The prevalence of dementia continues to increase, according to an April 2011 article in "Science Translational Medicine." Several medications are available to treat this medical condition, yet few drugs remain effective with extended use. Melatonin -- a natural treatment -- may provide an alternative option in the future. A September 2010 report in "Clinical Neuropharmacology," shows that melatonin can help treat dementia, but the long-term safety of this hormone remains unknown. Speak with a doctor before taking melatonin.
Melatonin Level
Having low levels of melatonin might increase your risk of acquiring diseases such as cancer, according to a May 2006 report in "Cancer Causes and Control." Unusual melatonin levels predict the appearance of symptoms in other brain disorders, such as Parkinson's disease. An investigation described in the May 2004 issue of the "Journal of Pineal Research" determined whether a similar relationship appeared in dementia. Scientists measured the melatonin levels of older adults with and without dementia. All participants had a marked reduction in the nocturnal melatonin peak, but demented patients had the lowest levels. In fact, melatonin levels correlated well with cognitive function. Adults with the smallest pineal output had the lowest performance scores.
Melatonin Rhythm
Melatonin plays an important role in your body's biological timing system. The nightly melatonin signal transfers brain rhythms throughout the entire body. According to a 2009 book titled "Handbook of Neuropsychiatric Biomarkers, Endophenotypes and Genes Metabolic and Peripheral Biomarkers," this relationship breaks down in brain disorders such as schizophrenia. A study published in the April 1999 edition of "Biological Psychiatry" evaluated daily rhythms in people diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. The researchers measured the melatonin levels of demented patients across a 24-hour period. Relative to controls, patients had an unusual amount of melatonin in the daytime hours. This finding indicates a malfunction in the timekeeping system of people with dementia.
Hypnotic Effects
The low levels and altered patterns of melatonin found in demented patients might contribute to the disease's symptoms. A December 2010 report in the "Taiwanese Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology," showed that many demented adults experience insomnia. Melatonin supplements effectively treat insomnia in other patient populations, according to a May 2009 article in the journal "Harefuah." A clinical trial presented in the April 2002 issue of "Neuroendocrinology Letters" assessed the ability of melatonin to improve sleep in Alzheimer's patients. The subjects received melatonin at bedtime for up to three years. Relative to placebo, melatonin improved the sleep quality of the subjects. It also reduced the evening agitation commonly experienced by people with Alzheimer's disease.
Cognitive Effects
The reduction in melatonin levels seen in patients with dementia correlate well with their cognitive abilities, according to a July 1997 article in "Chronobiology International." Lower melatonin means worse performance. Increasing melatonin with over-the-counter supplements may therefore improve cognitive performance. An experiment described in the July 2004 edition of the "American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry" tested this hypothesis in older adults. The participants received either melatonin or placebo nightly for a month. Relative to placebo, melatonin improved test performance and sleep quality. The side effects of melatonin were brief and mild. While promising, additional studies remain necessary before doctors can prescribe melatonin for more severe cases of cognitive impairment.
References
- "Science Translational Medicine"; Alzheimer's Disease: The Challenge of the Second Century; David M. Holtzman, et al.; April 2011
- "Current Neuropharmacology"; Clinical Aspects of Melatonin Intervention in Alzheimer's Disease Progression; Daniel P. Cardinali, et al.; September 2010
- "Cancer Causes and Control"; Circulating Melatonin Levels: Possible Link Between Parkinson's Disease and Cancer Risk?; Eva Schernhammer, et al.; May 2006
- "Journal of Pineal Research"; Qualitative and Quantitative Changes of Melatonin Levels in Physiological and Pathological Aging and in Centenarians; Flavia Magri, et al.; May 2004
- "Handbook of Neuropsychiatric Biomarkers, Endophenotypes and Genes Metabolic and Peripheral Biomarkers"; Michael S. Ritsner; 1999
- "Biological Psychiatry"; Daily Rhythm of Serum Melatonin Levels and Effect of Light Exposure in Patients With Dementia of the Alzheimer's Type; Yutaka Ohashi, et al.; June 1999
