2005 年 14 巻 1 号 p. 19-28
Alzheimer’s disease presents a major problem as far as successful treatment is concerned, which is exacerbated by the ageing of the world’s population, and the increasing number of elderly in the ‘at risk’ age groups. Low reactive-level laser therapy (LLLT) has been reported as having beneficial effects on the blood vascular and neurological systems, including the regeneration of degenerated axons. The present study with 154 AD patients examined LLLT used as a monotherapy (intravenous HeNe laser irradiation) as well as magnetic field therapy (MFT), light chromotherapy (LCT) and conventional AD pharmacotherapy all as monotherapies, compared with a placebo control group. A further group received a combination of LLLT, MFT and LCT (the LMLCT group). Patients were assessed using the Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Scale-cognitive subscale (ADAS-cog) before treatment and at the end of the 18-month treatment regimen. LLLT and MFT significantly slowed down AD-related deterioration compared with controls (p‹0.05), but theLMLCTgroup was even more significantly effective (p‹0.001). Of all the monotherapies, LLLT was the most effective compared with the others, but the differences were not statistically significant. This may have been a factor of the low statistical power of the study due to small group numbers. Pharmacotherapy was the second most efficacious approach, but is associated with severe side effects particularly in elderly patients, and is often contraindicated. The results of the sudy suggest that combined LLLT, MFT and LCT is a safe, effective, easy-to-deliver, well-tolerated and side effect free therapeutic approach for slowing down the deterioration associated with AD.
