Alzheimer's

In the early stages of the disease process, functional improvement may well be obtained with Neurofeedback / EEG Biofeedback. It has been estimated that if the onset of symptoms can be postponed for even two years, the savings to our nation would amount to some $50B. The data to support specific claims are not yet in hand, but it seems at least plausible that such a two-year objective lies within reach with Neurofeedback, or at least with Neurofeedback in conjunction with optimum nutrition and detoxification strategies. If this clinical approach bears fruit consistently, the annual cost of delivering Neurofeedback to an estimated 400,000 new entrants into the program per year would be no more than $1B/year. If other costs of care were thus abated for at least two years, we would project a benefit/cost ratio of 25:1. The value of misery thus avoided is impossible to quantify.

Our own clinical experience with Alzheimer's dementia is quite limited, but what we have is, on balance, favorable. Training should be started at the very first sign of symptoms that hint at the possibility of an AD diagnosis. Once training is begun with a degenerative condition such as this, it needs to be maintained on some schedule to retain the gains achieved in training. Fall-off in cognitive and memory skills may follow within weeks upon a cessation of the training. It is likely that stimulation techniques can be helpful here as they are in Age-Related Cognitive Decline. However, that has not been shown.