In our 10 years of experience, it has become very evident that doctors do not like steroids. So much so, in requesting that they be prescribed for my dad, Dr. David E. Crandall, we often felt like we were actually asking for a script for an opiate.
Yet steroid is a hormone that is produced naturally in our body.
As we found more and more evidence that Dr. Crandall’s cognition was positively impacted by steroids, we also were told that this phenomenon excluded him from having Alzheimer’s because patients with Alzheimer’s Dementia that are given steroids experience a worsening of symptoms.
We wanted to know why. So obviously, we took to the web to learn more. And what we found is quite interesting: articles directed at patients, blog responses from MD’s, general purpose sites that all shared countless warnings for WHY NOT to give the elderly steroids – two quick examples include:
Article Title: Some Drugs Make Dementia Worse Link
Article Title: Expect psychiatric side effects from corticosteroid use in the elderly Link
On the other hand, research articles and studies painted a different picture of steroids with respect to dementia. The addition of my dad’s own experience adds to the continually mounting evidence that supports that steroids can in fact positively impact cognition. And why is this? Because a hallmark symptom of Alzheimer’s Disease is inflammation.
In this 2011 study, researchers found a 50% reduction in neuritic plaques (NPs), neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) in patients with Alzheimer’s Disease -as a direct result of administering corticosteroids:
Article Title: Corticosteroids, but not NSAIDs, are associated with less Alzheimer neuropathology https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3130103/ 2011
In another 2008 study, Dr. Alisky reviews current literature to present the hypothesis that pulse dosed intrathecal steroids may have a role in managing the disease progression of Alzheimer’s:
Article Title: Intrathecal corticosteroids might slow Alzheimer’s disease progression https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2626920/
The trend we are seeing in research studies is that Alzheimer’s Disease is being referred to as a disease of inflammation. If in fact this is the case, then it is logical that more studies will look at steroids specifically in the area of slowing / interrupting the degenerative process associated with Alzheimer’s. But while research continues to beg the question of why steroids are helping reverse dementia, modern medicine continues to reject the notion that using this simple, natural hormone to help reduce the symptoms of Alzheimer’s is an advancement in science strictly because of the chance that steroids can produce serious, sometimes irreversible side effects. The fight is between the two groups – science vs. medicine and the topic of the fight is benefits vs. risks. And so far, medicine, who hold the key to the success of the actual patient, is presently winning.
Article Title: Steroid-Related Risks
https://www.todaysgeriatricmedicine.com/archive/0714p8.shtml
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