomology of MCI and AD but both
increase the risk of dementia and hasten the progression to dementia when
compared with un-treated people (reference 817).
Link to book: Increasing IQ, Cognition and COVID-19 Cure Rate with Essential Nutrients
