Vitamin D – Vitamin D can have an indirect health benefit to Alzheimer’s patients. Vitamin D can help strengthen bones, and since Alzheimer’s patients are at a greater risk of fracture, Vitamin D supplements can provide some increased protection against broken bones. The recommended effective dosage is 400 international units (IU) a day. Vitamin D is found in some oily fish, such as salmon and canned tuna, eggs, and fortified milk, and sunlight causes Vitamin D to occur naturally in the body. Because Alzheimer’s patients tend to have poor nutrition and their exposure to sunlight decreases, Vitamin D supplements are helpful.

Vitamin E – Much like Gingko Biloba, the antioxidant Vitamin E has shown mixed effectiveness in treating Alzheimer’s and dementia. Some studies have suggested it can slow the progression of Alzheimer’s, but they have been small scale, and other studies do not indicate any effect at all on memory loss. High dosages of Vitamin E – the recommended effective dosage is 2000 IU daily – can be risky for heart health, so doctors at this point do not believe the potential benefits outweigh the risks.

Estrogen – Early studies into the effects of estrogen on post-menopausal women suggested that replacement therapy might decrease the risk of developing Alzheimer’s diseases. Again, however, subsequent studies have contradicted these finding. Estrogen Replacement Therapy (ERT) can lead to uterine bleeding and a higher risk of breast cancer, so it is not currently used as a treatment for Alzheimer’s disease.

Coral Calcium – Coral calcium is derived from the shells of creature living on coral reefs. Though some believe that coral calcium is a cure for Alzheimer’s disease, no scientific studies exist to show it has any benefit at all.

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