Here’s an ethical dilemma that is perplexing and may give me some
direction in the event this becomes possible.  This is part of a multi
part post over the next few days in which I am asking for input and
opinions on a very real issue. My company researches nutritional
remedies for major diseases.  We have developed some successful oncology
formulas in clinical testing.  Based on our hypothesis, we may be very
close to completing a nutritional supplement that may significantly help
AD patients.  We feel it could also be used  as a preventative for the
same reasons.

It has shown positive results in limited testing, and may reverse the
effects of AD.  I can be reached privately through this email address
for additional questions or comments.  As caregivers and most likely,
the children of AD parents, the following may be an important decision,
if not an ethical question to resolve among siblings.

We believe that AD is only the symptom, or end result, and not the root
cause of the disease.  If we can remove the cause of the symptom, it may
lead to a reversal of the effects.  We have a different hypothesis for
dementia, unfortunately the prognosis for help is not too hopeful at
this time.

We hold that the root cause is a blockage of a critical chemical
produced by the body, which is not reaching the brain.  Under normal
circumstances, it would prevent the accumulation of beta amyloid plaque
and/or tangles to accumulate on brain cells or in neuronal synapses.
This may explain why it only affects a smaller but diverse percentage of
the population.  We also believe that contrary to current thinking,
brain cell death in AD patient does not occur until late or very
advanced stages.  When cell death does begin, the patient declines
rapidly leading to death.

In our theoretical model, brain cells are not dead in the early years of
diagnosis, they may only be dormant as a result of the plaque buildup.
It is possible that dormant cells are devoid of electrical energy, and
show up on PET scans as dead.  Post mortems can only confirm plaque and
cell death after physical death, but may not confirm whether the brain
cell(s) were alive at the time of physical death.  So there may be room
for doubt, or rather in this situation, hope.

If a removal of the cause could be achieved, it may be quite possible
for an AD patient to be totally reversed of the effects of AD, unless
the actual death of brain cells had begun.  They might recover the full
cognitive and motor skills and resume living as a normal person if it
works.  However, should brain cell death have occurred, it would not be
possible for the patient to recover the cognitive or motor skills that
had been controlled by those dead brain cells.

Here is the ethical dilemma I want to raise.

If the opportunity to reverse AD was actually achievable, how much risk
would you as a child/caregiver be willing to take with this hope?  The
risk or trade off would be that if started early enough, it might be a
full reversal.  If started in late/advanced stage AD with brain cell
death it may lead to a recovered patient with either:

   A) some physical disabilities similar to a stroke victim, or
   B) permanent mental impairments or cognitive problems similar to a
head injury

The trade off in a late stage/advanced patient is that they would not
die from a slow degenerative decline, but might be able to live a
healthy life and die of natural causes, not AD.  They may regain some
functions that would allow them to help themselves, but they might
still be partially dependent on a caregiver.

I can not say that the level of care giving would be easier, or harder
than your current situation, or the improving of personal and emotional
relationships.  One might surmise that if a major portion of their
cognitive or physical skills returned, it would likely be a better
situation.  There are no guarantees, it is uncharted waters.

I would like to hear the opinions of everyone, but primarily the
caregivers and siblings as it would be their responsibility to
ultimately decide.  Thank you, and I look forward to hearing your
comments.  CP