Alzheimer's disease affects about 10% of people over 65 years old.
This disease is a form of dementia
and is the 4th leading cause of death for people over
60. Alzheimer's can also affect people as early as
their 40's. The disease includes progressive mental deterioration or memory loss and reduction
of
abstract thought processes as well. Symptoms include lack of concentration,
depression, memory loss, personality
changes, mood swings, disorientation, and loss of bladder and bowel
control. Death can occur within 5 to 10 years. Death usually occurs in 5 to
10 years.
Alzheimer's disease is a common form of dementia or reduction in
brain function. Over 4 million
people in the USA alone, suffer from Alzheimer's disease.
Affecting more than 10% of Americans over 65 years old and more
than 50% of people over 85 years old. Dementia is now the 4th
leading cause of death for people over 60, and Alzheimer's kills 100,000 people
in the United States every year. But,
Alzheimer's disease does not just affect older people, but can
affect people in their 40's. The disease was
first identified by a German neurologist Alois Alzheimer in 1907.
Indicated by continual mental deterioration, that becomes so bad that it interferes with the
person's ability to function at work or socially. Both their memory and abstract
thought processes are reduced. Symptoms include
depression,
disoriented ideas of time and/or space, cannot concentrate, poor
communication, loss of bladder control, loss of bowel control,
memory loss, personality changes, and bad mood swings. The
person's health
and functioning get worse and worse until the person is
totally incapacitated. Death normally occurs between five to ten
years. Alzheimer's
disease was once considered just a psychological phenomenon, Alzheimer's
disease is now known to be a degenerative disorder that is
characterized by a specific set of physiological changes in the
brain. Nerve fibers surrounding the hippocampus, the brain's
memory center, become tangled, and information is no longer
carried properly to or from the brain. New memories cannot be
formed, and memories formed earlier cannot be retrieved.
Characteristic plaques accumulate in the brain as well. These
plaques are composed mainly of a protein-containing substance
called betaamyloid. Researchers believe that this plaque builds up
to damage nerve cells. Now people may worry that their
forgetfulness is a sign of them getting Alzheimer's disease. But
things like: forgetting
where we put our keys or other things is not an indicator of
having Alzheimer's. This is a good example of the difference between forgetfulness and
dementia: If you do not remember where you put
your keys, that is forgetfulness; if you do not remember that
you have keys, that could be a sign of dementia. Other disorders
can cause symptoms similar to those of Alzheimer's disease.
Dementia may result from arteriosclerosis
(hardening of the arteries) that slowly cuts off the blood supply to the brain. The death of brain tissue from a series of
minor strokes, or from pressure exerted
by an accumulation of fluid in the brain, may also be a cause of dementia.
Research also indicates a relationship between Alzheimer's
disease and high concentrations of aluminum in the brain.
Autopsies of people who have died of Alzheimer's disease show
large amounts of aluminum in both the hippocampus and
cerebral cortex areas of the brain. As well as the external layer of gray matter responsible for
higher brain functions. It may be that exposure to excessive
amounts of aluminum, especially if combined with a deficiency of
critical vitamins and minerals, may either directly or indirectly
make one more at risk to developing Alzheimer's disease. Aluminum is not
the only metal that has been linked to Alzheimer's disease. The
brains of people with Alzheimer's disease have been found to have
higher than normal concentrations of the toxic metal mercury. For
many people, the release of mercury from dental amalgams/fillings is the
main cause of mercury exposure,
and a direct link has been indicated between the amount
of inorganic mercury in the brain and the number of amalgam
surfaces in the mouth. Mercury from dental amalgam passes into
body tissues, and it may accumulate in the human body over a
period of time. Mercury
exposure, especially from dental amalgams, could be a a
major contributor to Alzheimer's disease. Many researchers believe
that beta-amyloid is a key player in this memory destroying
disease. This substance is not unique to just the brain, but it is
produced in almost every cell in the body as a result of the
degeneration of tissue. Amyloid, itself is not very toxic, but it
is possible it may trigger dementia if a critical mass of it accumulates
in the brain.
Nutrient /
Supplement
|
Importance
( 1 - 10 )
|
Helpful notes
|
Multi-vitamin
& Mineral supplement |
10 |
vitamin B complex, boron, calcium, magnesium, zinc, selenium,
vitamin E all serve to help people with alzheimer's. A daily supplement
provides nutrients needed by the body for good health and well being. |
Inositol |
10 |
Preliminary double-blind studies suggest that inositol may be
useful for depression, panic disorder, Alzheimer's
disease, and depression. |
Boron |
10 |
this mineral improves brain function |
Coenzyme Q10 |
10 |
increases oxygenation to body cells |
Ginkgo Biloba |
10 |
herb that serves as an anti-oxidant and helps to increase blood flow to the brain.
Studies show it does help improve brain function which is useful to people with
alzheimer's disease. |
Lecithin |
9 |
required for improved memory |
Potassium |
8 |
needed for electrolyte balance especially if you take blood pressure medication. |
vitamin B |
9 |
vitamin B helps brain function, reduce depression, and improve memory. Can be taken in
a good multi-vitamin and mineral supplement. |
vitamin
B12 |
9 |
people with Alzheimer's tend
to have low levels of vitamin B12 and zinc in their bodies. The B
vitamins are important in cognitive functioning |
vitamin
B6 |
9 |
needed for memory |
Zinc |
9 |
The development of the
neuro-fibrillary tangles and amybid plaques in the brain that are
characteristic of the disease have been associated with zinc
deficiency. |
Grape
seed extract |
9 |
anti oxidants that
help protect brain cells |
Selenium |
8 |
low intake of this mineral has been linked to heart disease and cardiovascular
problems a good source for selenium is a natural multi-vitamin with complete mineral supplementation. |
Carotenoids |
9 |
often people with alzheimer's
are not getting enough carotenoids in their diet |
Calcium |
7 |
has a calming effect and works well with magnesium |
Other Changes To Make
-
drink 6-8 glasses of steam distilled or
filtered water a day
-
eat 50% raw fruits and vegetables (organic is best)
-
nuts, seeds, and whole grains are good
-
juice is good (make your
own with a juice machine)
-
do not worry as much about calories as eating the right foods
-
carrot and celery sticks are good to use as a snack
-
a colon cleansing can be very helpful - (do several times each year)
-
do not drink coffee, alcohol, soda pop, other junk food drinks
-
do not eat processed foods white sugar, white flour, etc...
-
use stress relief like going for walks in the park
(or the 10/90 rule - see
Stress)
-
brown rice is good to eat
-
avoid red meat and animal fats
-
reduce dairy products cheese, milk, and others
-
fast a few days a month
-
get at least 8 hours of sleep
-
exercise light to moderate amounts
-
avoid artificial sweeteners like Aspartame and NutraSweet
-
do not smoke and avoid second hand smoke
-
do not skip meals - just eat better and not as much at each meal
-
do not chew gum - it can cause you to feel hungry
-
do not watch too much TV try reading a book or something else
|