IHVC & Dr. Chang Present Integrative Know How
Did you know Traditional Chinese Medicine can help Alzheimer’s patients?
What is Alzheimer’s disease?
Dementia is affecting about 24 million people worldwide, especially in elderly people. Alzheimer's disease (AD) accounts for 70% of patients with dementia. AD is a chronic neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive memory loss, cognitive decline, emotion change and even psychiatric symptoms. There are numerous studies showing promising results using Chinese herbal medicine and acupuncture in treating AD. These treatments can decrease the speed of progression and reduce the chances of complications such as pneumonia, urinary issue, etc.
Cognitive dysfunction syndrome in dogs and cats is similar to AD in humans.
Cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CDS) is a veterinary term to describe the progressive neurodegenerative disorder of senior dogs and cats. Common clinical signs can include disorientation, interaction changes, sleep/wake disturbances, house soiling, activity changes, anxiety, learning/memory issue, anxiety, phobias and aggression. 68% of dogs and 50% of cats older than 15 years of age demonstrated clinical signs consistent with CDS. CDS can significantly affect the quality of life for both owner and their senior pets.
Current studies using acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine in pets with CDS are very limited. The strong evidence of using these modalities in human and mice suggest acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine can be effective complimentary treatments for our senior pets suffering from CDS.
