Avoiding Alzheimer's Disease

The highest risk factor for Alzheimer's disease is age. Risk increases as people grow older. About 1% of people who are over 60 years of age can have Alzheimer's disease, but cases will double every five years at the age between 65 and 85. If under the assumption that the age onset can be deferred for 5 years, the number of cases will be halved. This is the basis for lowering the risk of having the disease in order to attain the goal of a hypothetical "Alzheimer free" society.

Over the years many epidemiological, brain perfusion studies and animal experiments have shown that highly educated have a lesser chance to have Alzheimer's disease. In fact, education and busy use of brain cannot change the brain structure, but may strengthen the brain to prevent brain degeneration. Even if Alzheimer's disease is contracted, the symptoms of dementia will not occur right away.

The most effective approaches to keep the brain active are reading, playing card games, doing cross word puzzles and visiting friends and relatives. Watching TV, listening to the radio, and other recreational activities are also good choices. Continue learning after retirement is the best defense for elders against the disease, whether it is continued education, on-line learning, development of new interests or participation in community activities.

Exercise is the real deal in keeping young. Experiments on animals showed that aerobic exercise can increase brain capillaries and nerve cells and reduce brain amyloid levels. Exercise can also prevent chronic diseases such as blood pressure, high cholesterol, cardiovascular disease, colorectal cancer, osteoporosis, diabetes, obesity, depression, etc.

Scientists have long noted that by cutting down food intake in rats by 30%, they not only live 30% longer, their spatial memory is larger with stronger learning ability. Survey also found that the diet containing more unsaturated fatty acids of fish or low-fat can lower the chance of Alzheimer's disease. According to a Columbia University study in 2006, tracking 2,258 residents age 77 in average, those who were on Mediterranean diet (i.e., more fruits, vegetables, beans, grains, olive oil, fish, wine, a small amount of meat and poultry) have a lower chance (40% less) for Alzheimer's disease than those who were not. The importance of low calorie diet is so obvious.

Therefore everyone, young or old, should develop learning habits, keep in touch with friends, and participate more in recreational activities. Try to walk at least 40 minutes a day. Stay light on diet with more emphasis on fruits and vegetables. You can cut down the chance of getting the Alzheimer's disease. You will be healthy and have a more pleasant life.

Eating curry once or twice a week could help prevent the onset of Alzheimer's disease and dementia

New research shows that eating curry once or twice a week could help prevent the onset of Alzheimer's disease and dementia. The key reason is curcumin, a component of the spice turmeric.

Curcumin prevents the spread of amyloid protein plaques, which are thought to cause dementia. Amyloid plaques, along with tangles of nerve fibres, contribute to the degradation of the wiring in brain cells.

There is evidence that people who eat a curry meal two or three times a week have a lower risk of dementia. Researchers are currently testing the impact of higher doses, such as the equivalent of going on a curry spree for a week, to see if they can maximise the effect.

Simple Steps Boost Brain Function: Reduce Alzheimer's Risk

One of the most unsettling realities associated with growing older is
the loss of mental sharpness. It's bad enough that you have to wear
reading glasses, but constantly forgetting where you left them is even
worse.

With age, everyone has occasional lapses in memory. It's not uncommon to
misplace your glasses and car keys, or to forget the names of people you
rarely see.

Forgetting the names of family members and familiar objects, on the
other hand, isn't a normal part of aging. In some cases, increasing
forgetfulness may be an indication of Alzheimer's disease, a
debilitating condition that can rob people of the ability to remember,
reason and learn.

Alzheimer's disease doesn't occur overnight.. It is typically preceded
by mild cognitive impairment -- a stage between normal age-related
changes and dementia that is marked by minor memory loss and bouts of
confusion.

While prescription drugs are available to treat the symptoms of
Alzheimer's, these medications don't address the underlying causes of
the disease. The good news is that by making a few changes in your diet,
you may be able to delay or even prevent the onset of mild cognitive
impairment and Alzheimer's disease.

The results of a recent study published in Archives of Neurology suggest
that following the Mediterranean diet can significantly reduce the risk
of cognitive impairment. The Mediterranean diet includes high intakes of
fish, vegetables and unsaturated fatty acids, along with moderate
alcohol consumption and low intakes of dairy products, meat and
saturated fats.

In a study conducted at Columbia University Medical Center in New York,
researchers analyzed the eating habits and brain function of nearly
1,400 older adults. Over a four-year period, individuals with normal
brain function who followed the Mediterranean diet were found to have a
28 percent lower risk of developing mild cognitive impairment compared
to those consuming a typical American diet.

Among individuals with mild cognitive impairment at the beginning of the
study, those who adhered to the Mediterranean diet had a 48 percent
lower risk of developing Alzheimer's disease compared to those whose
diets were less wholesome.

If you're not ready to completely overhaul your diet, making a few
simple changes in your eating habits can have a big impact on brain
health and performance. Including more fish in your diet is an excellent
place to start.

Weekly consumption of fish has been shown to slow the rate of cognitive
decline and reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease among older adults.
If you're not a fan of finned foods, regular consumption of fish-oil
capsules appears to provide similar benefits.

Eating curried foods can boost brainpower and reduce the risk of
dementia, thanks to a chemical compound in turmeric, the spice used to
flavor curry powders.

In a study of more than a thousand elderly Asian adults, researchers in
Singapore found that individuals who ate curried foods often or even
occasionally scored significantly higher on tests of cognitive function
than those who rarely or never ate the spice. In India, where curry
consumption is commonplace, the prevalence of Alzheimer's disease is
among the lowest in the world.

Regular consumption of dark chocolate, wine and tea has been shown to
enhance brain performance. In a study of more than 2,000 older adults,
researchers from Oxford University in England found that those who
habitually consumed chocolate, wine or tea scored significantly higher
on tests of cognitive performance than those who did not.

Italian researchers recently reported that older adults with mild
cognitive impairment who drank one glass of wine daily developed
dementia at an 85 percent slower rate compared to those who never
imbibed. In addition to drinking wine, moderate coffee consumption
appears to offer a number of important perks for the brain.

Researchers at the University of North Dakota reported that a daily jolt
of java can enhance brain function and help protect against Alzheimer's
disease.. Compared to women who didn't drink coffee, female coffee
drinkers were nearly 70 percent less likely to have memory decline at
age 80 or older.

If you don't enjoy wine, tea or coffee, pomegranate juice may be the
ideal brain-boosting beverage for you. Scientists at Loma Linda
University in California found that drinking a glass of the juice each
day helps slow the development and progression of Alzheimer's disease.

Mild cognitive impairment with aging isn't inevitable, and Alzheimer's
disease may be entirely preventable. Making a few simple changes in your
diet can help keep your brain healthy and your mind sharp for years to
come.

Alzheimer's Drugs Could Be Deadly to Elderly

Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia and causes symptoms including aggression, delusions and hallucinations.

According to a new study, anti-psychotic drugs commonly used to treat Alzheimer's disease may lead to an increase in a patient's chance of dying within a few years.
Therefore for the vast majority of Alzheimer's patients, taking these drugs is probably not a worthwhile risk. The research was published in Lancet Neurology, a medical journal.

Previous studies have shown anti-psychotic drugs, which can help control the aggression and hallucinations for a few months raise the risk of death in older patients with dementia. There are also other side effects, including respiratory problems and stroke.

In the United Kingdom and the United States, guidelines advise doctors to use anti-psychotic drugs cautiously and temporarily. But in many nursing homes in Europe and North America, up to 60 percent of patients with dementia are routinely given the drugs for one to two years.

However, experts are still not sure how the anti-psychotics increase patients' risk of dying. But they think the drugs could be damaging to the brain and their sedative effects make patients less able to exercise and more susceptible to deadly infections.

Family History May Add to Alzheimer's Puzzle

The gene most often associated with Alzheimer's disease doesn't provide a complete picture of overall risk, according to researchers who analyzed family histories of the disease.

Previous research has shown that people with the E4 variant of the APOE gene have a greater risk of developing Alzheimer's, but this new Duke University Medical Center-led study is one of only a few to examine the role of both APOE and family history together.

"We've learned that APOE genotype does not tell the whole genetic story. Other genes may be acting independently of APOE to influence someone's risk for developing the disease," lead investigator Kathleen A. Welsh-Bohmer, director of Duke's Bryan Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, said in a Duke news release.

The study included more than 5,000 people in Cache County, Utah, who were 65 and older when they were enrolled in the study in 1995. About 3,000 of the participants who provided DNA and details about their family history of Alzheimer's were grouped according to the family history of the disease and whether they had the APOE E4 variant.

"Over an average of seven and a half years of observation, the people who experienced the most significant cognitive decline had a family history of the disease and one or more copies of APOE E4," Kathleen M. Hayden, an assistant professor of geriatric psychiatry, said in the Duke news release.

"For this reason, researchers should focus not only on people at risk because of the APOE gene, but also those who have a family history of Alzheimer's disease. Conversely, studying those who survive to late old age without disease is important to discover genes that may offer protection against the disease."

The study was expected to be presented Tuesday at the Alzheimer's Association's International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease, in Chicago.

"These data provide further evidence that we must explore other genetic avenues to learn more about who is at risk for cognitive decline and dementia," Welsh-Bohmer said.

Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease

Four medications, tacrine (Cognex), donepezil (Aricept), rivastigmine tartrate (Exelon) and galantamine (Razadyne, formerly known as Reminyl), may slow the intellectual decline in some people with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease. These drugs (called cholinesterase inhibitors) increase the brain's levels of acetylcholine, which helps to restore communication between brain cells. Another medication, memantine (Namenda), has been shown to stabilize memory in people with moderate to severe Alzheimer's disease. It is the first in a new class of medications called NMDA receptor antagonists.

Other strategies used to help people with Alzheimer's include psychotherapy techniques (reality orientation and memory retraining) and medications to relieve depression and calm agitated behavior.

As much as possible, you should follow a regular exercise routine, maintain normal social contacts with family and friends and continue intellectual activities. In addition to regularly scheduled doctor visits, patients and their families should take advantage of community resources and support groups. Discuss any safety concerns, especially driving, with the doctor.

Although several nonprescription products claim to improve mental function, the scientific evidence to support this claim is weak. Check with your doctor before taking any nonprescription medication, especially if you are taking a prescription medication for heart problems, diabetes, high blood pressure or mental illness or if you have problems with your heart or liver.

Ten warning signs of Alzheimer's disease

The following list of warning signs was developed by the Alzheimer's Association. It includes common symptoms of Alzheimer's disease. Individuals who show several of these symptoms should seek medical advice for a complete evaluation.
1) Memory loss
2) Difficulty performing familiar tasks
3) Problems with language
4) Disorientation to time and place
5) Poor or decreased judgment
6) Problems with abstract thinking
7) Misplacing things
8) Changes in mood or behavior
9) Changes in personality
10) Loss of initiative