Frontotemporal dementia, also known as Pick's disease, is a rare and irreversible form of dementia. Frontotemporal dementia, notes the National Center for Biotechnology Information, is similar to Alzheimer's disease, except that it usually affects only certain parts of the brain. A person with this condition will have abnormal substances within the nerve cells in the affected areas in their brain. Herbs may help slow the deterioration associated with frontotemporal dementia, but should only be taken after consulting a doctor.
Frontotemporal Dementia
Frontotemporal dementia can develop in people as young as 20, although this condition usually develops in people ages 40 to 60. Frontotemporal dementia may be caused by defective genes, but the exact causes remain unclear. This condition gets worse over time. Common symptoms associated with frontotemporal dementia include neurological problems, changes in speech, altered emotional states and behavioral changes. There are many complications associated with this condition, including the loss of independence.
Herbal Remedies
Certified nutritional consultant and nutrition researcher Phyllis Balch, author of "Prescription for Nutritional Healing," states that proper nutritional supplements, including herbal remedies, can help slow the progression of dementia and reduce the intensity of dementia-related symptoms, including frontotemporal dementia. Helpful herbs for this condition may include anise, blessed thistle, blue cohosh, ginkgo, gotu kola, ginseng, mullein oil, kava kava, St. John's wort, valerian root and the Chinese herb qian ceng ta. Both the University of Maryland Medical Center and the American Cancer Society state that ginkgo may be effective in treating dementia, although many of the other herbs mentioned here have not been researched thoroughly enough to make decisive statements about their effectiveness for dementia.
A Powerful Herb
Qian ceng ta, also known as Huperzia serrata, is used in the treatment of dementia. This herbal remedy, according to Balch, may increase memory retention. It contains a substance called huperzine A. Extracts of this substance may help improve mental sharpness, language abilities and memory capacity in people with Alzheimer's disease. This herb blocks acetylcholinesterase, an enzyme that controls the action of acetylcholine -- an important brain chemical associated with the ability to learn and remember things. A 2008 study by H.Y. Zhang and colleagues published in the journal "Chemico-Biological Interactions" states that huperzine A has been shown to enhance learning and memory impairments in people with Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia, a common condition in older patients with existing dementia.
Additional Information
Herbs should always be taken with caution, as some may cause undesirable side effects or drug interactions, notes the University of California, San Francisco. When selecting herbal medicines, notes the university, verify that the herbal supplement is manufactured in the United States, that the manufacturer of the herbal supplement is reputable and that the label on the product contains the name and form of the herbs, dosage in milligrams or grams, a lot number and expiration date. Tell the doctor about any use of herbs, because they might interact with other medicines.
References
- National Center for Biotechnology Information: Pick's Disease
- "Prescription for Nutritional Healing"; Phyllis A. Balch, CNC; 2010
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Ginkgo Biloba
- American Cancer Society: Ginkgo
- University of California, San Francisco: Frontotemporal Dementia
- "Chemico-Biological Interactions"; Potential Therapeutic Targets of Huperzine A; H.Y. Zhang, et al.; Sep. 2008
