Steer Clear of Procaine as Treatment for Alzheimer's

A new review by The Cochrane Collaboration, an international organization that evaluates medical research, discourages the use of procaine as a cognitive enhancer or treatment for Alzheimer's disease, stating that there's not enough data to support its effectiveness. Furthermore, there's a lot of evidence indicating that the drug can cause serious side effects.

Procaine is a topical anesthetic that's received attention in countries outside of the US as a possible anti-aging remedy that might prevent or even reverse dementia. However, the FDA decided in 1982 to prohibit the importation of procaine preparations into the United States. Its side effects can include restlessness, dizziness, severe headaches, and a serious autoimmune disorder called systemic lupus erythematosus.

We're all desperate for an answer to Alzheimer's, but it doesn't appear that procaine is it. If you've seen Internet ads for procaine as an Alzheimer's treatment, please pause before you click, and think of this comment by Paul Newhouse, M.D., a professor of psychiatry at the University of Vermont College of Medicine: “...there is no evidence that [procaine] does anything at all and even some evidence it is toxic. At this point, it cannot be recommended for any use as a cognitive enhancer or a way to treat dementia.”

More Questions About Alzheimer's Prevention and Treatment:

• Can Melatonin Be Used To Treat Alzheimer's?
• Can NSAIDs Prevent Alzheimer's?

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