But, once again, I'm reduced to incredulous indignation by those preying on life-limiting conditions and tragic circumstance. In doing so, they seek to scratch away at that little kernel of hope we all have and that both distresses and enrages me.
Bearing in mind, this page is aimed at families/carers struggling with progressively worsening Alzheimer's and Dementia (what kind of person/company intrudes into that, to try and tout dubious products?)
It shouldn't be necessary to be so vigilant against those seeking to monetise people's distress and confusion, by pushing 'miracle' cures but, since it clearly is:
* If you see promotional links advocating/promoting (ie herbal cures and/or ceasing medically prescribed meds) claiming their product/action has reversed dementia progression, please do not click directly on them; you will open yourself up to all sorts of Spam and unwarranted/dubious contact.
* These usually have no proven scientific basis, or measurable benefits (other than for those promoting themselves).
For purposes of clarity, I am absolutely not advocating people don't try alternative remedies.
I one-hundred percent get the need to try 'anything and everything.' There is nothing I wouldn't give, to have my lovely Ray back but only if I was sure it worked and definitely wouldn't make things worse. I've heard that little voice, many times that says,
'But, what if it actually worked?'
There is a world of difference though between regulated alternative medicine and firms seeking to monetise untested products, on the backs of the vulnerable and grieving.
* Please, do not cease prescribed medications (as advocated/prescribed by those with a hidden agenda) always seek professional medical advice, if you have concerns.
Ask yourself this, as I did,
* Given the untold (escalating) billions spent on dementia pharmacology, dementia research, NHS care and Social-Care, Hospital beds, Care-homes etc, if all this could be magically removed or reduced by a single product, or action, wouldn't it have been enthusiastically taken up by now?
* If something really was magically reversing dementia, wouldn't it have made the news by now?
* If cures and reversals were happening, wouldn't newspapers, online media, magazines etc be inundated with testimonies from grateful recipients?
* Given Alzheimer's/dementia features so prominently in health/mortality statistics now, wouldn't a drop in those statistics have been picked up by medical research laboratories?
* Wouldn't there be published research findings?
* At the very least, wouldn't the drug companies, always keen to monetise pharmacological dependence, be beating on the door of these self-proclaimed pioneers?
I have no wish to influence decisions, I just want to advise caution. If however you are curious:
*Don't click directly on links
* Note the name of the company espousing miracles and tap that separately into a search engine
* Research the company, including affiliations, research documentation, published results, press releases, testimonies, named medical personnel etc
*Are you able to link up with, or follow up on claims made?
* Tap the company name, followed by the word 'reviews' into a search engine (this is often very illuminating)
*Is there any medical research to back claims up?
*Are medical professionals, doctors etc, really 'doctors' as claimed?
* If so you should easily be able to find their formal registration, via, in the UK, the GMC (general medical counsel) medical register.
* For the US it's the American Medical Association (AMA) doctor finder.
* You can also look up an alleged doctor's official registration via the national medical regulatory authority of the country they claim to practice in.
*Every European country maintains an official, publicly accessible registry of all licensed medical professionals.
In most cases, of Spam and Phishing, you won't find ANY tangible references, in any of the above; this should guide your decisions.
Do please advise me, if any such posts have slipped in here and I haven't spotted them yet.
Thank you.
Best Wishes Julie