In addition to medication that has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), some companies market herbal remedies and supplements as alternative treatment methods for Alzheimer's disease. These remedies may be sold as dietary or herbal supplements, which are not subject to the same FDA approval process as drugs. Supplements need only prove they are safe and cannot make specific health claims. For example, some supplements may say they aid memory, rather than help Alzheimer's disease.

Some alternative treatments include:

• Coenzyme Q10 (ubiquinone). An antioxidant that occurs naturally in the body. Antioxidants reduce the amount of oxidative stress caused by free radicals. People with Alzheimer's disease may have low levels of coenzyme Q10 and some claims suggest that supplements of coenzyme Q10 may slow the progress of Alzheimer's disease. However, these claims have not been substantiated.
  
  
• Ginkgo biloba. An herb that is claimed by some to improve memory. It also acts as an antioxidant and has been used for hundreds of years to treat a number of medical conditions related to oxidative stress. Although it is not regulated by the FDA, ginkgo biloba is used in traditional Chinese medicine, as a prescription drug in parts of Europe and is one of the most popular herbal supplements in the United States. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) is conducting a long-term study on the use of ginkgo biloba for memory improvement in healthy elderly people.
  
  
• Huperzine A. A dietary supplement that may function similarly to a mild cholinesterase inhibitor. Huperzine A is derived from the Chinese cub moss plant. Studies have not been completed to establish the safety of its use in people with Alzheimer's disease.
  
  
• Phosphatidylserine. A type of lipid (fat) that may protect nerve cells from degenerating. Scientists are unsure how phosphatidylserine works, although it is thought to work in a similar way to cholinesterase inhibitors.