Alzheimer's Isn't Automatic
Written By: Dr. Jan McBarren, Duke and The Doctor
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Published - Aug 10, 2011
It may seem as though Alzheimer's and dementia are unavoidable parts of seniority, but they very much are avoidable. People who are reliant on the drug industry solving any future ailment we acquire may be disheartened when they hear of popular drugs – possibly ones they are currently taking – have been proven ineffective in several clinical studies. The widely-prescribed Alzheimer's drug, Namenda, is one example
A meta-analysis of three studies on the effects of the memantine drug found that it had made no significant memory improvement, compared to placebo, in patients with mild Alzheimer's. One scientist, Dr. Lon Schneider from the University of Southern California, and colleagues noted, "Despite its frequent off-label use, evidence is lacking for a benefit of memantine in mild Alzheimer's disease, and there is meager evidence for its efficacy in moderate Alzheimer's disease," in the Archives of Neurology.
Instead of waiting until memory loss and dementia symptoms set in, there are several food sources and supplements that contain brain-boosting ingredients that we can consume now and possibly ward off Alzheimer's and memory loss altogether.
Curcumin. Dr. Milan Fiala of the University of California Los Angeles found that a specific factor in curcumin "boosted immune cells called macrophages to clear a protein called amyloid beta, which clogs the brains of Alzheimer's patients and kills brain cells."
Omega-3s. These essential fatty acids contain DHA which protects nerve cell membranes in the brain and assist in reducing high cholesterol levels which have shown to significantly increase risk for vascular dementia and other conditions like depression.
Huperzine A. This ingredient comes from the Chinese club moss Huperzia serrata. Early studies show that it acts similarly to cholinesterase inhibitors by enabling better production of the neurotransmitter, acetylcholine, in the brain. Better acetylcholine levels mean better cognitive function and improved memory.
Sources:
http://www.bri.ucla.edu/bri_weekly/news_060901.asp
http://www.reuters.com/article/2007/07/18/idUSN1637392120070718
http://www.askdrsears.com/topics/family-nutrition/dha/dha-brain-food
http://scmd.stanford.edu/riskfactors.html
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/huperzine-a/AN02022
http://healthlibrary.epnet.com/GetContent.aspx?token=e0498803-7f62-4563-8d47-5fe33da65dd4&chunkiid=21761