Alzheimer's and Plaquing Up The Brain
Plaque In The Brain
Alzheimer’s Disease is attacking Americans at an alarming rate and needs to be addressed to find out the source, cause, preventative and treatment approaches. This disease is evident amongst many families and friends to the extent that not a day goes by without my reading and looking for ways to inform the public of the devastating effects on everyone. Otherwise healthy seniors are suddenly moved into long-term care or assisted living facilities that deal with Alzheimer’s. They are shocked and confused and their lives are changed similar to the effects of falling off a cliff. Caregivers are at a loss as to how to address the problem. Adult children feel guilty for having to rip their parents out of their secure environment and place them amongst strangers while ending their social and day to day regimens. These family members are well-meaning, but they need more than trial and error methods to address the problem. Recently, one of our seniors, active in senior tennis, had symptoms and his family is taking him to Johns Hopkins University to seek help. An 81 year old who can shovel her own driveway and play tennis three times a week, found herself in a totally new setting. She is sad and feels betrayed by her children and would like her life back, but her family knows of the dangers that may beset her while she is living alone.
Falling in the snow, a burning pot on the stove, missing important medications, forgetting to eat, and a host of other problems associated with living independently are eliminated by sending the confused and forgetful senior to a "facility".
That is my own experience with friends, families and loved ones and it continues to motivate my interest in the subject. One of our friends began making out checks for services she had already paid for and would ask numerous times if she had paid her restaurant bill. She, noticeably, was losing weight because she couldn’t recall the last time she ate. We did notice that she had two open containers of peanut butter on her kitchen table. And that may be part of the reason she is declining in her ability to function mentally. Cholesterol may contribute to the formation of amyloid plaque in the brain, which is one of the hallmarks of Alzheimer’s. The tastebuds may lie to the brain when it comes to proper nutrition.
Eating a Mediterranean diet and watching your carbs might lower your risk of Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. The old adage "you are what you eat" takes on a new meaning according to several new studies. For example a recent study in the Archives of Neurology concluded that sticking to a Mediterranean diet rich in vegetables, fish, and moderate amounts of red wine might reduce the risk of AD. Another Archives of Neurology study linked higher blood levels of docosahexaeonic acid (DHA, an omega-3 fatty acid found in fish) to a possible reduced risk of dementia. In addition, a study headed by Giulio Maria Pasinetti, MD, PhD, professor of psychiatry and neuroscience and director of the Neuroinflammation Research Laboratory at Mount Sinai, was the first to show that restricting caloric intake—specifically carbohydrates—may prevent AD in mouse models of the disease.
Yesterday (March 31, 2007) news released indicated an oral vaccination for Alzheimer’s in a mouse test showed some positive results. Unfortunately, there is no food, diet or supplement proven to halt or treat dementia. But researchers are zeroing in on how dietary factors may help. "Mount Sinai is currently taking part in a national study of DHA, for example, to determine if it can slow AD progression."
A Mediterranean diet is rich in vegetables that contain polyphenols (chemicals that may protect cells against reactive substances that can damage tissues). It also contains certain kinds of fats, including those found in fish, which may protect the neurons in response to injury in the brain. "One thing is becoming very clear—brain cells appear to be much more sensitive to what we actually do and what we eat than was previously known."
Since October 2003, when I began my quest for a "lifestyle change," I have seen a change in direction amongst researchers, universities of medicine and even medical doctors in the way they look at possible treatment of serious illnesses plaguing our society. We have done the hard things in space and technology and now it is time to address the "war on disease." Whether you are rich or poor, healthy or ill, we all have friends and family who need our help. I am not seeking fame or fortune, but I do try to ignite a flame in the hearts of people to address the enemies of good health by starting with the person in the mirror.
Alzheimer’s Disease is attacking Americans at an alarming rate and needs to be addressed to find out the source, cause, preventative and treatment approaches. This disease is evident amongst many families and friends to the extent that not a day goes by without my reading and looking for ways to inform the public of the devastating effects on everyone. Otherwise healthy seniors are suddenly moved into long-term care or assisted living facilities that deal with Alzheimer’s. They are shocked and confused and their lives are changed similar to the effects of falling off a cliff. Caregivers are at a loss as to how to address the problem. Adult children feel guilty for having to rip their parents out of their secure environment and place them amongst strangers while ending their social and day to day regimens. These family members are well-meaning, but they need more than trial and error methods to address the problem. Recently, one of our seniors, active in senior tennis, had symptoms and his family is taking him to Johns Hopkins University to seek help. An 81 year old who can shovel her own driveway and play tennis three times a week, found herself in a totally new setting. She is sad and feels betrayed by her children and would like her life back, but her family knows of the dangers that may beset her while she is living alone.
Falling in the snow, a burning pot on the stove, missing important medications, forgetting to eat, and a host of other problems associated with living independently are eliminated by sending the confused and forgetful senior to a "facility".
That is my own experience with friends, families and loved ones and it continues to motivate my interest in the subject. One of our friends began making out checks for services she had already paid for and would ask numerous times if she had paid her restaurant bill. She, noticeably, was losing weight because she couldn’t recall the last time she ate. We did notice that she had two open containers of peanut butter on her kitchen table. And that may be part of the reason she is declining in her ability to function mentally. Cholesterol may contribute to the formation of amyloid plaque in the brain, which is one of the hallmarks of Alzheimer’s. The tastebuds may lie to the brain when it comes to proper nutrition.
Eating a Mediterranean diet and watching your carbs might lower your risk of Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. The old adage "you are what you eat" takes on a new meaning according to several new studies. For example a recent study in the Archives of Neurology concluded that sticking to a Mediterranean diet rich in vegetables, fish, and moderate amounts of red wine might reduce the risk of AD. Another Archives of Neurology study linked higher blood levels of docosahexaeonic acid (DHA, an omega-3 fatty acid found in fish) to a possible reduced risk of dementia. In addition, a study headed by Giulio Maria Pasinetti, MD, PhD, professor of psychiatry and neuroscience and director of the Neuroinflammation Research Laboratory at Mount Sinai, was the first to show that restricting caloric intake—specifically carbohydrates—may prevent AD in mouse models of the disease.
Yesterday (March 31, 2007) news released indicated an oral vaccination for Alzheimer’s in a mouse test showed some positive results. Unfortunately, there is no food, diet or supplement proven to halt or treat dementia. But researchers are zeroing in on how dietary factors may help. "Mount Sinai is currently taking part in a national study of DHA, for example, to determine if it can slow AD progression."
A Mediterranean diet is rich in vegetables that contain polyphenols (chemicals that may protect cells against reactive substances that can damage tissues). It also contains certain kinds of fats, including those found in fish, which may protect the neurons in response to injury in the brain. "One thing is becoming very clear—brain cells appear to be much more sensitive to what we actually do and what we eat than was previously known."
Since October 2003, when I began my quest for a "lifestyle change," I have seen a change in direction amongst researchers, universities of medicine and even medical doctors in the way they look at possible treatment of serious illnesses plaguing our society. We have done the hard things in space and technology and now it is time to address the "war on disease." Whether you are rich or poor, healthy or ill, we all have friends and family who need our help. I am not seeking fame or fortune, but I do try to ignite a flame in the hearts of people to address the enemies of good health by starting with the person in the mirror.
posted by Stan Kent at
11:40 AM
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