Fighting with Alzheimer's Disease and Kampo Medicine / 日本東洋医学雑誌

ABSTRACT

Alzheimer's disease (AD) research from 1984 disclosed that there is 10-20 years of time for transition from normal brain to Alzheimer's disease brain. Therefore, AD is a disease with long “Mibyo” phase. Since treatment effect in AD could be partial and limited, we need to consider prevention or “Youjou” not to develop AD more seriously. Amyloid imaging with PET can be promising in the visualization of amyloid burden or Mibyo state. Several medicinal herbs have a potent anti-amyloid aggregation effect as a new class of disease-modifying drug. Yi-Gan-San which has been originally described in Ming dynasty in China is efficacious in improving behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia without developing falls or extra-pyramidal adverse effects. Multi-potent traditional medicine doctor with not only practicing traditional medicine alone, but they can also get insights on Western medicine and collecting information from abroad is warranted.