How You May Prevent Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer’s disease is a degenerative brain disorder that manifests as a progressive deterioration of memory and mental function, a state of mind commonly referred to as dementia.

    In Ireland 5% of the population older than 65 suffer from severe dementia, while another 10% suffer from mild to moderate dementia. With increasing age, there is a rise in frequency. For example, in people older than 80 years of age, the frequency rate of dementia is higher than 25%.

   In most people, 20% of brain cells die over a lifetime. By the age of 70 most people’s brain has shrunk by 10%. However declining mental function is not inevitable. We can build new brain cells at any age. Not everyone over 50 with memory problems has Alzheimer’s disease; diagnosis is difficult because the evidence lies in the degeneration nerve cells in the brain.

   Genetic factors play a significant role in determining susceptibility to Alzheimer’s disease, like most chronic degenerative disease, lifestyle and environmental factors also play a significant role. Emerging research reveals that dietary factors are important. Poor quality diets with excess saturated or transfatty acids may predispose nerve cells to aluminum induced toxicities. Traumatic injury to the head, chronic exposure to aluminum and free radical damage have all been implicated as causative factors.

    Aluminum has been found in plaques in the brains of Alzheimer’s disease sufferers. Aluminum is known to accumulate with age in the body. Avoidance of all known sources of aluminum, aluminum containing antacids, aluminum containing antiperspirants, cooking in aluminum pots and pans, wrapping food with aluminum foil should be practiced. Aluminum absorption can be decreased by magnesium, because magnesium competes with aluminum for absorption, not only in the intestines but also at the blood brain barrier. A diet rich in magnesium is recommended; seeds, nuts and whole grains are good sources of magnesium.

One of the most important brain toxins is Homocysteine, (produced within the body from protein if you are deficient in vitamins B6, B12 or folic acid). To prevent the formation of this brain toxin take a good B complex and vitamin C supplement.

Zinc deficiency is one of the most common nutrients defiencies found in the elderly and has been linked with the development of Alzheimer’s disease. Seeds and nuts are good sources of Zinc, especially pumpkin seeds. Eat a handful each day.

Considerable evidence indicates that oxidative damage plays a major role in the development and progression of Alzheimer’s disease. As digestive functions tend to decrease as we grow older, there is a propensity towards fat mal-absorption. Vitamin E is often found to be deficient in the elderly for this reason it is recommended to take 15mg of Vitamin E daily to avoid this deficiency.

A herb with a lot of research in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease is Ginkgo Biloba. In one study published in the journal of the American medical association, it was found and there were no side effects. It was found also that you need to take Ginkgo for at least 12 weeks in order to get results, even though some patients got benefits in 2-3 weeks, most needed much longer.

David Foley

MRCHM, MNIMH

Medical Herbalist