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EDTA for Alzheimer's

EDTA is a substance that is used in chelation therapy. There is some controversy as to whether chelation therapy with EDTA is an effective treatment for Alzheimer's disease. Dr. Richard Casdorph, past president of the American College of Advancement in Medicine and an expert in chelation therapy, says the therapy is an effective treatment because it removes heavy metals such as aluminum that are found in the brains of Alzheimer's patients. However, there are some risks associated with chelation therapy.

  1. Alzheimer's Disease

    • Alzheimer's disease is a brain disorder that slowly gets worse over time. Successful reversal of the disease seems unlikely with conventional medicine. Chelation therapy along with living a healthy lifestyle may help, according to Casdorph. The main problem in Alzheimer's disease is the accumulation of abnormal proteins called amyloid plaques and neurofibratory tangles. As these increase, thinking and memory skills decrease. Often times, there is an increase in problem behaviors. Eventually, carrying out the simplest of tasks is difficult.

    Chelation Therapy

    • Chelation therapy is a process where a man-made amino acid EDTA is given through an intravenous infusion. It is used for two major reasons. It pulls out toxic heavy metals from your body including your brain, which can be damaged from heavy-metal poisoning. It also pulls fatty plaque off the arterial walls. Both of these things can potentially help sufferers of Alzheimer's disease. EDTA chelation therapy is a series of injections of a synthetic amino acid, that is known as ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid, or EDTA. This protein captures metallic particles floating in the bloodstream or brain fluid by surrounding them and drawing them into the EDTA. Your body rids itself of EDTA molecules through the urine. The Food and Drug Administration confirms that chelation therapy is the best remedy for heavy-metal toxicity.

    Risks

    • According to the American Heart Association, EDTA may not be 100 percent safe. Its use carries the a risk of kidney failure and it can also cause bone marrow production to decrease. You can go into shock, experience low blood pressure, convulsions, an irregular heartbeat, allergic reactions and respiratory arrest after having chelation therapy. At least 30 deaths have also been reported in the United States after chelation therapy.

    Aluminum

    • The brains of Alzheimer's patients show high levels of aluminum in the neurofibratory tangles that develop in Alzheimer's disease. Aluminum foil, beer and soda cans, and aluminum pots and pans can be sources of excessive aluminum, especially when they are in contact with acidic fruits like tomatoes and vinegar.

    Treatment

    • There is no effective treatment for Alzheimer's disease. Traditional use of certain drugs like Aricept only slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease. Chelation therapy is not part of mainstream medicine. It may help patients with Alzheimer's disease if it is administered correctly; 30 treatments at no more than twice week is recommended. About 75 percent of patients undergoing treatment see improvement in their memory after the 30 initial treatments, according to the book "The Healing Powers of Chelation Therapy " by Dr. Morton Walker.

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