Steroids For Alzheimer's Disease

    Steroids may be expecially dangerous for alzheimer patients. Steroid use can reduce memory and cause confusion even in non-demented adults [194-195]. A recent study gave prednisone to alzheimer patients, based on the belief that prednisone might reduced the inflammation found in alzheimer brains. Prednisone, a steroid, was not found to be harmful or helpful to alzheimer patients [196].
    Interestingly, some research reports have found that steroids can benefit some kinds of demented patients. One researcher gave 100 milligrams of hydrocortisone intramuscularly three times daily for two days,and then 50 milligrams daily of oral prednisone, to two senile demented patients. The cognition of the patients markedly improved [197]. The two patients who responded to the steroid therapy had elevated blood alpha globulins and a raised erythrocyte sedimentation rate, co-existing with their dementia. Another researcher found steroids of remarkable benefit in four demented patients [198].

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