Inadequate Evidence However, the scope of the research was unable to pinpoint any associations between dementia risk and melatonin specifically, due to the small sample of participants who reported using it. “The effects of melatonin use on dementia risk is a controversial topic,” Leng says.
The National Institutes for Health said using melatonin occasionally is fine but high levels have been linked to dementia, early mortality and other health issues. Melatonin is a hormone that your brain produces in response to darkness and it plays a role in sleep. Melatonin production decreases with age.
There is some evidence that this treatment does improve sleep quality in people with Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease but so far evidence suggests melatonin does not affect risk of dementia or cognitive function. Please consult your GP before making any decisions about taking sleep medication.
Research suggests that melatonin might reduce evening confusion and restlessness in people with Alzheimer's disease, but it doesn't seem to improve cognition. Some side effects of taking melatonin can be headaches, dizziness and nausea, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Long-term potentiation, described as a long-lasting strengthening of synapses between nerve cells, is thought to be responsible for long-term memory retention. It is found that melatonin has a negative effect on long-term potentiation, inhibiting its magnitude.
Regardless of whether it truly helps with sleep or not, Dr. Ramkissoon doesn't recommend taking melatonin long-term.
Melatonin is possibly safe when taken long-term. It's been used safely for up to 2 years. But it can cause some side effects including headache, sleepiness, dizziness, and nausea.
Sleep on your side to boost brain power
Side sleeping could help keep you sharp and possibly reduce your dementia risk.
Vitamin E. Researchers believe that Vitamin E can help with Alzheimer's Disease because of its anti-oxidative properties. Alzheimer's patients frequently have low levels of Vitamin E. One study found that patients taking Vitamin E showed a slower decline and were able to complete tasks that other individuals could not.
Research has also linked high intake of omega-3s to a possible reduction in risk of dementia or cognitive decline. The chief omega-3 in the brain is DHA, which is found in the fatty membranes that surround nerve cells, especially at the microscopic junctions where cells connect to one another.
Examples: Acetazolamide (Diamox), carbamazepine (Tegretol), gabapentin (Neurontin), lamotrigine (Lamictal), levetiracetam (Keppra), oxcarbazepine (Trileptal), pregabalin (Lyrica), rufinamide (Banzel), topiramate (Topamax), valproic acid (Depakote) and zonisamide (Zonegran).
Melatonin is generally regarded as safe for seniors by physicians and pharmacists because its side effects are mild, it's not habit forming, and it does not cause withdrawal symptoms if you stop taking it suddenly.
Sleep changes in Alzheimer's may include: Difficulty sleeping. Many people with Alzheimer's wake up more often and stay awake longer during the night. Brain wave studies show decreases in both dreaming and non-dreaming sleep stages.
Popular prescription sleeping medications including Benzos, Ambien, and antidepressants, may increase the risk of developing dementia, especially among people who are white, the study found.
Although melatonin is usually considered safer than benzodiazepines, an increased fracture risk has recently been reported with this drug, and caution should be advised for elderly patients at risk for falls.
Melatonin is a hormone that your brain produces in response to darkness. It helps with the timing of your circadian rhythms (24-hour internal clock) and with sleep. Being exposed to light at night can block melatonin production.
In Alzheimer's disease, as neurons are injured and die throughout the brain, connections between networks of neurons may break down, and many brain regions begin to shrink. By the final stages of Alzheimer's, this process—called brain atrophy—is widespread, causing significant loss of brain volume.
Administration: The examiner reads a list of 5 words at a rate of one per second, giving the following instructions: “This is a memory test. I am going to read a list of words that you will have to remember now and later on. Listen carefully. When I am through, tell me as many words as you can remember.
Research shows that a side-sleeping position improves the brain's glymphatic system, which is the cleansing system that removes waste from the brain. This waste is believed to contribute to the development of Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative diseases.
Do not use melatonin if you are pregnant or breastfeeding or have an autoimmune disorder, a seizure disorder or depression. Talk to your health care provider if you have diabetes or high blood pressure.
What is a safe melatonin dose? According to Michael Grandner, director of the Sleep and Health Research Program at the University of Arizona, “melatonin is very safe if taken in normal doses,” which is anything between 0.5 mg and 5 mg.
Natural alternatives to melatonin, such as magnesium, valerian root, l-theanine, chamomile, and passionflower, are all-natural remedies that have been used for centuries to promote relaxation and help people get a better night's sleep.