Alzheimer’s
disease is a progressive mental deterioration. Memory and thought processes are
weakened and disoriented. First described by Alois Alzheimer in 1906, it is a
condition of gradual deterioration of the ability to think. It is a slow,
progressive wasting of the brain. It gradually shuts off production of vital
neurotransmitters such as acetylcholine, serotonin, dopamine, GABA, noradrenalin
and glutamate.
Symptoms
Disoriented
perceptions of space and time, inability to concentrate or communicate, and
memory loss.
This produces
depression, agitation, withdrawal, insomnia, irritability, memory loss,
personality changes, severe mood swings and senility.
An intriguing
early warning sign has been discovered at the San Diego Medical Center: As much
as 2 years before mental decline, those with Alzheimer’s begin to lose their
sense of smell. The rate at which the ability to distinguish strong odors is an
indicator of how rapidly an individual will lose mental functioning. (But
smokers have already lost part of their sense smell; so the diagnostic test
does not work as well when applied to them.)
Causes
Nerve fibers,
leading into, and out of, the hippocampus in the brain become tangled and short
circuited. As a result, information is no longer carried to, and from, the
brain. New memories cannot be gained and old memories cannot be retrieved.
In addition,
plaques of a certain protein (beta-amyloid) build up in the brain, damaging
nerve cells.
There are
other disorders which produce similar symptoms: a series of minor strokes,
hypothyroidism, and advanced syphilis. Arteriosclerosis, (hardening of the
arteries) slowly reduces blood flow to the brain. Some of those with Down’s syndrome, who live to be in their 30s
or 40s, develop Alzheimer’s.
The following
suggestions deal with ways to prevent Alzheimer’s, which will also help retard
its development:
Proper
diet and nutrients to prevent Alzheimer’s disease and help retard its
development.
1.Folic acid (5
mg daily) helps control homocysteine levels (which become too high in
Alzheimer’s).
2.Adequate
intake of calcium (1,500 mg daily)
reproduces aluminum absorption. Magnesium (800 mg daily) works with calcium.
Include plenty of fiber.
3.Vitamins A and E are antioxidant vitamins which
are also important. In addition to shielding neurons from free radicals,
vitamin E (400-800 IU) also
regenerates areas on neurons where neurotransmitters enter. (Neurotransmitters are chemicals that
relay messages from one neuron to another.) Vitamin C (500-1,000 mg daily) and flaxseed oil (1 Tbsp daily) is needed.
4.Those with
Alzheimer’s have low levels of vitamin B12 and zinc (30 mg) in their
bodies. All the B complex vitamins
are important. Take thiamine (3-8 grams daily).
5.Those who
undergo a trial of intensive nutritional
therapy, especially B12 injections,
may ward off the developing problem.
6.Free radicals
are another factor. Avoid foods which contain them.
Useful and helpful
herbs to prevent and help retard the development of Alzheimer’s disease
1.Ginkgo biloba
is one of the best herbs for preserving memory. Many studies have been done on
ginkgo biloba extract. It helps delay mental deterioration in the early stages
of Alzheimer’s; but, in the later stages, it has been found to be of little
value.
2.The Chinese use Asian
ginseng (100-200 mg daily of the standardized extract), Siberian ginseng (2-3 grams daily of the dried
root or 300-400 mg of solid extract), and astragalus (2-3 500 mg capsules, 3
times a day) for maintaining memory functions.
3.St. John’s wort helps calm people who anger
easily, which sometimes occurs in later stages of Alzheimer’s.
4.Rosemary not only contains several compounds which attack
free radicals, but also some which prevent the breakdown of acetylcholine (This
chemical is a neurotransmitter important for memory in the brain.). Rosemary
has, for a long time, been used as a “memory enhancing” herb.
5.The Chinese herb, club moss, contains huperzine A,
which blocks the breakdown of acetylcholine.
6.Horsebalm (Monarda,
various species) contains carvacrol,
which helps keep acetylcholine in the brain. In addition to swallowing it, some
recommend rubbing it on the scalp.
7.Choline, a B vitamin, is one of several important
building blocks for acetylcholine. The richest sources of choline are
blackstrap molasses and lecithin.
Levels of choline and ethanolamine are lower in those with Alzheimer’s.
Other helpful suggestions to prevent
Alzheimer’s disease.
1.Other causes include heavy metals in the body. One in particular stands out: When you hear
the words, ”Alzheimer’s disease,” think of it as “aluminum disease”; for this
is what it often is. Autopsies on persons who died with Alzheimer’s reveal
accumulations of up to 10 times the normal amount of aluminum in the nerve
cells of the brain (up to 50 times in certain parts). Significantly, especially
high concentrations are in, and around, the hippocampus. Rats given aluminum
develop identical symptoms to Alzheimer’s.
2.Do not use aluminum
cookware! Use stainless steel or glass. Do not use aluminum foil on food. Do not take buffered aspirin and certain antacids; both are extremely high in
aluminum! Drink distilled water
instead of tap water (which may contain aluminum).
3.But those with Alzheimer’s also have levels of mercury in
their brain. Beware of amalgam dental fillings. Mercury from the fillings gradually
passes into the body and, over a period of time, accumulates in the brain.
4.Zinc may be another problem mineral. Recent lab research
indicates that zinc, alone of 26 metals tested, made human proteins clump
together and form amyloid, the destructive substance that builds up in the
brains of Alzheimer’s patients.
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