Does anyone have experience with Prevagen helping with confusion?

Posted by thereaklenb @thereaklenb, Apr 9 10:26pm

Hello - my wife is in mid stage dementia and her confusion level has gotten worse lately. It does not appear related to a UTI. A home health care aid has mentioned that Prevagen has helped some of the dementia patients she has worked with. I am very skeptical of this drug given their creepy commercials and the fact that the FDA has not found any scientific basis for the drug to improve memory or any other dementia symptom. I thought it was worth polling this community for real world experiences.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Caregivers: Dementia Support Group.

Yes, Prevage’s is worthless advertisement. Save your money. I HAVE been impressed with a supplement called Youthful Brain which contains a great deal of B12 and other “brain” health herbs. You can buy online with multiple ways to discount pricing. My husband is doing well on this supplement along with aricept 10mg.
Has your wife had recent blood testing to check for anemia, thyroid, etc?

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My husband’s neurologist and I agree that supplements that are not FDA approved are not at all valuable and may be harmful. They do not have to disclose all ingredients or composition. If your LO needs supplements such as B12, then take B12. A person cannot get the proper balance of vitamins unless they are taken individually. My husband has Lewy Body Dementia so he must be very careful about what medication he’s given. Unknown drugs in things like Prevagen could be very harmful.

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@boppi

Yes, Prevage’s is worthless advertisement. Save your money. I HAVE been impressed with a supplement called Youthful Brain which contains a great deal of B12 and other “brain” health herbs. You can buy online with multiple ways to discount pricing. My husband is doing well on this supplement along with aricept 10mg.
Has your wife had recent blood testing to check for anemia, thyroid, etc?

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We are awaiting results from recent blood work -- thanks for the info.

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Objectively the FDA curbed them in 2012 for false claims

In New York State in 2017 accused Prevagen Marketers of making false
Claims.

And there are more. I don’t doubt that some believe they feel better and it can only be from Prevagen. Suggestion is powerful.

It’s expensive and right up there with snake oil to me.

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@pb50

Objectively the FDA curbed them in 2012 for false claims

In New York State in 2017 accused Prevagen Marketers of making false
Claims.

And there are more. I don’t doubt that some believe they feel better and it can only be from Prevagen. Suggestion is powerful.

It’s expensive and right up there with snake oil to me.

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Prevagen is actually made with phosphatidyl-serine. I buy phosphatidyl serine capsules from Amazon It isn't expensive like Prevagen. I am 82. I've taken it probably for 10 years. It acts as an antidepressant for me. I think it also helps with cognition. I can still speed read and take care of myself alone in my house out in the country.

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After doing some research, it seems that even the Prevagen manufacturer only recommends it for healthy individuals and specifically states it should not be used for those diagnosed with dementia. For me, I think that is enough to move on without trying it. It still make sense for others to try to get a cognitive boost. Thanks to all who have responded.

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@raebaby

Prevagen is actually made with phosphatidyl-serine. I buy phosphatidyl serine capsules from Amazon It isn't expensive like Prevagen. I am 82. I've taken it probably for 10 years. It acts as an antidepressant for me. I think it also helps with cognition. I can still speed read and take care of myself alone in my house out in the country.

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So glad to hear this. Phosphatidylserine Is the main ingredient of Neuriva and Prevagen but not in a high enough dose to support the brain. Those supplements are for prevention. I have an MD who puts all of his dementia patients on phosphatidyl serine and choline. Before you take any supplements talk to your primary care provider even if they don’t know the latest functional medicine research, they still need to know what you are taking and why. But this is in the latest research.

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I heard that Prevegen does not work.

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