Abstract
In the United States, there are an estimated 5.2 million cases of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), with AD and other dementias affecting nearly 1 in 3 senior adults. With the mounting financial and emotional burden of patient care, finding safe and efficacious treatments is essential. Emerging research on the cognitive effects of Magnesium L-Threonate (MGT) suggests that supplementation may be benefit individuals with AD. Although limited, existing animal and human clinical trial data regarding the neural and cognitive outcomes after MGT supplementation, a mechanistic explanation of MGT effects is beginning to emerge, including upregulation of NMDAR signaling pathways. The current open label trial explored the effects of MGT use in patients with mild to moderate dementia. Fifteen patients underwent 18F-FDG-PET imaging, cognitive testing, and blood draws at baseline and at 12 weeks of treatment in order to assess the acute effect of MGT supplementation on hippocampal and prefrontal cortex mediated cognitive abilities including executive function, attention, processing speed, verbal fluency and memory. Cognitive testing and blood draws were also performed after 8 weeks of MGT discontinuation. Findings showed a significant improvement in regional cerebral metabolism along with improvement in a global index of cognitive functioning in the total sample after 12 weeks of MGT treatment. Increased red blood cell magnesium levels were associated with improvements in overall cognition and executive functioning in some but not all patients. Larger placebo controlled clinical trials are warranted to evaluate MGT as an effective, easily accessible, and affordable treatment supplement for individuals with AD.