1 August 2012

Another possible cure?

A new study has claimed that a nutritional drink could benefit memory, however others are sceptical about its effectiveness.

The 48 week trial was conducted on 238 people with mild Alzheimer’s who were given Souvenaid medical food, produced by Danone. The results showed that those who were given 125ml a day for the entire trial period showed significant improvements in their memory. It was also made clear that the product was safe and tolerated by the volunteers.

While this could be a promising step forward it is not the only solution and the Alzheimer’s society are advising people to not rely on this and still aim to have a healthy lifestyle in order to maintain brain function. They commented, ” People shouldn’t get excited that an off-the-shelf drink is going to transform the lives of people with dementia. While this study showed some benefits for memory, there’s no evidence it has any effect on other symptoms such as activities of daily living. It would also cost people a princely sum to stock up on the quantities used in the trials. People would be much better off putting the money they would spend on this drink towards gym membership or a few games of tennis. Regular exercise is a far more effective way of reducing cognitive decline. One in three people over 65 will develop dementia. It’s vital we continue to fund research into new treatments.”