Leading a healthy lifestyle with a good diet, exercising, keeping the mind busy, getting good sleep, keeping a normal weight, smoking little or none, and perhaps taking low doses of antioxidants could all be of benefit in preventing this condition or reducing the risk. Obesity increases the risk of developing Alzheimer's and also speeds the onset at a younger age.
Alzheimer's disease, the most common form of dementia, is a progressive disorder characterized by widespread loss of brain cells called neurons, beta-amyloid deposits in the cerebral blood vessels, development of plaques and the presence of neurofibrillary tangles. These changes, occurring in the cerebral cortex, the hippocampus and the middle and temporal lobes, are accompanied by decreased concentrations of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. In my opinion, it appears that a deficiency in antioxidant status may accelerate the progression of Alzheimer's disease, and making an effort through diet or supplements to have adequate antioxidant status can reduce the risk.
Role of diet and food, lifestyle
factors
A diet that includes cold water fish (which have the important omega-3 fatty
acids EPA and DHA), poultry, nuts, and certain fruits and
vegetables may reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease. Those who consume
nutrients specifically selected for brain health have a lower risk of
developing it compared with others, for instance vitamin E, vitamin B12 and folate, benefit the brain.
People least likely to
develop the disease eat more olive oil-based salad dressing, nuts, fish,
tomatoes, poultry, cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, fruits, and
dark and green leafy vegetables and ate less red meat, organ meat or
high-fat dairy products. Eating baked or broiled fish as little as once
a week may boost brain health and lower the risk for cognitive
impairment.
Drinking fruit and vegetable juices frequently could help reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease in individuals at risk for developing the disease. There is evidence from both lab and animal studies that high levels of reactive oxygen species -- harmful byproducts of normal metabolism -- may be involved in the development of Alzheimer's disease. While vitamins and polyphenols contained in plant foods exert antioxidant effects and thus blunt the action of oxidants, certain ways of preparing these foods can deplete their nutrient content. Juicing, however, can preserve much of the antioxidant content of fruits and vegetables.
Researchers at Mount Sinai School of Medicine have found that a low carbohydrate diet that reduced total caloric intake by 30% prevented the development of a fundamental feature of Alzheimer's disease in mice genetically engineered to develop the disease.
What keeps you healthy overall, such as regular exercise and eating plenty of fruits and vegetables, also helps prevent Alzheimer�s. People who are socially engaged are less likely to develop memory loss. Keeping the brain active with puzzles or games can help.
Running more than 10 miles a week may reduce the risk of dying from Alzheimer's disease. Walking can help, too, if the amount of energy expended is equivalent to running 10 miles weekly.
Natural remedy for Alzheimer’s Disease
treatment, herbs vitamins and supplements - Alternatives to medication
While scientists have not fully determined the actual causes of Alzheimer’s
disease, a number of treatment options have been proposed or tried over the years.
Although more research needs to be done in order to find out the role of
these supplements as a treatment, I think it is appropriate to give them
a try since this condition currently has no cure or effective treatment. You are
not likely to find this information in any official publication of Alzheimer's disease
association or foundation. Some natural options for treatment or prevention include (discuss with your doctor first before
you use these natural pills and to make sure they don't interfere with your
current medications):
It is nearly impossible to know which of the above nutrients or herbs, or combinations thereof, are helpful as a treatment, prevention, or alternative Alzheimer's disease medication. It may be a trial and error process until the right combination or dosage is found. It is also very difficult to predict how these supplements interact with Alzheimer's medication prescription drugs. One has to be cautious with some of these supplements, particularly galantamine and huperzine since they can be quite potent. Also, when taking multiple supplements, make sure to reduce the dose of each one since they add on to each other and one could have insomnia or feel overstimulated.
The information I read here is helpful but unless I
missed it there were no suggestions as to dosages for Alzheimer patients. Do you
have any suggestions and I realize that you can't diagnose or prescribe.
A. I can't give specific dosages since each person is
different, is taking different other supplements, or different medications, has
a different body weight, age, tolerance level etc. So I can't be specific.
Mind Power Rx
for a healthy mind
We have not tested this natural and herbal
mind formula for this neurological condition, so we don't know how effective it
would be.This natural herbal and nutritional mind and memory enhancer is a sophisticated cognitive formula. It combines a delicate
balance of brain circulation agents and neurotransmitter precursors with
powerful natural brain chemicals that support healthy:
Memory and Mood
Mental clarity
Concentration
Alertness and Focus
The herbs in this brain formula include: Ashwagandha, Bacopa, Fo-Ti,
Ginkgo biloba, Ginseng, Gotu kola, Reishi, and Rhodiola. The nutrients and
vitamins in Mind Power Rx include Acetyl-l-carnitine, Carnitine, Carnosine,
Choline, DMAE, Inositol, Methylcobalamin, Pantothenic acid, Trimethylglycine,
Tyrosine, and
vinpocetine.
Q. My
grandmother has all signs of the Alzheimer disease. Her mother and her brother
had it too. She has been losing her short term memory and I am afraid it is
going quite fast. Is there any possibility to stop it with any supplements? I
read about your Mind Power Rx. However, are the dosages high enough to cure the
condition?
A. I am not aware of a cure for this condition but it is
possible that certain nutrients and natural formulas could improve memory and
focus and perhaps reduce the progression of this disease. It is not easy to
predict which individual herb, supplement or a combination formula will work
best without actually trying it.
I just got Mind Power Rx for my mother,
who has early stage Alzheimer's disease. Then today I noticed your article on galantamine. Would it be OK to give her both supplements together, or do they
have the same basic function?
Mind Power Rx
does not contain a cholinesterase inhibitor like galantamine or huperzine.
However, if your doctor decides to combine them, half a capsule of each would be
preferable as a starter.
Vitamin supplements as treatment
J Alzheimers Dis. 2016. Maintenance of Cognitive Performance and
Mood for Individuals with Alzheimer's Disease Following Consumption of a
Nutraceutical Formulation: A One-Year, Open-Label Study. Twenty-four
individuals diagnosed with AD received a nutraceutical formulation (NF:
folate, alpha-tocopherol, B12, S-adenosyl methioinine, N-acetyl cysteine,
acetyl-L-carnitine). Participants maintained their baseline cognitive
performance over 12 months. These findings are consistent with
improvement in cognitive performance in prior placebo-controlled studies
with a nutraceutical formulation, and contrast with the routine decline
for participants receiving placebo.
Efficacy of a vitamin / nutriceutical formulation for early-stage
Alzheimer's disease: a 1-year, open-label pilot study with an 16-month
caregiver extension.
Am J Alzheimers Dis Other Demen. 2008. Khan A, Paskavitz J, Remington R. Center for Cell
Neurobiology and Neurodegeneration Research, University of Massachusetts
Lowell, MA, USA.
We examined the efficacy of a vitamin / nutriceutical formulation (folate,
vitamin B6, alpha-tocopherol, S-adenosyl methionine, N-acetyl cysteine,
and acetyl-L-carnitine) in a 12-month, open-label trial with 14
community-dwelling individuals with early-stage Alzheimer's disease.
Participants improved in the Dementia Rating Scale and Clock-drawing
tests. Family caregivers reported improvement in multiple domains of the
Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) and maintenance of performance in the
Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study-Activities of Daily Living (ADL).
Performance on the NPI was
equivalent to published findings at 3 to 6 months for donepezil and
exceeded that of galantamine and their historical placebos. Participants
demonstrated superior performance for more than 12 months in NPI and ADL
versus those receiving naproxen and rofecoxib or their placebo group.
Efficacy of a Vitamin / Nutriceutical
Formulation for Moderate-stage to Later-stage Alzheimer's disease: A
Placebo-controlled Pilot Study.
Am J Alzheimers Dis Other Dementia. 2009. Remington R, Chan A. Department of Nursing, University of
Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, Massachusetts, Center for Cell
Neurobiology and Neurodegeneration Research, University of Massachusetts
Lowell, Lowell, Massachusetts.
Recent studies demonstrated efficacy of a vitamin / nutriceutical
formulation (folate, vitamin B12, alpha-tocopherol, S-adenosyl
methionine, N-acetyl cysteine, and acetyl-L-carnitine). Herein, we tested the efficacy of this
formulation in a small cohort of 12 institutionalized patients diagnosed
with moderate-stage to later-stage Alzheimer's disease. Institutional caregivers reported
approximately 30% improvement in the Neuropyschiatric Inventory and
maintenance of performance in the Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative
Study-Activities of Daily Living for more than 9 months.
Alpha-lipoic acid as a new treatment option for Alzheimer's disease--a 48
months follow-up analysis.
J Neural Transm Suppl. 2007. Department of Medical Rehabilitation
and Geriatrics, Henriettenstiftung, Hannover, Germany.
In a previous
study, 600mg alpha-lipoic acid was given daily to nine patients (receiving a standard treatment with choline-esterase
inhibitors) in an open-label study over an observation period of 12
months. The treatment led to a stabilization of cognitive functions. In this report, we have
extended the analysis to 43 patients over an observation period of up to
48 months. In patients with mild dementia, the disease progressed
extremely slowly, in patients with moderate dementia at approximately
twice the rate. However, the progression appears dramatically lower than
data reported for untreated patients or patients on choline-esterase
inhibitors in the second year of long-term studies.
Curcumin and turmeric
Curcumin inhibits formation of Abeta oligomers and fibrils, binds plaques and
reduces amyloid in vivo.
J Biol Chem. 2004. University of California Los
Angeles, North Hills, CA
The phenolic yellow curry pigment curcumin has
potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities and can suppress oxidative
damage, inflammation, cognitive deficits, and amyloid accumulation. Ourgh data
suggest that low dose curcumin effectively prevents
fibril and oligomer formation, supporting the rationale for curcumin use in
clinical trials preventing or treating Alzheimer's disease.
Melatonin and morning sun exposure
Sun exposure or bright light along with an evening dose of
melatonin helps normalize the sleep-wake cycle in elderly adults with
Alzheimer's disease. Patients commonly have disrupted
sleep at night and nap frequently during the day. Researchers looked at
whether light therapy -- alone or along with melatonin supplements --
could restore a more natural sleep-wake cycle. Dr. Glenna A. Dowling, of
the University of California, San Francisco, randomly
assigned 50 nursing home patients with Alzheimer's to one of three groups
for a period of ten weeks. Patients in the first group were given light
therapy for one hour. The light therapy consisted of either natural light
alone, or additional artificial light when needed. Patients in the second
group received both morning light therapy as well as a dose of melatonin a
few hours before bedtime. Those in the third group were exposed to only
normal indoor light and were not given melatonin. The combination of light
therapy and melatonin reduced daytime sleepiness and increased patients'
activity during the day. Light therapy alone, however, was not enough to
be helpful. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, February 2008.
Comments: The ideal long term melatonin dosage for patients is not clear but my thought is that half or 1 mg every
other night or every third night is a good option.
Sage herb
Email from a doctor who says: I have a patient who was
not doing well on the Alzheimer's medications Aricept and Namenda until we added nicotine patch and sage
extract. He is my poster child! Sage contains several cholinesterase inhibitors
and could help Alzheimer's disease.
Rational for use of
antioxidants
Alzheimer's disease, oxidative injury, and
cytokines.
J Alzheimers Disease. 2004.
Alzheimer's disease is infrequently a genetically driven disease. Rather
it is the product of free radical injury inflicted over decades after an initial
insult to the central nervous system (CNS). The brain is uniquely sensitive to
oxidative injury. A variety of insults to the CNS are now associated. These include hypertension, diabetes, and head trauma.
These then cause a cytokine cascade and microlocalized inflammation in the CNS,
that in time results in clinical disease. By the ninth decade of
life over half of the population manifests Alzheimer's disease. Prevention or
reversal will lie in administration of effective
antioxidant therapy with specific treatments when etiologies are known.
The benefits of antioxidant fruits and berries such
as blueberries has been known for some time. Just recently we heard that
blueberries have been found to be beneficial in regenerating brain cells, and
may help fight Alzheimer's disease. Would you suggest taking blueberry extract
for someone who has been diagnosed with early Alzheimer's?
All berries
have great antioxidant benefits. Perhaps blueberry supplements may be helpful in
lowering the risk and perhaps slowing the cognitive
decline. There are many plant extracts and supplements that could be beneficial
for Alzheimer's disease and it is difficult to know how many to take and what
dosage is appropriate.
Mental exercise
People who spent most of their lives in jobs that involve
little brain work appear more likely to eventually develop this
condition.
Sleep and insomnia
People who miss a night of sleep have a buildup in their brain of a
substance called beta-amyloid.
Alzheimers medication treatment
Finding a treatment to reverse or stop Alzheimer's disease is proving elusive.
As of 2016, there's been no new drug approved in the U.S. since memantine (Namenda)
in 2003. That drug aims to help symptoms such as memory problems but can't halt
the long-term progression of the disease.
Several Alzheimer's medication drugs are available including cholinesterase inhibitors such as donepezil, rivastigmine, and galantamine. I am not convinced an Alzheimer medication of this sort offers a long term effective treatment, solution, or cure. Antipsychotics and benzodiazepines, especially in combination, hasten mental decline. Atypical antipsychotic drugs used to treat Alzheimer's disease and other types of dementia may be associated with an increased risk of death.
The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) charged with assessing whether drugs and procedures are worth their cost said that Aricept, Exelon, Reminyl, and Ebixa should not be reimbursed by the national health service.The committee said the clinical gains with the drugs called acetylcholinesterase inhibitors were small and the evidence on outcomes of importance to patients and caregivers, such as quality of life and time to institutionalisation, was "limited and largely inconclusive."
The FDA approved a combination pill for moderate to severe Alzheimer's disease in people already being treated with both drugs. The pill, called Namzaric, combines memantine hydrochloride extended-release (Namenda) and donepezil hydrochloride (Aricept). I am concerned about serious side effects with this combination.
Synthroid thyroid medication
I'm quite
interested in L-Carnitine and Alpha Lipoic acid for my Grandma, who has
Alzheimer's. However, she does take Synthroid for her hypothyroidism. Would
these supplements be contraindicated in someone taking Synthroid or would
frequent monitoring of thyroid hormones be acceptable and if so, how often would
you recommend thyroid tests? It's great that there are doctors like yourself who
think outside of the box. I wish there were more doctors like you!
There are many, many factors that need to be considered
before supplementing and hormone medications are only one of these factors. As a
general rule, if a person is taking a small amount of a natural supplement, that
is not likely to have much of an influence on hormone levels. Older individuals
are more sensitive to medications and certain supplements and hence their dosage
should be lower, even if it means taking a portion of a capsule or tablet. I
cannot be specific in giving further details because each person is different in
their requirement or response.
Cause of Alzheimer's Disease
There is a very high genetic cause for Alzheimer's
disease. In addition to genetics as a cause of Alzheimer's disease, many
environmental factors including diet are to be considered. Older adults who
smoke have an elevated risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.
Nerve signals travel across synapses with the help
of chemicals known as "neurotransmitters," including one called acetylcholine.
Nerve cell destruction causes a reduction in acetylcholine, leading to impaired
transmission of nerve signals and poor communication between nerve cells called
neurons. In addition to acetylcholine, the brain of Alzheimer�s disease patients
have areas of abnormal protein called "plaques" and "tangles," the names
reflecting what these abnormalities in the brain look like under the microscope.
The underlying cause of Alzheimer's � what actually triggers the changes in the
brain � is still not fully known but could partly be due oxidation and damage to
nerve cells over time. It is likely that no single factor is responsible, but
rather that it is due to a variety of factors, which may differ from person to
person. People whose parents or brothers and sisters develop the disease appear
to be at greater risk of developing it themselves, so there may be a genetic
component. However, no straightforward pattern of inheritance has been found. It
is known that head injury is a risk factor, and also that Alzheimer�s disease
often affects people with Down�s syndrome. Some researchers have suggested that
people who exercise their brains (for example, doing crosswords and other mental
agility exercises) are less likely to develop the disease. And Omega 3 fatty
acids, contained in oily fish such as mackerel and salmon may, also help to
prevent dementia. But there is no completely solid evidence to show how
environmental factors influence the chance of getting Alzheimer�s.
Australian scientists say they have identified a toxin
that may play a key role as a potential cause of Alzheimer's disease. The toxin, called quinolinic acid, kills nerve cells in the brain, leading to dysfunction and
death. Quinolinic acid may not be the main cause of Alzheimer's disease, but it plays
a key role in its progression.
Anesthetics used in long surgery, such as inhaled anesthetics
isoflurane and halothane, may be another cause of Alzheimer's disease.
Scientists conducted a series of lab experiments using nuclear magnetic
resonance to investigate the reaction of amyloid-beta peptides to the inhaled
anesthetic isoflurane and the intravenous anesthetics propofol and thiopental.
They found that the peptides aggregated together after 10 to 30 hours' exposure
to isoflurane, depending on the concentration of the gas and the size of the
protein fragments. The effect was seen with propofol after exposure for 48
hours, but no clumping was seen with thiopental. Biochemistry, 2007.
Having frequent colds or flu or other infections increases
the risk for this neurological deterioration due to increased overall
inflammation in the body and brain.
Repeated blows to the head may cause nerve-degenerative diseases
like Lou Gehrig's disease and Alzheimer's. Journal of Neuropathology &
Experimental Neurology, 2010.
As body fat increases, so do blood levels of a protein fragment linked to
Alzheimer's disease, which may explain the reported association between
obesity and the
brain-wasting disease. Obesity by itself, even in otherwise healthy middle-aged
people, is associated with elevated levels of the amyloid peptide that builds up
and causes Alzheimer's. Amyloid is normally made all throughout the body at
various lengths. Researchers at Edith Cowan University in Joondalup, Western
Australia investigated whether levels of the peptide, plasma amyloid-beta
42,were related to body mass index (BMI) or fat mass in 18 healthy adults. As
BMI rose, so did amyloid-beta 42 blood levels. The same was true for fat mass.
But there was no relationship between BMI or fat mass and another peptide,
amyloid-beta 40, which is not associated with disease. Fat itself -- not the diseases that excess
weight can cause -- that may be increasing levels of the dangerous protein. To
learn more about
amyloidosis.
Older adults who habitually use sedatives for anxiety or insomnia have a heightened risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. The drugs in question are benzodiazepines, a widely prescribed group of sedatives that include lorazepam (Ativan), diazepam (Valium) and alprazolam (Xanax). Older adults commonly take the drugs for anxiety or insomnia, often long-term.
The virus that causes common cold sores -- herpes simplex -- might increase the risk of Alzheimer's disease, but the more evidence is needed to support this theory, Oct. 7, 2014, Alzheimer's & Dementia online.
Heartburn medications raise a senior's risk of dementia. Called proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), this group of drugs includes Prilosec, Nexium and Prevacid.
Questions
In your article online you talk of treatments for Amyloidosis disease. Has
anyone considered Serrapeptase and its ability to break down protein as an
alternative for the disease?
A. I am not aware of such studies.