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I recently ran into a article that talks about the wonder of Magnesium how it can improve memory for those that have Dementia. My Momma does not have Dementia yet but however she does have MCI. Has any of you ever tried using a Magnesium supplement and it worked on their loved one? I have Magnesium tabs here, I take them, but before I give my Momma any of them I am curious if any of you ever tried this and it worked.

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There is currently a clinical trial underway to test this, at Stanford University, but no results are available yet.

There are some risks involved in taking magnesium, so I would talk to Momma's doctor before starting her on it. In reasonable doses it is generally considered safe, and it might be worth a try while awaiting the study results, but as I say, I would talk to the doctor first.

The Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation has information about this on their website.
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I don't know if it help memory but my dr keeps check on mine and has called twice to ask me if I was taking my magnesium and doubled my dose.
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I remember discussing this briefly with my mother's GP. And it is true, at least, that magnesium is an important trace element that supports brain function. But I think the key word there is 'trace' - you really don't need much of it, and unless there is some concrete reason to believe that your mother is actually deficient in magnesium there is probably no point, but there is potentially some harm, in adding supplements to her diet.

To determine whether or not she is deficient in magnesium, you can ask for a blood analysis. Other factors to think about would include whether she is taking any medication, such as a PPI, or suffers from any condition that might interfere with digestion or absorption and prevent her from taking up adequate magnesium from her diet.

As a rule of thumb, I'd add that any article that talks about the wonders of anything, pretty much, is likely to be excitable baloney. It's dull but true that a well-balanced, varied diet will ensure that she has all of the vitamins and trace elements that her body needs. As long as she's not sensitive or allergic to them, and she doesn't dislike the flavour, nuts are a useful addition for all sorts of the rarer trace elements - if you're worried about choke risk, you can always grind them up fine and mix them into soups, cakes, or anything else she's fond of.

Sigh. Wouldn't it be wonderful if there were just one simple, easy answer? On a cheerier note, it genuinely is quite well established that dark chocolate is good for brain maintenance :) This is not an excuse for scoffing Hershey bars, alas. One teaspoonful of cocoa added to hot milk, and easy on the sugar; or one square of good quality plain dark chocolate - look for 70% minimum cocoa solids on the label; and that's your daily allowance. Only two cheers, then...
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I know that B12 supplements really helped my Mom. I admit I know nothing about magnesium as it applies to elderly people but it is good for muscle repair and relaxation or so I've heard.
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I've no idea whether of not it helps with cognitive functions, but I've been taking it for decades—around 500 mg. per day—to balance my supplementary calcium. Calcium without the magnesium is constipating. Maybe it's doing something for my brain.
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I haven't seen any conclusive evidence that magnesium counteracts the effects of dementia, but am looking forward to further studies. What about Vitamin D? I started taking that daily, and my Mom has been taking it for the last two years. It can't hurt, and it might just help. Here's a link to the existing evidence, if anyone is interested: alzheimers/8-27-14-vitamin-d-and-dementia
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Not sure about magnesium. My mother had dementia shortly after her death I started to become really forgetful. Being a diabetic which makes you more at risk for dementia I had my B-12 checked. Sure enough it was very very low. Doctor started me on B-12 shots. I have been taking those for 5 months now and have seen a big improvement. I highly recommend having your B-12 checked.
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I just read a fascinating article that I would like to share that ties in with this subject. Please read. This is really enlightening!!!! myhealthwire/news/herbs-supplements/684
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Before I added any supplement, I would have the doctor order a complete blood workup for vitamins and electrolytes. It will show where there are deficits. Elders often have deficits in Vitamins D3 and B12, which can be corrected by supplements. Electrolyte imbalances tend to be less problematical in most cases and can often be corrected by simple addition of a food, e.g. a banana or a leafy green dish for dinner (e.g., romaine salad, collards, turnip greens, spinach). The leafy green will also help avoid constipation.
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Most people are deficit in magnesium, but there is NOTHING that slows, improves or curtails the ravages of dementia. However, I recommend taking it for migraines (as I do) and be sure you are NOT taking the tabs. Get it in gel form with 500mg which is more expensive, but it will do more good.
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My husband has Parkinson's disease and I believe his is getting MCI. He takes magnesium 250 twice a day. He started it several years ago at the recommendation of his Dr. He was off it for a short while and during that time his legs began to cramp. Put him back on it and the cramping went away. I too would like to know if it would help the MCI. If so I could certainly up the dosage slightly. However, He does still have it at this time and has been taking the 250 mg twice a day for years.
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Check out what I found about Dementia and memory loss!!!! Interesting!!!! youtube/watch?v=Dvh3JhsrQ0w
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One has to be careful with "articles", which are not research. A good resource to check on the body of research of any drug or supplement is PubMed. That being said, it would be best to check with your mother's physician about magnesium and other vitamin levels, like D and B12. Magnesium supplements, especially Mg oxide, can cause diarrhea and GI symptoms. Mg oxide is the cheapest form and in many supplements.
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In the case for my husband the 250 twice a day doesn't seem to both his GI tract. In fact so many other drugs he is on tend to cause him to be dry and bind him a little. Sure would like to know if it works though. He does take D3 and B12 daily and we do live in South Florida so he is in the sun a lot.
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Erret, my Dad's symptoms mimic Parkison's and the magnesium helps him absolutely. My personal belief is that supplements help those who are deficient in that particular vitamin or mineral. That said, more is not better most of the time, and we feel that when he takes too much magnesium, it gives him very loose bowels, so uh oh, don't overdo the magnesium.
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by the way, by "helps" his symptoms, his physical symptoms of shaking/quivering is what it helps, no opinion on the dementia angle. I haven't been there enough to notice.
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It is no secret the older you get the more depletion of vital nutrients that our bodies decrease in making to sustain health. Brain health is one of them. Google " magnesium for brain health" Also be aware that not all B12 are good. The only B12 that I know is very healthy for you is B-12 Methylcobalamin. The B-12 Cyanicobalamin is made with cyanide and your liver does not metabolize it and causes hair to fall out. This is my favorite brain supplement. Take a few minutes and research this xenesta keytohealth
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NO!
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Here's what I've learned about Magnesium in the years working with alternatives:
1. Magnesium relaxes muscles, while calcium helps muscles contract.
1-B. Both calcium and magnesium require a full compliment of trace minerals in order to work properly...and modern Agri-biz produce is grown on "dead soils" [from chemicals used][that is, the chemicals kill the soil bacteria, which help the plant absorbs minerals--no bacteria, no minerals into the plants]....meaning those plants might be "cosmetically nice looking", but lack the trace minerals which give it good flavor, and, the nutritional profile which helps us keep healthier. Therefore, organically grown produce, has a better nutritional profile.
2. The FORM of magnesium is very important: Prefer "gluconate" and/or "glycinate" forms to help better, and these are much gentler on the digestive tract.
3. If someone is deficient in the major minerals like Calcium and magnesium, they are almost guaranteed to be hugely deficient in most all Trace Minerals...which can make breathing, asthma, allergies, and many other illnesses, much worse.
4. The only pretty reliable lab /blood test for Magnesium, is a "red blood cell assay". Otherwise, what's circulating in the serum, shows an unreliable figure, because magnesium is constantly moving in and out of various compartments in the body as it's called on to be used. The red blood cell assay, shows tissue storage of Mg+.
5. One can use something as cheap as Epsom Salts [external use only!], mixing about 1 heaping teaspoon of those, with about 1/4 to 1/2 c. water, let the Epsom salts dissolve, then, use that liquid to rub on skin, topically, to help relieve muscle spasms. It feels oily, but it isn't, and dries in place just fine.
6. Mg+ helps relax smooth muscles, such as are in the heart and blood vessels, to help decrease high blood pressure, for many. It also helps with muscle tics, charlie horses, etc. Magnesium USED to be kept on Crash Carts in E.R.'s, to be injected immediately into the chests of patients having a heart attack, because Magnesium stops the heart muscle from spasming, in ways Lidocaine cannot; but lidocaine is a great numbing agent, and costs drastically more than a syringe of magnesium!
7...and, if one is constipated, or tends to get that, then using a bit more magnesium helps things move on through....just please, _avoid_ using the Oxide form---because the Oxide form is very harsh.
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Do not know-ask the patient's doctor.
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Love chimonger's above answer. Dont know about memory. I use Magnesium Citrate as an anti anxiety and it works! My lower blod pressure since I began taking this mineral proves it. I take it before bed and it helps me sleep, too. After testing it on myself I gave it to my dad fir his high blood pressure...worked on him too! It does however cause loose stools as another poster said and it did upset his gi tract....I will try magnesium gluconate and/or glyconate as I have heard from a couple posters heee as well as my vitamin shop they are indeed better on the gi tract. However its good for constipation. My sister is a nurse and says they keep "MagCit" as she
calls it, on hand for patients with constipation.
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I find the comments by many non-professional caregivers very disturbing. By and large, what they "know" was gleaned from non-scientific/professional articles and have no official or medical support. These comments are dangerous and misleading.
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I have chronic pain, for which I take opioids. These are known for their constipating effect, for which I have to take Miralax every day. My wife is showing mild cognitive problems. So both of us could benefit, with the only drawback being the possibility of diarrhea for her.
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I appreciate all the answers. I am rather new on this forum and want to be able to do as much for my husband and his Parkinson's that is medically feasible. I will make sure that the type Mg that I am using is the best for him. As I said he has been taking it for leg cramps for years but don't know if it has been any help for the brain.
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Errett, Speak to your husband's medical specialist before adding anything to your husband's regimen. Some additives are actually harmful. Also, frequent argument s about the relative merits of different strengths/types of particular additives are simply marketing hype. None of these things are FDA approved.
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He only takes FDA approved supplements and all with either the Dr.s recommendation or with their approval. Each Dr. visit, whether every week or two, or quarterly, to all doctors, they are provided by me a complete list of ALL of his drugs whether prescription or over the counter. I would never presume to add them on my own. As I said early on in this thread, he has been on magnesium for years but the HOSPITAL had stopped them. When he started having symptoms without the Magnesium, I restarted them at home (WITH DR APPROVAL).
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Errett, The FDA does not approve supplements.
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Magnesium dosing is not for amateurs. Too much will lead to diarrhea and dehydration. So if you give pops 250mg twice a day, you are already overdosing him, because an older male only needs 420mg a day from all sources.
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DeborahK, I know but these were Dr recommended. I have used supplements for years and only by from creditable companies.
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panstegma, I too recommend she ask a Dr. but I am just saying that the amount my husband uses under Dr. supervision causes no problems. The problems were caused at the hospital who did not keep him on what he was taking.
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