Final published version, 720 KB, PDF document
Available under license: CC BY: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
Final published version
Licence: CC BY: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Personalised Medicine for Dementia
T2 - Collaborative Research of Multimodal Non-pharmacological Treatment with the UK National Health Service (NHS)
AU - Chalfont, Garuth
AU - Simpson, Jane
AU - Davies, Sarah
AU - Morris, David
AU - Wilde, Ruth
AU - Willoughby, Leigh
AU - Milligan, Christine
PY - 2019/8/7
Y1 - 2019/8/7
N2 - The dominant narrative around dementia argues that progression cannot be halted or reversed. However, evidence on multimodal non-pharmacological treatments formulated around a ‘personalised medicine’ approach challenges this view. This paper reviews the current evidence for dementia prevention utilising such treatments and explains the logic of applying personalised medicine. The functional medicine treatment approach to ‘root cause’ analysis is presented as currently practiced with patients experiencing cognitive decline. We report six case reports including in-depth practitioner evaluations, recommendations and follow-ups. We cover the various presentations of memory and concentration problems and the screening process with advanced functional testing. The case reports appear in a table, followed by 11 key points, insights and findings. To our knowledge, this is the first paper reporting practitioner case reports documenting improvements in symptoms of memory decline in patients from the UK, Greece and New Zealand. Four patients had initial presentations and follow-up improvements verified by standardised screening instruments and/or formal diagnosis. Two patients had symptom improvements verified through selfreport and proxy-report. Practitioners reported improvements through biomarkers (normalisation of serum levels, folate and homocysteine, thyroid function, blood sugar levels), as well as weight loss, decreased blood pressure and reduction in medications. They also reported improved mental, physical, social, energetic, emotional and spiritual functioning. The next phase is an enhanced intervention alongside the existing UK National Health Service memory assessment pathway. This paper advocates for personalised medicine in the UK for persons living with memory problems and dementia, driven by this increasing evidence base.
AB - The dominant narrative around dementia argues that progression cannot be halted or reversed. However, evidence on multimodal non-pharmacological treatments formulated around a ‘personalised medicine’ approach challenges this view. This paper reviews the current evidence for dementia prevention utilising such treatments and explains the logic of applying personalised medicine. The functional medicine treatment approach to ‘root cause’ analysis is presented as currently practiced with patients experiencing cognitive decline. We report six case reports including in-depth practitioner evaluations, recommendations and follow-ups. We cover the various presentations of memory and concentration problems and the screening process with advanced functional testing. The case reports appear in a table, followed by 11 key points, insights and findings. To our knowledge, this is the first paper reporting practitioner case reports documenting improvements in symptoms of memory decline in patients from the UK, Greece and New Zealand. Four patients had initial presentations and follow-up improvements verified by standardised screening instruments and/or formal diagnosis. Two patients had symptom improvements verified through selfreport and proxy-report. Practitioners reported improvements through biomarkers (normalisation of serum levels, folate and homocysteine, thyroid function, blood sugar levels), as well as weight loss, decreased blood pressure and reduction in medications. They also reported improved mental, physical, social, energetic, emotional and spiritual functioning. The next phase is an enhanced intervention alongside the existing UK National Health Service memory assessment pathway. This paper advocates for personalised medicine in the UK for persons living with memory problems and dementia, driven by this increasing evidence base.
KW - Personalised medicine
KW - dementia
KW - multimodal non-pharmacological treatment
U2 - 10.21926/obm.geriatr.1903066
DO - 10.21926/obm.geriatr.1903066
M3 - Journal article
VL - 3
JO - OBM Geriatrics
JF - OBM Geriatrics
IS - 3
M1 - 26
ER -