SCAMS BULLETIN Host Jay White is a volunteer attorney who provides free legal services to low income seniors in San Mateo County, California.

April 3, 2019

ALZHEIMER’S CURE SCAMS

Chances are, you know someone with Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia involving memory loss. That’s due in part to the fact that as our older population grows, so does the number of people facing serious cognitive and related health issues.

Not surprisingly, this demographic change has been accompanied by a growth in the number of marketers who prey on this population, pitching products that make unproven claims they can prevent, treat, delay, or even cure Alzheimer’s disease or other conditions.

Scammers are marketing phony products take advantage of people when they are most vulnerable and often looking for a miracle cure.

Their products fly in the face of true science. What these companies are selling is the false hope that there is an effective treatment or cure. At best, the products offered by these scam artists will have no effect on the patient; at worst they may pose a danger to a patient who takes them.

Remember the saying, “if it seems too good to be true, it probably is?” Unfortunately, when faced with a serious health issue, even the most rational person can be led to believe implausible claims. Indeed, that’s what fraudsters selling fake treatments count on.

These claims include statements such as:

* “You can even reverse mental decline associated with dementia or even Alzheimer’s in just a week;”

 * “Clinically shown to help disease of the brain such as Alzheimer’s and even dementia;”

 * “Supplements are used to cure Alzheimer’s disease;”

  * “can … reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s by half;”

  * “May have a role in preventing the progression of Alzheimer’s;” and

Here are other ways to protect yourself and others from fake Alzheimer’s treatments:

*  Question any product that also claims to be a “scientific breakthrough.”

 *  Always check with your doctor or health care professional before buying or using any over-the-counter product, including those labeled as dietary supplements.

To learn more about Alzheimer’s and related diseases, visit The Alzheimer’s Association at https://alz.org, or, Alzheimer’s Foundation of America at https://alzfda.org.

If you know of a product or supplement (other than approved drugs) being advertised or sold as treatment for Alzheimer’s or other diseases, you can report it to the Food and Drug Administration website www.fda.gov.

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