Preventing Alzheimer's

[Midnight Lady]

A friend posted this excerpt on another forum this morning. I thought it was interesting and there might be some good advice in here - especially for those of us who are older.

--

.....from the book 100 SIMPLE THINGS YOU CAN DO TO PREVENT ALZHEIMER'S AND AGE-RELATED MEMORY LOSS by Jean Carper. Copyright © 2010 by Jean Carper.

You may think that Alzheimer's is a by-product of aging, but author Jean Carper (pictured) wants you to know that you can avoid the disease. After the former CNN medical correspondent and bestselling author discovered she was genetically at risk for Alzheimer's, Carper interviewed experts and reviewed medical research to better understand the disease and how to prevent it. She turned her research into a book full of easy-to-follow advice. Read an excerpt from her book, "100 Simple Things You Can do to Prevent Alzheimer's."

Ask Questions About Anesthesia
It's not uncommon to be in a mental fog when you come out of surgery but on occasion, doctors see cases like the sixty-five-year-old woman who, six months after hip surgery, develops memory loss and is later diagnosed with Alzheimer's. This has caused concern that anesthetics may accelerate the onset of dementia and Alzheimer's, especially in vulnerable elderly brains. Rudolph Tanzi, PhD, a renowned Alzheimer's genetics researcher at the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, has focused on the hazards of isoflurane, a widely used general anesthetic. As quoted in Forbes magazine, Tanzi explained, "We don't have enough data yet to ban isoflurane, but I'm convinced enough that I won't let my mother have it. I would advise any family or friends to stay away from isoflurane. There is a lot of speculation here, and a lot of work needs to be done, but at this point I wouldn't take a chance." Reported postsurgical cognitive problems and irreversible memory loss seem to affect mainly older people who are particularly susceptible to Alzheimer's. Talk over any concerns with your anesthesiologist and be aware of the potential problem and alert for the results of further research.

Don't Shy Away From Antibiotics
Stories of people with Alzheimer's becoming lucid after taking antibiotics are so legendary that doctors cannot disregard them. In one case, an elderly woman with Alzheimer's was near death and taken to an emergency room, where she was given an antibiotic drip for lung congestion. She had a mental revival that astounded her daughter: "She recognized us, was able to put three words together, and understood and responded to everything we said to her. She has not been this responsive in close to a year! I attribute it to the antibiotic drip." Brian J. Balin, PhD, a professor at the Center for Chronic Disorders of Aging, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, says that he often hears such stories of cognitive recovery after patients have taken antibiotics, and he's not really surprised. Balin is a leading authority behind the unorthodox theory that infections are a cause of Alzheimer's. However, antibiotics are not a permanent solution. As soon as they are stopped, the mental improvement disappears, says Balin. Do not take antibiotics specifically to ward off Alzheimer's, but be aware that antibiotics may be brain protective and not to shy away from taking them when they are warranted to fight a specific infection. Avoid excessive exposure to antibiotics that are not clearly needed to combat a particular illness.

Control Bad Cholesterol
You're in your forties. You find out your blood cholesterol is high. You probably know it could mean heart disease ahead. You may not know it also predicts Alzheimer's, according to the largest study ever done on the subject. Researchers at Kaiser Permanente's Division of Research and the University of Kuopio in Finland collected data for over four decades on nearly ten thousand men and women. Their conclusion: high total cholesterol is an early warning sign that appears three or four decades before dementia does. Thus, it's important to get cholesterol down in midlife rather than waiting until old age, when it may be too late to stop or reverse its harm to the brain. Pay attention to harmful cholesterol early in life. Get the bad type down and the good type up. That means a heart-healthy Mediterranean-type diet -- low in saturated fat and trans fats, with lots of fish, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains -- aerobic exercise, normal weight, and, if required, cholesterol-lowering drugs.

Have Your Eyes Checked
If you preserve good or excellent vision as you age, your chances of developing dementia drop by an astonishing 63 percent. And if your vision is poor, just seeing an ophthalmologist for an exam and possible treatment at least once in later life cuts your dementia odds by about the same amount -- 64 percent, according to a recent study at the University of Michigan Health System. Be aware that your eyes reflect and influence how your brain is functioning, especially as you age. Don't tolerate poor vision. It can often be corrected, dramatically cutting your risk of dementia. See an ophthalmologist for at least one examination in late life, and have yearly screenings if possible.

Surf the Internet
It's a scientific fact: doing an Internet search can stimulate aging brains even more than reading a book. So finds Gary Small, MD, director of the UCLA Center on Aging. "Internet searching," he says, "engages complicated brain activity, which may help exercise and improve brain function." Using MRI scans, Small found that activation picks up dramatically in the brains of experienced Web surfers -- mainly in regions related to decision making and complex reasoning, which are not stimulated simply by reading. Another way to stimulate your brain online is to play quick "brain games, "so look into brain-fitness-training software but check to see if there it relies on solid science before you buy.

Drink Juices Of All Kinds
It's easy to get up in the morning and have a glass of juice. It's also startling how much that simple act can slash your chances of Alzheimer's. Compelling research from the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in Nashville shows that the risk of Alzheimer's plummeted 76 percent in people who drank fruit or vegetable juice more than three times a week, compared to those who drank juice less than once a week. Fascinating research by James Joseph, PhD, at Tufts University and Robert Krikorian, PhD, at the University of Cincinnati showed that drinking Concord grape juice or commercial blueberry juice improved short-term and verbal memory in older people with early memory loss and a high risk of Alzheimer's. Make it a habit to drink a glass of juice every day. It may be smart to drink more of the deep-colored, brain-proven juices, such as grape, pomegranate, and blueberry juice, but don't forget orange and grapefruit, pineapple, mango, cherry, prune, and all the rest. They, too, are apt to have brain benefits. Be sure to drink only 100 percent fruit or vegetable juices, not "fruit drinks." Look for "no sugar added" on the label.

Don't Be Lonely
Loneliness has emerged as a prime predictor of Alzheimer's. In a Rush University study on loneliness and the risk of Alzheimer's people with the highest loneliness scores were twice as apt to develop Alzheimer's as those with the lowest. Who's most vulnerable? Not surprisingly, older people who live alone and have experienced the death of a spouse or an intimate friend. It's not easy to fix, since loneliness strikes at various ages and may be more of a personality trait than the result of circumstances. Therapy and possibly antidepressants (loneliness is tied to depression) to help stop cognitive damage, preferably before it becomes severe. Also, you should avoid social isolation; it worsens loneliness. If you know older people who are lonely, reach out to them.

Embrace Marriage
According to a large study from Sweden and Finland, being married or living with a significant other keeps Alzheimer's away. Living alone makes you much more vulnerable, especially if you're a woman. Having a partner in midlife (around age fifty) cut the risk of being cognitively impaired after age sixty-five in half. In contrast, middle-aged singles (the divorced, widows, widowers, and never-marrieds) were two to three times more apt to have dementia in late life than members of a couple. Researchers theorize that intense social interactions build "brain reserve," which increases resistance to memory loss and Alzheimer's but for the moment, why singles are so at risk is still largely a mystery. If you have a spouse or significant other, consider yourself lucky. If you don't, compensate by forming strong social ties among a large circle of friends and relatives. All socializing appears to keep brains happier and healthier and Alzheimer's at a more comfortable distance.

Take Care of Your Teeth
People with tooth and gum disease are apt to score lower on memory and cognition tests, according to a University of West Virginia School of Dentistry analysis. Researcher Richard Crout, DDS, theorizes that an infection responsible for gum disease gives off inflammatory by-products that travel to areas of the brain involved in memory loss. These inflammatory agents may be toxic to brain cells. Consequently, Crout says brushing, flossing, and generally preventing gum disease may help keep your gums and teeth healthy, and also your memory sharper. Be sure you and everyone in your family get treatment early in life to control bleeding, inflamed gums. It could help save your brain from inflammatory assaults leading to memory loss and dementia later in life, experts say.

Put Vinegar in Everything
Vinegar does not confront Alzheimer's directly but there is evidence that vinegar sinks risk factors that may lead to memory decline and dementia -- namely, high blood sugar, insulin resistance, diabetes and prediabetes, and weight gain. Studies at Arizona State University have found that vinegar can curb appetite and food intake, helping prevent weight gain and obesity. Swedish investigators agree. In one study, downing two or three tablespoons of vinegar with white bread cut expected rises in insulin and blood sugar by about 25 percent. Pour on the vinegar -- add it to salad dressings, eat it by the spoonful, even mix it into a glass of drinking water. Any type of vinegar works because it's the acidity that counts.

[Jon Silberman]

Excellent tips. What I especially like about them is how easy they are.

I've been putting off getting new glasses. After reading your post, I'm going to go in for my vision test this Friday.

[Funky Chicken]

Thank you for that.

My dad (79) is slipping rapidly and I can't help but be convinced that his many poor lifestyle choices contributed to his circumstances. Every time I read stuff like this I think "damn, dad, you are a textbook case".

I'm less sad about it than I am kinda pissed at him. Is that wrong?

[odd]

Funky Chicken,

I hear what you're saying. My dad is 82 and symptoms of Alzheimer's are increasing. I'm kinda pissed at him for not doing enough physical excercise, never having seen a dentist, and being always (and increasingly) introverted. Not sure if any significant lifestyle changes are possible this late in the game trough.

[Tonekat]

Tumeric (the spice/herb/whatever - stuff that makes certain Indian food and mustard yellow) is being shown to be helpful for not just Alzheimers, but lots of other serious conditions:

From the Whole Foods site:

The volatile oil fraction of turmeric has demonstrated significant anti-inflammatory activity in a variety of experimental models. Even more potent than its volatile oil is the yellow or orange pigment of turmeric, which is called curcumin. Curcumin is thought to be the primary pharmacological agent in turmeric. In numerous studies, curcumin's anti-inflammatory effects have been shown to be comparable to the potent drugs hydrocortisone and phenylbutazone as well as over-the-counter anti-inflammatory agents such as Motrin. Unlike the drugs, which are associated with significant toxic effects (ulcer formation, decreased white blood cell count, intestinal bleeding), curcumin produces no toxicity.

Curcumin Crosses Blood-Brain Barrier, May Help Prevent Alzheimer's Disease

Research conducted at UCLA and published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry (December 2004), which has been confirmed by further research published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry (April 2006), provides insight into the mechanisms behind curcumin's protective effects against Alzheimer's disease.
Alzheimer's disease results when a protein fragment called amyloid¦Â accumulates in brain cells, producing oxidative stress and inflammation, and forming plaques between nerve cells (neurons) in the brain that disrupt brain function.
Amyloid is a general term for protein fragments that the body produces normally. Amyloid¦Â is a protein fragment snipped from another protein called amyloid precursor protein (APP). In a healthy brain, these protein fragments are broken down and eliminated. In Alzheimer's disease, the fragments accumulate, forming hard, insoluble plaques between brain cells. The UCLA researchers first conducted test tube studies in which curcumin was shown to inhibit amyloid¦Â aggregation and to dissolve amyloid fibrils more effectively than the anti-inflammatory drugs ibuprofen and naproxen. Then, using live mice, the researchers found that curcumin crosses the blood brain barrier and binds to small amyloid- species. Once bound to curcumin, the amyloid- protein fragments can no longer clump together to form plaques. Curcumin not only binds to amyloid-Â, but also has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, supplying additional protection to brain cells.

and this:

Turmeric Boosts Amyloid Plaque Clearance in Human Alzheimer's Patients

The most active ingredient in turmeric root, bisdemethoxycurcumin, boosts the activity of the immune system in Alzheimer's patients, helping them to clear the amyloid beta plaques characteristic of the disease.
In healthy patients, immune cells called macrophages, which engulf and destroy abnormal cells and suspected pathogens, efficiently clear amyloid beta, but macrophage activity is suppressed in Alzheimer's patients. Using blood samples from Alzheimer's patients, Drs. Milan Fiala and John Cashman have shown that bisdemethoxycurcumin boosts macrophage activity to normal levels, helping to clear amyloid beta. Fiala and Cashman also observed that bisdemethoxycurcumin was more effective in promoting the clearance of amyloid beta in some patients' blood than others, hinting at a genetic element. Further study revealed the genes involved are MGAT III and Toll-like receptors, which are also responsible for a number of other key immune functions. Bisdemethoxycurcumin enhances the transcription of these genes, correcting the immune defects seen in Alzheimer's patients. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2007 Jul 31;104(31):12849-54.


So pass the mustard and curry chicken please.

[Strung Up]

Yes. Aging-related memory loss is NOT the same thing as Alzheimer's disease, the physical causes of which are still relatively poorly understood. As one expert pointed out, unlike cancer, there is not one recorded case of recovery from Alzheimer's in history.

Read up on the disease (there are plenty of good resources on its symptoms and devolution) and lose the anger, pronto.

As to the suggestions, thanks, though most of them appear to be correlative, rather than proven causative.

Originally Posted by Funky Chicken

Thank you for that.

. . .I'm less sad about it than I am kinda pissed at him. Is that wrong?

[mike walker]

Great post, Pat.

[Luke]

You forget, don't engage in helmet to helmet hits.

[Killcrop]

All I do is drink vinegar and surf the net. Looks like I should live forever.

[maccampbells]

My grandfather had surgery and was never that same afterward, we blamed the anesthesia. There was an immediate difference.

Also, marijuana has been proven to prevent the onset of azheimer's.

[Killcrop]

Originally Posted by Funky Chicken

Thank you for that.

My dad (79) is slipping rapidly and I can't help but be convinced that his many poor lifestyle choices contributed to his circumstances. Every time I read stuff like this I think "damn, dad, you are a textbook case".

I'm less sad about it than I am kinda pissed at him. Is that wrong?

Man you're not the only one. Just when you reach the age where your own retirement is looming you have to deal with a parent or 2 who are in denile, stubborn and refuse help. It can be very frustrating.

Alz is a whole nother issue. The disease that is far worse for the caregivers than the sufferers. I feel sorry for the spouse who has to care for a partner that is no longer there. That might be the single hardest thing a human could face late in life.

[drolling]

Hey thanks Midnight Lady! Great post!!

And a big thankyou to Tonekat, too!!

The new GF & my aging digestive system have ganged up, causing me to cut back on spicy foods, but your additional info's just what I needed to hear!!

I'm off to the grocery store to pick up those exotic ingredients

And I'll pass by the drugstore for some antacids on the way home

A little heartburn's a small price to pay, if I get to keep ALL my marbles a little longer..

[Midnight Lady]

Glad you found it interesting. I am ok with most of the points but my vision is a FAIL. I can't even get 20/20 with corrective lenses anymore. Maybe after surgery next year.

Tonekat, that's really interesting. I did hear a bit of that (somewhere I don't recall) that showed people in countries that use those spices have lower rates of certain diseases. Always good to know these tips!

[anoobis]

Originally Posted by Funky Chicken

Thank you for that.

My dad (79) is slipping rapidly and I can't help but be convinced that his many poor lifestyle choices contributed to his circumstances. Every time I read stuff like this I think "damn, dad, you are a textbook case".

I'm less sad about it than I am kinda pissed at him. Is that wrong?

My dad is diabetic and has onset of Alz. Although he was genetically disposed, he could have prevented it, perhaps. Pretty much ate whatever was put in front of him and then some. He still makes excuses for what he eats and does. Not wrong to be pissed off. It's a natural feeling. On the other hand, I make poor eating decisions too. I'm not in denial like him....Yet.

[Flyin' Brian]

Does wine count as vinegar??

I'm down with that!