Omental transposition for Alzheimer 's disease.

A patient with Alzheimer's disease of long standing was treated with omental transposition to his brain. The rational for the procedure was to use the omentum to increase cerebral blood flow and to augment cholinergic neurotransmission activity. The patient improved for a year following surgery but after that time slowly began to decline neurologically and cognitively. However, according to Alzheimer's specialists who have followed the patient pre and postoperatively, he still maintains, 2.5 years after surgery, a higher level of performance than expected. There is theoretical and now a clinical suggestion that the omentum might play some role in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. In view of the devastating nature of the disease, it seems reasonable to suggest that a limited controlled study be carried out to support or negate the benefit of the operation.