Browse Alzheimer's

New research (from the Journal of the American Medical Association 2009) suggests a link between dangerously low blood sugar and dementia in older patients with type 2 diabetes raises more questions about the strategy of aggressively treating diabetes patients to achieve tight glycaemic control. Older patients in the study whose blood sugar fell so low that they ended up in the hospital were found to have a higher risk for dementia than patients with no history of treatment for low blood sugar. Having uncontrolled diabetes is associated with an increased risk for Alzheimer's disease and

When you first hear the words Alzheimer’s and dementia it is understandable to be filled with panic, worry, anger or sadness – after all you are told that there is very little that can be done to improve these conditions. You may also wonder why it is you or your loved one who is affected?

Another recent study has shown the remarkable effects of vitamin B3 on memory loss and high doses of Vitamin B3 could have a dramatic effect on the progression of this disease. This further breakthrough (which as readers of The Alzheimer's Alternative you are already aware of!) comes from the University of California and shows the effect of this incredibly cheap supplement. Researchers believe that the supplement reduces the build up of "tangles" or phosphorylated tau in the brain that cause cell death and dementia and could also boost the general performance of the brains neurons.

In The Alzheimer's Alternative with have discussed in detail the advantages of a Mediterranean diet and how simple dietary changes can improve mental health and brain function - and this is confirmed once again by a new study. Junk food, cured meats, cheap beer and over-use of agricultural fertilisers may be linked to an increase in Alzheimer's, diabetes and Parkinson's disease, according to new research.

More and more research proves that the health of your brain is directly linked to your diet. Specific nutrients and vitamins can improve cognitive function and strengthen nerve connection. By making a few simple changes to your diet, it is possible to protect and preserve the brain and improve overall cognitive function well into the golden years. A study published in the Journal of Neuroscience in 2007 showed that omega-3 fatty acids boost the production of a protein which is known to eradicate a brain plaque associated with Alzheimer’s disease.

In a recent study, researchers evaluated the levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (better known by its simple name of vitamin D to you and me) in a group of 3,369 men between the ages of 40 and 79. They also measured the subjects' cognitive performance, based on the results of three different tests (for those that are technically minded the tests were the Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure test, the Camden Topographical Recognition Memory test, and the Digit Symbol Substitution test - for those that aren't technically minded skip that bit!).

People who have had depression are more likely to develop Alzheimer's disease than people who have never had depression, according to a study published in the April 8, 2008, issue of Neurology. The study involved 486 people age 60 to 90 who had no dementia. Of those, 134 people had experienced at least one episode of depression that prompted them to seek medical advice. The participants were followed for an average of six years. During that time 33 people developed Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia. There is no cure. AD worsens as it progresses, and eventually leads to death. Most often, AD is diagnosed in people over 65 years of age, although the less-prevalent early-onset Alzheimer’s can occur much earlier. In 2006, there were 26.6 million sufferers worldwide. AD is predicted to affect 1 in 85 people globally by 2050. The key here is that there is no cure. Medical treatments to date have been unsuccessful.

Although I personally believe that Alzheimer's is multi-factorial (i.e. there is not one sole cause that leads to its development or progression) below I have tried to link together the possible causes of Alzheimer's into categories. These are listed in no particular order as, I believe, in their own small way they are all equally responsible – but if we can understand the possible causes we can then tackle them with the appropriate therapy, medication or intervention. 1. Chemical Factors.

I would like to get your brain working better and decrease your risk of Alzheimer’s disease with very little effort on your part. To do that here are three suggestions as to drinks that can make a positive difference to your mental well being. Green tea has a unique antioxidant called EGCG that is able to convert the amyloid plaques associated with Alzheimer's disease into a less damaging molecule. By converting these plaques in such a way it is believed that green tea should help slow down (if not help prevent) the progression of the Alzheimer’s - and to have an effectr

Chromium and Cholesterol Control Chromium is needed by the body in order to handle fats and sugars correctly (which makes it ideal for stabilizing blood sugar levels in Type 2 diabetics) and several studies have linked chromium (and in particular chromium picolinate) with excellent results in not lowering LDL cholesterol and total cholesterol but also raising HDL cholesterol. These benefits are particularly noticeable in those already suffering with high cholesterol.

Ashwagandha, also known as Withania somnifera holds a place in Ayurvedic (or Indian medicine) similar to ginseng in Chinese medicine. Although its name is derived because its roots smell like a horse – “Ashwa” meaning “horse” and “Gandha” meaning “odour” - don't let this put you off as it is a very potent herb that can play many roles in Alzheimer's disease and other dementias! It is a powerful rejuvenative herb and adaptogen meaning that it can help increase endurance, whilst also helping to increase energy and strengthen the immune system.

Alzheimer’s and Autism are now considered episodic with a ten-fold increase over the past 20 years in the numbers of individuals diagnosed. Autism Spectrum Disease (ASD) is a cluster of conditions commonly known as autism, with no two children displaying identical symptoms other than delayed language development. Alzheimer’s is quite similar except that it impacts an older population, robbing many of them of their words and memories. It has become the focus of researchers

I mentioned earlier about the effects of diabetes on dementia and Alzheimer's but you don't necessarily have to have diabetes to be at risk from the effects of uncontrolled blood sugar. The brain is the largest consumer of energy in your body and almost one quarter of the fuel you make goes to “feed” it – give it the wrong fuel and it is not surprising that things start going wrong.

Do you ever get forgetful? Of course you do, it’s part of being human. However, when we are younger, perhaps in our twenties and thirties, we usually don’t take forgetfulness very seriously. When we’re young, we hardly ever think we must have Alzheimer’s Disease just because we forgot something.rn rnIf we forget something in our twenties, we’re likely to think it’s just the result of being preoccupied with something else, or the result of stress. However, as we ge

Alzhiemer’s disease is a debilitating mental disease which starts general forgetfulness which gradually takes the form of complete memory loss and breakdown of an individual’s key mental abilities. This progressive memory decline is thus characterized by a loss of mental facilities that go far beyond the sufferer’s ability to recall facts, memories and maintain normal body functions. Alzhiemer’s disease thus not only affects the life and performance of the victim but

Some readers may already be aware that lithium is a very useful treatment for certain mental illnesses. However very few of them may know that there are different types of lithium compounds available and that the prescribed type is just one of them. The lithium salts that this article will deal with are used in very small doses and their effects have been linked with slowing the progression of Parkinson's disease, senile dementia and more importantly Alzheimer's disease.

One of the major problems faced by those suffering from Alzheimer's disease or any of the dementias is the periods of loneliness, boredom and frustration. The following few articles will give you some ideas of the things that you can do to actively do – a starting point as it were to occupy the odd moment. Outdoor Activitiesrnr

Atrial fibrillation is one of the main types of cardiac arrhythmia – or abnormal heart rate or rhythm. Atrial fibrillation causes a rapid and irregular heartbeat, during which the upper two chambers of the heart that receive blood (the atria) quiver or "fibrillate" instead of beating normally. Because of this irregular beating the heart cannot pump blood away from itself efficiently and therefore blood tends to collect and pool in the heart increasing the risk of clotting.

Vitamin C – The Most Important Vitamin To Lower Cholesterol? Recent research has shown that taking plenty of vitamin C provides more protection against heart disease and cholesterol than almost any other substance. Various studies have shown that… 1. Vitamin C plays a role in the conversion of cholesterol into bile acids. If vitamin C is lacking, less cholesterol is converted leaving it instead to build up in the arteries, blood and liver. 2. Vitamin C is needed for metabolising blood fats.

Being overweight can dramatically increase the risk of all types of dementia and Alzheimer’s – almost doubling your chances of suffering either condition. And, unfortunately, the news gets even worse… Research has shown that those people that measured the greatest increase in their abdomen or stomach size were more than three times as likely to develop dementia – irrespective of whether their weight increased (they just had to have developed larger bellies)!

One of the major problems faced by those suffering from Alzheimer's disease or any of the dementias is the periods of loneliness, boredom and frustration. It is therefore important for both the sufferer and the carer that these “empty times” are as few and far between as possible. This not only gives the carer some respite (knowing that the person they are looking after is somewhat occupied) but also reduces the amount of time that the sufferer has trying to occupy himself in activities such as wandering.

As with the many theories behind the cause of Alzheimer's disease no one is certain as to why some people are more prone to the condition. Because of this there have been several key risk factors identified that may lead to it development and progression. These are again listed in no particular order as no one factor is the major cause, but all are important. 1. Agernr

With any disease or illness the earlier it is recognised or diagnosed the sooner interventions can be made to start to improve the condition and delay its progression. With that in mind I would like to list some of the important signs to look out for (whilst making a note on any normal variations you may encounter). The following list is not in any order of appearance (as signs may occur simultaneously or even come and go before becoming more permanent) it is just written in a way that can show you the progression of the condition.

Alzheimer’s stages in it will take a toll on the team or family members who look after individuals with Alzheimer’s. While the person goes thru the different Alzheimer's stages, the individual shows certain signs and symptoms which may make the patient’s care providers disappointment. Patients seemingly come to be nervous, upset, disoriented, confused, paranoid, cannot eat and, some other basic chores. The true secret to rendering therapeutic care to someone with Alzhei

"If any one faculty of our nature may be called more wonderful than the rest, I do think it is memory". Wrote Jane Austen, the popular English writer. Since memory is so vital to our identity, relationships and life in general, loss of memory can thus result in the breakdown of not only the victim but also people attached to him/her. Alzheimer's disease is one of the worst cases of mental decline and impairment of an individual's cognitive ability beyond repair and recognitio

Huperzine A is a herbal extract from the Chinese moss Huperzia Serrata. Although it has a long history of use in Traditional Chinese Medicine for reducing pain, fever and inflammation, it is also commonly used as a diuretic, antispasmodic, and hemostyptic (a compound that reduces blood flow) as well as a herb known for it's memory enhancing properties.

Do you fear that wearing spectacles for corrective vision may tend to hamper you appearance? If so, you can ponder over the idea of contact lens . It is a simple lens that is placed in the eye to correct vision. If you compare it with a spectacle it has multiple advantages. Firstly as mentioned above there is no change in your overall appearance. Next there is no chance of any moisture in the form of snow, rain, or sweat settling down. In fact, if you are looking to correct k

“My memory seems to be going” is one of the most common complaints I hear from patients these days. From losing keys, forgetting appointments, birthdays, anniversaries, where the car was parked, these little lapses in memory are fairly common. When my patients experience these memory glitches, they ask me, “Am I getting old?” My answer to them is both yes and no. While it’s true that our brains start showing signs of aging around age 40, these momentary lapses of me

Vitamin B3 (Niacin) And Cholesterol Control Vitamin B3, or niacin, is very effective in helping not only lower bad cholesterol (often more effectively than “statins” such as atorvastatin or “Lipitor”) but also, more importantly, in increasing good cholesterol – so one supplement gives you the best of both worlds! To find out more and to improve your health – read on….

Vital Vitamins for Protecting yourself from Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia rn(Part 1). The Vitamin C and E Combinationrnr

I like to give you warning signs to look for not only in the progression of Alzheimer's but also as a useful tool to look out for in other people that may be at risk – and here is another one. For people with mild signs of dementia, problems with managing money may be a clue that memory problems are developing into Alzheimer's disease, according to a new study published in the journal Neurology.

In my last article I mentioned the effects of walking. In this article I want to take that a little further and also cover some other things you can try to keep your heart in perfect condition. If you only need to fit in four 10 minute walks a day to show an improvement in heart function this makes exercising so much easier. For example you can… Use stairs instead of lifts or escalators. When you’re at home you can climb the stairs whilst waiting for your television programme to start.

Cerebrolysin is a new age mind power drug which can be effectively used for the treatment of alzhiemer’s disease. Alzhiemer’s disease is a common but serious mental illness which affects millions of people world-wide. Despite the discovery of various mind power and cognition enhancing drugs, alzhiemer’s treatment still remains a moot point.The main reason behind lack of effective alzhiemer’s disease treatment lies in the fact that nearly all the mind power drugs disco

Mental decline is one of the major causes of debilitating condition of an individual during old age. Today, Alzheimer’s disease falls under top five reasons of deaths in America and other parts of the world as well. So far no plausible cure has been found for this fatal disease. This is worst form of mental decline which finally costs not only the life of the victim but his/her family as a whole as the person tends to forget everything including himself and his family. The

For most elderly people there comes a time when some assistance in living is needed. Michigan Senior Care states that help may be needed in something as simple as having someone to do the heavier work required in maintaining a home or things such as mowing the lawn, washing windows, or moving furniture to enable cleaning. For other elderly persons however the needs may be greater and aid may be needed in even the more simple aspects of life such as dressing, bathing, or care

Unfortunately researchers have found that high cholesterol levels even as early as aged forty increase the risk of Alzheimer's disease by as much as one and a half times. Although the link between high cholesterol and Alzheimer's has been known for years what was unclear was the age at which lifestyle starts to affect dementia risk – and now it is clear the results are quite scary!

A diet rich in antioxidants could delay the onset of Alzheimer's disease or even slow down its evolution according to researchers in Spain.

Vital Vitamins For the Prevention of Alzheimer’s disease and Dementia - Part 2 Come on Choline Choline has been shown to have tremendous results with early onset Alzheimer’s disease and dementia - with no side-effects reported at all on the recommended dose. In the following paragraphs you will be able to find out all you need to know….

In an earlier article I mention the many health benefits that were to be gained from reducing the amount of carbohydrates in the typical diet. Unfortunately a lot of people worry that if they reduce the amount of carbohydrates that they eat, then very often their consumption of protein and fat increases along with the resultant worry about cholesterol.

Someone in your family has Alzheimers disease, and you have been gathering info on Alzheimers disease to try to help you make decisions about what to do next, but everything you find is so scientific and complicated. What can you tell your kids to make them understand why their grandfather or uncle does not recognize them anymore? The info on Alzheimers disease below is aimed at children and families, so read it together. Alzheimers: What Is It? Alzheimers disease is a form o

How to get rid of cold sores is a big question, but before that let’s find out what is cold sores and its symptoms. Cold sores are nothing but called fever blisters which are caused by herpes simplex virus. These sores are contagious and such skin problem mostly occurs on the skin adjacent to mouth, majority on lips, chin, nostril, finger or on the genital part of a person. Some sores which are not contagious are known as canker sores. It occurs inside the mouth and called

In Part I of Memory and Aging, I explained to you how growing older can affect your memory. I also gave you some brain-healthy things you can do to keep that incredible shoulder-top computer retrieving all its data well into your advanced years. Here in Part II, I would like to talk to you about prescription drugs, and the impact they can have on your brain function and your memory. Then we’ll talk about some natural supplements and how they can help you retain more of your

A study in the journal Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders reported that people with even moderately elevated cholesterol in their 40s have twice the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease in their 60s, 70s and 80s. This adds further proof that cholesterol is a risk factor for developing the disorder – along with other factors... High blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, smoking and high-fat diets have all been associated with increasing one's risk.

It’s been almost 22 months now since Daddy died (March 11, 2009). I wasn’t even over my grieving for my Mom who died a year before Daddy (March 21, 2008). The past 8 to 10 years were some of the roughest, and yet, some of the greatest times spent with my parents. I was chosen to be the caregiver for my parents and I am grateful. Mom and Dad moved back to Colorado in 1998, after living in Texas for 10 years. Dad was feeling like their health was deteriorating (Mom had a breas

For those of you that would enjoy a little more physical involvement (without going to extremes) in order to lower your cholesterol, you could include some gentle stretches and toning exercises into your routine. Yoga, Tai Chi and Pilates will not only improve your cholesterol levels but also clear your mind, enhance your balance and strengthen your whole body – which to me sounds like an ideal combination of mind and body working together for maximum improvement.

No set of articles can give you information on all the herbs and supplements that can help lower your cholesterol because there just wouldn't be room. Therefore below is a list of other herbs that you may want to look into a little more closely and are will cover some of the other more mainstream supplements later in individual articles...

The leaky gut syndrome has been reported to be on the rise in the recent past. The intestinal lining allows nutrients and biomolecules to get into and out of the intestines. However, in persons with the leaky gut syndrome, the intestinal walls have bigger spaces that allow larger protein molecules to get into the bloodstream causing a sequence of immunological reactions. Once this happens, the body will always get into this defensive state causing reactions every time the pro

The “Alzheimer's Alternative” is for anyone dealing with memory loss or Alzheimer's in order to preserve their highest quality of life. It shows you simple methods that will not only reduce your risk of developing these conditions but will also give you information about supplements scientifically shown to improve them.