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What Prevents Alzheimer's?
By
Susan Dunn
It's About My Personal & Professional Development
The answer is still "we don't know," but we're getting closer.
Alzheimer's is not normal in the course of aging, and it's more than "a decline
in memory." People suffering from Alzheimer's, through progressive destruction
of brain cells, lose the ability to think, reason, learn and communicate, and
also undergo personality changes. For the ten warning signs of Alzheimer's go
here: http://www.alz.org/AboutAD/10Signs.htm . Alzheimer's is eventually fatal
because the person cannot move or swallow.
Although around 12 million people worldwide have Alzheimer's, and 4-4.5 million
in the US, research in this field is still new and not enough is known about
either prevention or cure. Much of the research "suggests" but is not
conclusive.
RISK FACTORS
The biggest risk factor is aging, with about 50% of people over 85 years of age
having Alzlheimer's in the US. According to some sources, there's evidence it
has the same risk factors as for heart disease: high blood pressure, high
cholesterol and elevated homocysteine, a protein building block.
In an article called "Homocysteine is a Strong Risk factor for Alzheimer's
Disease," (New England Journal of Medicine, 2002 Feb 14; 346:476-483),
researchers concluded that "an increased homocysteine level is a strong,
independent risk factor for the development of dementia and Alzheimer's
disease."
VITAMIN E
According to research done by Martha Clare Morris, ScD, Associate Professor of
Internal Medicine and the Rush Institute for Healthy Aging, Chicago, Illinois,
lots of vitamin E through food intake, not supplements is helpful. (
www.medscape.com) while another study (http://www.docguide.com/news/content.nsf/news/
8525697700573E1885256C00004A766D
) suggests that both food intake and supplements of vitamin E is helpful.
Foods high in vitamin E are wheat germ, almonds, vegetable oils, margarine, and
seeds (especially sunflower seeds). 1 T. of wheat germ provides 34.6 mg. of
vitamin E, ˝ cup of chocolate covered almonds, 14.3 mg., 1 T. corn oil, 11-14
mg., 1 T. soybean oil, 8.8-14 mg.
According to the Almond Board of California, just one ounce of almonds provides
more than 35% of the daily value of vitamin E.
FAT
According to studies reported in
www.medscape.com, high intake of saturated fat
doubles the risk of Alzheimer's disease, and moderate intake of trans fat
increases the risk by 2-3 times. Lower risk is associated with high intake of
both polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats. However there have been
inconsistent findings, with another study finding no influence from high
ingestion of polyunsaturated fats.
FISH AND n-3 FATTY ACIDS
There is some evidence that dietary intake of fish and n-3 fatty acids can
protect against Alzheimer's but again, no causal association has been
established.
Assuming that vitamin E and n-3 fatty acids and unhydrogenated, unsaturated fats
help, your best bet would be to eat plenty of oil-based salad dressings, nuts,
seeds, fish, mayonnaise, and eggs.
CURRY
If you love curry like I do, this information will be welcome. One of the lowest
rates of Alzheimer's appears in Indian villages, with only 1% of people 65 and
older having the condition. A recent study suggests that the reason might be a
diet high in curcumin, a compound found in turmeric which is used in curry,
which has long been used as an herbal treatment in that country. Researchers
investigating this link will also be looking at rosemary and ginger, also high
in the Indian diet, because their structure is similar to curcumin. [Source:
"The Curry Spice Curcumin Reduces Oxidative Damage and Amyloid Pathology in an
Alzheimer Transgenic Mouse," Lim, Chuet al.]
TESTOSTERONE
Another link in the chain may be testosterone levels. Dr. Sozos Ch.
Papasozomenos and Dr. Alikunju Shanavas, from the University of Texas-Houston
Medical School conclude from their studies that "testosterone given alone to
aging men and given combined with 17-beta-estradiol to postmenopausal women
would probably prove beneficial in preventing and/or treating Alzheimer's
disease." [Reported in the proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.]
However, the case for hormones for postmenopausal women is far from settled and
not at all clear.
LITHIUM
Another possibility is lithium. This long-standing treatment for bipolar
disorder has worked as a preventative with mice, and may be useful for humans,
though the side-effects are high, and it doesn't help people who already have
Alzheimer's. [Source: Nature, 2003]
WEIGHT, WOMEN & ALZHEIMER'S
Researchers have also found a strong relationship in women between being
overweight at age 70 and developing Alzheimer's 10-18 years later, although
being overweight doesn't appear to effect men and Alzheimer's. (http://www.stopgettingsick.com/Conditions/condition_template.cfm/
6880/24/1
)
USE IT OR LOSE IT
Studies also suggest that keeping mentally active can ward off Alzheimer's [New
England Journal of Medicine]. Oddly physical activity had no positive preventive
effect except in the case of dancing. Researchers speculated that could be
because music engages the mind. (
http://www.stopgettingsick.com/Conditions/condition_template.cfm/
6817/24/1
)
These are just a few of the latest "suggestions." So little is known for sure,
and we hope research continues. In the meantime, we do hear the same things over
and over - good diet, exercise, and staying mentally active.
Resource: The Alzheimer's Association,
http://www.alz.org
For medical advice, consult your personal healthcare professional.
©Susan Dunn, MA, The EQ Coach,
http://www.susandunn.cc . I offer coaching, distance learning courses, and
ebooks around emotional intelligence. I train and certify EQ coaches. Get in
this field, dubbed "white hot" by the press, now, before it's crowded, and offer
your clients something of real value. Immediate entry, no residence requirement.
Mailto:sdunn@suasndunn.cc for free ezine.
For daily EQ Tips, send blank email to
EQ4U-subscribe@yahoogroups.com .
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