Preventing Alzheimer's Disease
- Diet counts:
- Diets rich in vitamin E and essential oils may
help prevent Alzheimer's disease. A study recently reported in the Archives
of Neurology (2002) found that participants, aged 65-102, who ate fish at
least once each week showed 36% less decline in cognitive functioning over
the study's three+ years. Similar results have been found in the Rotterdam
Study, a study tracking over 9000 participants. Those researchers found that
participants who ate fish most often were only one-third as likely to
develop Alzheimer's Disease as those who ate fish least often. These studies
provide compelling reasons to add at least one meal of fish to your diet
every week.
What other foods should you include? Olive oil is an especially valuable
source of vitamin E and other anti-oxidants. I prefer the extra virgin
variety of olive oil for its milder taste. With a squeeze of fresh lime
juice, olive oil makes a very pleasant salad dressing. And I've discovered
that the more I use it, the more I like it.
- B vitamins, particularly folic acid and vitamin
B-12, help prevent Alzheimer's as well as a host of other diseases such as
heart disease and stroke. A study from the National Institute on Aging found
that mice fed a diet rich in folic acid were able to repair damage to the
DNA of nerve cells in the hippocampus (an area needed for memory and
learning). Foods rich in B vitamins whole grains, yeast, meat, low-fat dairy
products, lentils and leafy greens.
Here is a good source of
B-12- methylcobalamin is the only form of b-12 that is available to the nervous system. It is also in the proper dosage for optimal health:
NSI B12 Methylcobalamin 500 mcg - 200 Caps
Folic acid works closely with B-12 so both supplements should be taken together. Taking one without the other will cause a deficiency of one or both. Here is a source of folic acid in the proper dosage:
Nature's Way Folic Acid -- 800 Mcg 100 Capsules
- What about NSAIDS (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs)?
One of the prevailing theories is that inflammation causes or encourages
Alzheimer's disease. This theory led to the suggestion that a daily regimen
of NSAIDs (Ibuprofen and similar products) might prevent the disease.
However, researchers at Georgetown University Medical Center (8th
International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders, July
25, 2002) found no significant benefits from NSAIDS compared to a placebo.
- What to avoid:
Smoking: A
brand-new study, also reported in Stockholm (July 23, 2002) during the 8th
International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders, found
that, among people who do not have the gene that predisposes people to
Alzheimer's disease, smoking is significantly related to the occurrence of
Alzheimer's disease. Yet another reason to stop smoking now!
Mercury:
Even small amounts of mercury may create the neurofibrillar tangles (abnormal
TAU proteins) that occur in Alzheimer's and related diseases according to
research conducted at the University of Calgary Faculty of Medicine. So it's a
good idea to avoid silver/mercury tooth fillings.
Aluminum:
Some studies have shown a correlation between the amount of aluminum in brain
tissue and the occurrence of Alzheimer's disease. I avoid using aluminum
cookware and drinking anything out of aluminum cans.
Other Benefits of a Nutritious Diet:
A nutritious diet, combined with a healthy lifestyle may
prevent or ameliorate many diseases related to aging. With a US growing
population now over 65+ (17 million+ according to the latest US census), seniors
with serious medical problems may soon require more care than we can as a nation
provide. We must do all we can to eliminate the problems associated with aging.
Then the golden years may be truly golden.
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