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].