Natural Help for Alzheimer's

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 association area of 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 for Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's statistics : More than 5 million people in the US have Alzheimer's disease. Recent US census figures suggest that by 2050, the number of people with Alzheimer's disease will triple. Americans are living longer, healthier lives and only the mortality rate from Alzheimer's disease is increasing among the top 10 causes of death, the U.S. federal government reported on Wednesday. Alzheimer's disease moved to seventh place from eighth place among the leading causes of death in 2004, passing influenza and pneumonia.

Though there have been no proven cures for Alzheimer's thus far, many current studies are showing great promise and there are certainly many natural substances which can help prevent or delay the onset of Alzheimer's and retard it's progression.

Among the more promising studies:

• In a rodent study conducted last year at the University of California, Irvine, mice with the rodent equivalent of Azlheimer's were given high doses of Niacinamide (Vitamin B3) and it was 100% effective at restoring cognitive function. A current human study is underway.

• Supplements of oligomeric proanthocyanidins (OPCs) improved memory in animals with age-related cognitive decline, says a new study from Japan and Korea. Animals engineered to model the decline in cognitive function and memory that occurs naturally in humans had improved spatial and object recognition when supplemented with OPCs for five weeks, according to findings published in the British Journal of Nutrition. Proanthocyanidins can be found in many plants, most notably apples, pine bark, cinnamon, cocoa, grape seed, grape skin (procyanidins and prodelphinidins), and red wines of Vitis vinifera (the common grape), bilberry, cranberry, black currant, green tea, black tea, and other plants. The berries of chokeberry, specifically black chokeberry, have the highest measured concentrations of proanthocyanidin found in any plant to date.

• Another recent study indicated that a compound in extra virgin olive oil could deter proteins from disrupting nerve cell function that causes the debilitating effects of Alzheimer's disease.

• Researchers at the University of California, San Diego, have provided ground-breaking proof that a natural protein called BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor) can prevent and even reverse Alzheimer’s. The study was carried out in a variety of animal models including mice, rats, and monkeys. The researchers reported that “In each case, when compared with control groups not treated with BDNF, the treated animals demonstrated significant improvement in the performance of a variety of learning and memory tests. Notably, the brains of the treated animals also exhibited restored BDNF gene expression, enhanced cell size, improved cell signaling, and activation of function in neurons that would otherwise have degenerated, compared to untreated animals. These benefits extended to the degenerating hippocampus where short-term memory is processed, one of the first regions of the brain to suffer damage in Alzheimer’s disease.”

• Research has shown that a compound in curry not only prevents changes in the brain that lead to Alzheimer's disease, it actually reverses some of the damage already present. In India, where curry consumption is high, people over the age of 65 living in certain rural areas of India have a less than 1 percent (0.84%) chance of developing the disease. In the larger cities and rural areas of India, the risk is just 2.4 percent.  Compare these findings to people over the age of 65 living in the United States, whose chances of developing Alzheimer's disease range from a little under 5 percent to an astonishing 17 percent.

Other natural items which may help:

• Exposure to sunlight in the morning and sleep pattern restoration are helpful. One study shows exposure to sunlight in the morning followed by melatonin supplement use at night helps restore healthy sleeping patterns.

• Therapy with B vitamins, such as B6, folic acid, and B12 (methylcobalamin) that lower homocysteine levels. It is thought that a high homocysteine level in the brain causes neuronal damage leading to progression of Alzheimer's disease.

• Compounds in black currants have been found to slow the progression of Alzheimer's and are currently being studied in multiple Scottish studies.

• Holy Basil (a close relative of the herb basil) has long been used in the ancient system of Ayurvedic medicine practiced in India and other parts of Asia as a rejuvenation drug, to promote a youthful state of physical and mental health. Now, researchers in India in the first formal study of the herb, have found that holy basil extract was effective at actively searching for and eliminating harmful molecules and protecting against damage caused by some free radicals in key organs such as the heart, liver and brain.

• Drink more vegetable and fruit juices, particularly vegetable juices since they have less fructose. These juices have tons of beneficial antioxidants.

• Exposure to sunlight in the morning and sleep pattern restoration are helpful. One study shows exposure to sunlight in the morning followed by melatonin supplement use at night helps restore healthy sleeping patterns.

• Therapy with B vitamins, such as B6, folic acid, and B12 (methylcobalamin) that lower homocysteine levels. It is thought that a high homocysteine level in the brain causes neuronal damage leading to progression of Alzheimer's disease.

• The use of antioxidants, such as vitamin E could be helpful in reducing the severity of Alzheimer's disease. At this point I would not recommend more than 100 units per day.  If you plan to take Vitamin-E, use a form that has all the tocopherols and tocotrienols.

• Another very important antioxidant is lipoic acid, at a dose of 10 to 50 mg a few times a week. Many herbs have antioxidant potential including curcumin, acai, goji, mangosteen, etc.

• Acetyl-L-carnitine protects against amyloid-beta neurotoxicity and may be helpful in combination with medicines. The Acetyl-l-Carnitine dose should not be more than 100 to 300 mg a day a few times a week.

• Providing acetylcholine precursors, such as choline. Maximum dose 100 to 500 mg a few times a week.

• Use of ginkgo biloba should certainly be considered but research studies have provided mixed results regarding the benefits of this herbal extract.

• Use of curcumin, the yellow compound found in turmeric. Curcumin supplements are now available. Curcumin is lately getting more attention and appears to be a good preventive spice.

• Blocking the breakdown of acetylcholine with natural supplements such as huperzine.

• People who eat an average of 180 mg or more a day of DHA, a fatty acid found in fish oils, have a lower incidence of Alzheimer's disease and other types of dementia, compared with people who consume less DHA, according to epidemiologic data collected in the Framingham Heart Study. Dietary supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids may protect cognitive function in patients with mild, early stage AD.

• Improving blood flow to brain cells

• Mood improvement through nutrients and herbs

• Drinking herbal teas, including green tea

• Hormone therapies with testosterone and DHEA -- maybe. Caution is advised.

• Muira puama, a Brazilian plant used for sexual enhancement, may have acetylcholinesterase inhibiting activity.

• A high concentration of silica in drinking water seems to protect against Alzheimer's disease

• Blue Green Algae have a cholinesterase inhibitor

Sources included:

http://www.tbyil.com/anti-aging.htm
http://www.raysahelian.com/alzheimer.html