Saturday, December 29, 2007

Researchers Find Clue To Preventing Alzheimer's Disease

POSTED: 4:13 pm EST December 27, 2007
UPDATED: 4:32 pm EST December 27, 2007


Researchers may know why fish oil is helpful in preventing Alzheimer's disease.

Researchers at University of California, Los Angeles studied how a compound in fish oil, called Docosahexaenoic acid, or DHA, affects human brain cells and mice.

DHA appears to boost the production of a protein that destroys Alzheimer's-causing plaques.

DHA is found in fish oil supplements or fish like salmon.

Researchers are still trying to determine the most beneficial dose of DHA.

But, DHA may be most helpful for patients who haven't developed the disease yet.

Tuesday, December 25, 2007

Highly Promising Dutch Research Into Alzheimer's Disease and Parkinson's Disease

Highly Promising Dutch Research Into Alzheimer's Disease and Parkinson's Disease

Regular Walking Protects the Aging Brain

Elders and all interested in maintaining their brain should exercise by Susan Berg author of Adorable Photographs of Our Baby-Meaningful Mind Stimulating Activities and More for the Memory Challenged, Their Loved Ones and Involved Professionals, and long time dementia care practitioner

Sunday, December 16, 2007

Grant to move UCR Alzheimer's study from mice to men

Download story podcast



10:00 PM PST on Friday, December 14, 2007

By ELAINE REGUS
The Press-Enterprise

A $2.1 million stem cell grant will allow a UC Riverside researcher to shift the focus of his Alzheimer's disease studies from mice to men.

Douglas Ethell, an assistant professor of biomedical sciences, said Friday that, until now, his research has focused on the rodent.

A study published last year showed that injecting specific T cells, which coordinate immune responses, from healthy mice into mice with Alzheimer's resulted in improved memory and learning.
click here for the whole story

Monday, December 10, 2007

Study: Excessive Consumption of Sugary Drinks Linked Alzheimer's Disease

If you want to keep your mind sharp, you may want to lay off the soda. Excessive drinking of sugary beverages may increase the risk of Alzheimer's disease, according to a new study by the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.

For the study, Dr. Ling Li, an assistant professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and her colleagues tested whether high sugar consumption in an otherwise normal diet would affect Alzheimer’s progression.

Researchers used a genetic mouse model and over a 25-week period supplemented the regular
Click here for the whole story

Sunday, December 9, 2007

Alzheimer's-as-diabetes debate

by The Star-Ledger Business Desk Friday December 07, 2007, 8:36 AM
Scientists have been searching for the cause of Alzheimer's disease for more than 100 years, and during that time, theories about why brain cells are destroyed in the course of the illness have come and gone. One of the newer and more unorthodox theories posits that Alzheimer's may actually be a form of diabetes, BusinessWeek reports. Some experts have even taken to calling the brain disease type 3 diabetes, as distinct from the insulin-dependent (type 1) and adult-onset (type 2) varieties of the condition.

The diabetes hypothesis stems from growing evidence that cells in the brains of Alzheimer's victims are resistant to insulin; just as in diabetes, the cells don't respond appropriately to this hormone. As a result, neurons are deprived of glucose, which they need for energy. As the evidence mounts, the type 3 label is gaining currency in Alzheimer's research circles and is drawing attention from the pharmaceutical industry. Pharma companies are testing existing diabetes drugs against Alzheimer's, while startup Acumen Pharmaceuticals, in partnership with Merck (MRK), is focusing on molecules that allow insulin to reach brain cells.

SUGAR-STARVED CELLS
If the fundamental understanding of Alzheimer's disease shifts in this direction, it could have a big impact on GlaxoSmithKline's (GSK) floundering diabetes drug, Avandia. Sales have dropped dramatically in recent months over concerns that the drug raises the risk of heart attack and bone disease in diabetics. But last year, a small clinical trial yielded intriguing evidence that Avandia might slow the progress of Alzheimer's. Glaxo is now testing the drug against a placebo on 3,400 Alzheimer's patients, with results expected in 2009
click here for the whole story

Thursday, December 6, 2007

Top holiday gifts for those with dementia

Over 5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia. Buying a gift for them for the holidays is not difficult if you keep a few things in mind.

First you should know the persons likes and dislikes. Also important is knowing their strengths and weaknesses. In addition consider, when purchasing a gift for someone with dementia, keeping their mind and body active. Also think about a gift that will keep on giving long after Christmas, Chanukah, Kwanza or other celebrated holidays are gone Keep in mind, also, that gift selections should change as Alzheimer’s disease or another dementia, progress

Gifts that keep dementia persons’ mind active

All stages, most interests

A book called Adorable Photographs of Our Baby-Meaningful Mind Stimulating Activities and More for the Memory Challenged, Their Loved Ones and Involved Professionals is an ideal gift because just about everyone loves babies. This book uses baby photographs to engage those with Alzheimer’s disease or another dementia in mind stimulating activities. Also it has great tips and resources for caregivers and health care workers.

A journal
click here to read the whole story

Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Amorfix Life Sciences discovers common link between ALS and Alzheimer's Disease

TSX: AMF

TORONTO, Nov. 27 /CNW/ - Amorfix Life Sciences (TSX: AMF), a company
focused on treatments and diagnostics for brain-wasting diseases, today
announced the discovery of misfolded superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) protein in
the brains of people with Alzheimer's Disease. This breakthrough result
suggests that SOD1 is a common link between the two brain-wasting diseases,
Alzheimer's and ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease. SOD1 has a
"Jekyll-and-Hyde" nature as it normally plays an important protective role in
detoxifying free radicals in the body, but when misfolded can create lethal
oxidative free radicals.
"Amorfix previously reported results from pilot studies showing our
proprietary antibodies and vaccines targeting misfolded SOD1 showed life
extension in a mouse model of ALS. Amorfix will now investigate the use of
these same or similar agents to treat Alzheimer's disease," said Dr. Neil
Cashman, Chief Scientific Officer of Amorfix. "Evidence of free radical
toxicity has been observed in Alzheimer's disease for many years and the
discovery of the presence of misfolded SOD1 strongly suggests this toxicity is
associated with SOD1."
click here for the full story

Sunday, November 25, 2007

Getting out of the loop of Alzheimer's disease

Scientists from UCLA recently pinpointed a possible physical origin of Alzheimer's disease. The amyloid-beta protein has long been known to clump in the brain and be involved in the progression of the disease. The UCLA team identified a loop in the protein that is likely to enable amyloid-beta's adhesion process. This discovery sAlzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common cause of late-life dementia. It is estimated to affect 24 million people worldwide, and half of the people over 85 may suffer from it. This fatal disorder is characterized by a decline in the individuals' memory and in their ability to think and function independently. Current drugs treat the symptoms of Alzheimer's but not the underlying cause of the disease.

A protein called the amyloid-beta protein (A-beta) is thought to be a key cause of AD. A-beta proteins apparently stick together to form toxic deposits in the brain. Self-associations of A-beta can form various clump structures called "amyloid plaques". Recent studies suggest that these plaques have potent neurotoxic activities that may kill brain cells.

UCLA scientists, headed by David Teplow, Professor of Neurology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, have recently identified a loop in the A-beta protein that is likely to be responsible for the adhesion process. The UCLA team employed an interdisciplinary research strategy. Among other methods, they have revealed morphologic, conformational, and aggregation features of synthetic A-beta in a tube ('in vitro'), examined the effects of various A-beta assemblies on the physiology of cultured neuronal cell lines ('in vivo') and used computerized methods ('in silico') to produce models of A-beta structures and to study its conformational dynamics and assembly. The researchers thus discovered that gene mutations in A-beta increase the flexibility of the protein's loop, enabling it to join easily with loops of other A-beta proteins to form clumps. The loop is also located in the region of the protein that regulates the formation of A-beta and its amount.

uggests new ways to treat the disorder's cause, rather than just the symptoms
click here to read the full story

Thursday, November 22, 2007

Promising Blood Test for Alzheimer's

The online edition of the British journal Nature Medicine has a study of a blood test for Alzheimer's disease, developed at Stanford. The test lights up if 18 specific molecules are present in a blood sample. Using samples of stored blood, the test proved 90% accurate in identifying people who had been diagnosed with the disease by other methods. It was also 87% accurate in distinguishing samples from people who do not have Alzheimer's but exhibit some other form of dementia. The numbers of samples involved were small — SFGate's writeup has some details. The Mercury News's article says the test's developers want to begin selling it to laboratories in 2008, for which FDA approval would not be required. They hope to get FDA approval for general use by 2009.

Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Beta Carotene May Hold Dementia at Bay

Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Could a beta carotene supplement taken every other day keep your brain in good working order as you get older?

Boston researchers who followed a large group of men for about 18 years believe the answer may be yes. Their study shows men who took the supplements scored better on tests to measure cognitive functioning than men who received a placebo pill for comparison purposes.

While the differences in scores between the two groups were small, the researchers emphasize small changes can lead to a big difference in dementia risk down the road.

“Studies have established that very modest differences in cognition, especially verbal memory, predict substantial differences in eventual risk of dementia,” write the authors.
Beta carotene is thought to protect the brain by reducing oxidative stress that can lead to cognitive decline.

The researchers believe these results have important implications for public health policy and deserve further investigation. In an accompanying editorial, however, fellow investigators issue a word of caution. Specifically, they note other studies have associated high dose antioxidant use with adverse health consequences and even a greater risk of death.

Beta carotene, for example, has been linked to a increase risk of lung cancer in smokers.

This article was reported by Ivanhoe.com, which offers Medical Alerts by e-mail every day of the week. To subscribe, click on: http://www.ivanhoe.com/newsalert/.

SOURCE: Archives of Internal Medicine, 2007;167:2184-2190

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

Drug May Restore Memory With Alzheimer's Disease

Drug May Restore Memory With Alzheimer's Disease

Tuesday, November 13, 2007 9:06 AM

A 2006 study by MetLife found that adults over age 55 fear Alzheimer’s disease more than cancer, and with good reason. Alzheimer’s creeps up on patients and their families, robbing more than half of all Americans over age 85 of their memory and ability to care for themselves. But what is perhaps most frightening is that available treatments for the disease are by and large ineffective.


Research from Georgetown University several years ago suggested that a new class of anti-Alzheimer’s molecule, spirostenols, might undo some of the characteristic pathophysiology of Alzheimer-affected brains. Further testing showed that one such molecule, Caprospinol, actually reversed the course of an Alzheimer-like condition induced in rats. Today, Samaritan Pharmaceuticals (Las Vegas, NV), is gearing up for human clinical studies with this compound, also known as SP-233.


Buildup of beta-amyloid plaque in the brain has been recognized as a hallmark sign of Alzheimer’s for close to a century. Significant research points to this buildup as a causative factor in the development and progression of the disease. Until recently this hypothesis could not be tested definitively because of a lack of treatments that eliminate beta-amyloid plaques.


Samaritan Pharmaceutical scientists, working with leading researchers from Georgetown and McGill Universities, have demonstrated in a rat animal model, used to test new innovative drugs for Alzheimer’s disease, that Caprospinol clears amyloid plaque from the brain and restored memory. More impressively, treated rats perform as well or better in standardized behavioral tests than healthy control animals. In addition to eliminating plaque, Caprospinol appears to reverse the damage to memory and cognition that amyloid plaque causes.


Dr. Vassilios Papadopoulos, of McGill University Health Center, an adviser to Samaritan, and the discoverer of anti-Alzheimer’s spirostenols recently published a paper reviewing current development-stage approaches to treating Alzheimer’s disease (Recent Patents on CNS Drug Discovery, 2007, 2, 113-123). In this article, he identified amyloid plaque as a key target for therapy. The paper also summarized the research on acetylcholinesterase inhibitors as well as beta-amyloid aggregation inhibitors, of which Caprospinol is an example.


The rat studies were conducted by treating rats with a method of inducing an Alzheimer’s-like condition in test animals within four weeks. Rats treated in this fashion gradually lose cognitive skills, as well exhibiting a host of pathophysiologic brain changes indicative of Alzheimer’s. Then treatment of sick rats with Caprospinol brought about significant positive changes in brain pathology. Neuritic plaques, neurofibrillary tangles, astrogliosis, microgliosis, neuronal death, and tissue shrinking were all either reversed or markedly improved.


Why another Alzheimer’s drug?


One might ask why the world needs another Alzheimer’s disease drug. The answer lies in the relatively poor performance by existing Alzheimer’s medications.


Of the five Alzheimer’s disease drugs approved in the U.S., four (Razadyne®, Exelon®, Aricept®, and Cognex®) are inhibitors of cholinesterase, an enzyme that shuts down the activity of the neurotransmitter choline. Cholinesterase inhibitors are approved for mild to moderate Alzheimer’s. The fifth medication, Namenda®, is an antagonist of the N-methyl D-aspartate receptor which regulates glutamate, another neurotransmitter. None of these agents cure Alzheimer’s disease or significantly change the course of the disease. The best that some patients can expect is a delay in symptom progression and/or improvements in some memory and behavioral functions.


Enhancement of neurotransmitter activity is a logical approach to treating AD. However, there are problems with cholinesterase and glutamate-acting agents. The first is that they do not address the underlying pathology of Alzheimer’s, treating only the symptoms and not the disease. The second, related shortcoming is that the most responsive patients get worse. The positive benefits of drug treatment are, disappointingly, measured in weeks or at best, months. Alzheimer’s drugs also tend to be quite expensive, and organ toxicities are not uncommon.

Click here for the whole story

Wednesday, October 31, 2007

Rosemary fights aging, stroke and dementia

Published: Oct. 31, 2007 at 3:53 PM
Print story Email to a friend Font size:LA JOLLA, Calif., Oct. 31 (UPI) -- Rosemary chicken -- at least the rosemary -- may be one answer to preventing dementia and the effects of aging, says a team of U.S. and Japanese researchers.

Researchers led by Dr. Stuart Lipton of Burnham Institute in La Jolla, Calif., and Dr. Takumi Satoh of Iwate University in Japan say the herb rosemary contains an ingredient that fights off free radical damage in the brain.

The researchers say the active ingredient in rosemary, known as carnosic acid, can protect the brain from stroke and neurodegeneration due to injurious free radicals. These free radicals are believed to contribute not only to stroke and neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer’s, but also to the ill effects of normal aging on the brain, the researchers say.

"This works through a mechanism known as redox chemistry in which electrons are transferred from one molecule to another in order to activate the body’s own defense system," Lipton says in a statement.

The findings are published in The Journal of Neurochemistry and Nature Reviews Neuroscience.

Wednesday, October 24, 2007

Tooth Troubles Could Raise Dementia Risk

THURSDAY, Oct. 18 (HealthDay News) -- Tooth loss and mouth illnesses may boost the risk of dementia later in life, U.S. research shows.

A team at the University of Kentucky analyzed the dental records and annual cognitive test results of 144 participants, ages 75 to 98, in the Nun Study, an examination of aging and Alzheimer's disease among sisters of the School Sisters of Notre Dame.

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Of participants "who did not have dementia at the first examination (of annual exams over a 12-year period), those with few teeth -- zero to nine -- had an increased risk of developing dementia during the study, compared with those who had 10 or more teeth," the study authors wrote in the October issue of the Journal of the American Dental Association.

The team offered several possible reasons for this association, including periodontal disease, early-life nutritional deficiencies, and infections or chronic diseases that may result simultaneously in tooth loss and brain damage.

Further research is needed to confirm whether there is a direct link between tooth loss and increased risk of dementia, the researchers said.

"It is not clear from our findings whether the association is causal or casual," they wrote.

-- Robert Preidt
Link to this article

Friday, October 19, 2007

Imaging Alzheimer's Disease

A new 3-D brain imaging technique has given researchers a structured look at brain damage caused by Alzheimer's disease, which now affects about 4.5 million Americans.
The team of University of California Los Angeles researchers used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data from 24 patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (MCI)—or decreased mental function not caused by disease—and 25 others with mild Alzheimer’s disease. The research team found that patients with mild Alzheimer’s had 10 to 20 percent more atrophy, or damage, in cortical areas of the brain than did MCI

Wednesday, October 17, 2007

Alzheimer's program is one from the art

By Kathleen Fackelmann, USA TODAY
NEW YORK — A small group gathers at Picasso's Girl Before a Mirror in a hushed gallery at the Museum of Modern Art in Manhattan.
David Green, 84, takes one look and says, "Now there's a two-faced woman."

Tour guide Francesca Rosenberg immediately shoots back, "Are we all two-faced?" Her question draws laughter and a spontaneous "Oh, my" from Madeline Belgorod, a traditional woman who, according to her son Barry Belgorod, 54, never, ever, gives her age.

The group is off and running with a lively 10-minute discussion that veers from male
cut and paste the address below to view the rest of the story http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2007-10-16-alzheimers-art_N.html

Monday, October 15, 2007

Researchers On Verge of Blood Test For Alzheimer's Disease

An international team of scientists say they are on the verge of developing the first blood test for Alzheimer's disease which experts hope will help doctors identify patients with the memory-robbing disease in its earliest stages. Experts say the blood test identifies proteins that are unique to people with Alzheimer's and appear years before there are major symptoms. VOA's Jessica Berman reports.
Go to the web address below for the rest of the story
http://www.voanews.com/english/2007-10-14-voa26.cfm

Wednesday, October 3, 2007

Driven People May Avoid Alzheimer's

By CARLA K. JOHNSON
The Associated Press
Monday, October 1, 2007; 4:01 PM

CHICAGO -- A surprising study of elderly people suggests that those who see themselves as self-disciplined, organized achievers have a lower risk for developing Alzheimer's disease than people who are less conscientious.
click on the link below for the rest of the story
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/01/AR2007100101097.html

Alzheimer's Could Be a Third Form of Diabetes

Posted by kdawson on Tuesday October 02, @05:16AM
from the i-forget-why dept.
Atzanteol writes
"Insulin, it turns out, may be as important for the mind as it is for the body. Research in the last few years has raised the possibility that Alzheimer's memory loss could be due to a novel third form of diabetes. Scientists at Northwestern University have discovered why brain insulin signaling — crucial for memory formation — would stop working in Alzheimer's disease."

Monday, October 1, 2007

Eliminate Alzheimer's with Curry Spice

Here is a great dementia resource for caregivers and healthcare professinals,

Here is information on being the best caregiver you can be

Here are more interesting dementia activities

by Cathie

A promising breakthrough for the horrible , mind robbing disease called Alzheimers.
The really wonderful thing is that it could be something that is already in your home spice collection.

India produces nearly 100% of the world's turmeric, and consumes 90% of the total amount produced. It stands to reason that if India is unique in its low Alzheimer's Disease incidence, and it is unique in its consumption of turmeric, there may very well be a connection between consuming turmeric and preventing Alzheimer's.

In the Study that was published on July 16th in an online early edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researches from the David Geffen School of Medicine in Los Angeles and the Human BioMolecular Research Institute in San Diego looked at blood samples of Alzheimer's disease.

In this study they found that a chemical called "bisdemethoxycurcumin" boosted immune cells called macrophages to clear amyloid beta, the protein that forms the brain plaques associated with Alzheimer's disease.

The really exciting thing is "bisdemethoxycurcumin" is the active ingredient in curcuminoids, this is a natural substance that is found in turmeric root, Turmeric is a spice that is found in "Curry" powders.

In preliminary lab tests, the chemical helped rid the blood of a key ingredient in the Alzheimer's brain plaque.

One day it just might be possible to give patients high doses of blood infusions with the curry chemical that will delete brain plaque that already exists and may become a possible cure for even the advance Alzheimers disease.

Does this mean that ,If you eat a lot of this really good and tasty spice or possibly take a "curry" pill every morning that you won't have Alzheimers?

It's not totally clear yet, but the blood infusions of "bisdemethoxycurcumin" just might achieve the right blood level of the curry chemical, this is just a theory at the moment, but it does look very promising.

In the mean time, there are several things that you can do to cut your risk of Alzheimer's Disease.

Stay mentally active.

Be socially involved.

Get Physical exercise.

Eat a brain-healthy diet.

Eat dishes that contain a lot of "Curry" spices. (there were no negative side effects to consuming 2000 to 8000 mg of curry daily)


Related themes: Alzheimer's Awareness Month | Alzheimer's Disease

Friday, August 31, 2007

Honor dementia caregivers this Labor Day

How Extraordinary Americans Do Extraordinary Things

By alzheimersideas Published Aug 27, 2007Click to contact me

According to the United States government Labor Day, celebrates the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of America. Dementia caregivers certainly meet these criteria.

Because over 5 million Americans have been diagnosed with dementia, there are approximately 10 million caregivers attending to them. This is a hard job that they did not sign up for but was thrust upon them. Honor them this Labor Day for all the difficult work they do.

The first reason to honor a caregiver is for the financial burden they incur when caring for a person with dementia. First the family has consulted an Elder law attorney to get all the finances in order. Most likely the caregiver had to cut back on the hours of paid employment. Despite using all the resources out there, all expenses for the care of a dementia person will not be covered. That means go without, or pay for necessary items out of pocket.

The second reason to pay tribute to ones caring for someone with dementia is their resourcefulness. Caregivers are good at coming up with unique strategies for managing and paying for the supervision of their loved one. They may get help from attending a support group in person or online. However, they are the ones ultimately responsible for a workable plan of care.

Third is recognizing that many perform physically demanding aspects of a dementia persons' care. Many do the bathing, feeding and toileting of their family member with dementia. These tasks are difficult because many with dementia are confused and combative.

Next, these caregivers should be honored for all the time they devote to all aspects of a dementia persons' life. As just mentioned, most caregivers are responsible for the physical aspects of care. But they also must engage their loved ones in meaningful activities throughout the day and sometimes well into the night. Fortunately many take advantage of adult day care to ease the burden. Unfortunately some dementia folks refuse to participate in or have behaviors that preclude them from attending these worthwhile programs.

The fifth reason for honoring those caring for a dementia person is all the time they devote to this job. The caregiver is most likely responsible for everything from cleaning to cooking to shopping to yard work. The list seems endless. These tasks are even more difficult because while the caregiver is doing them, he must also keep the dementia person safe.

According to a report published by the national Alzheimer's Association, ten million caregivers provided 83 billion dollars worth of care in 2005.So this Labor Day while you are relaxing or celebrating the end of summer, think about those 10 million dementia caregivers and all the under appreciated hard work they do, everyday, seven days a week, sometimes 24 hours a day. If you know someone with this challenging task, call them, thank them and offer a helping hand.

Sunday, August 26, 2007

Do this, and prevent dementia

Susan Berg,author of,Adorable Photographs of Our Baby-Meaningful, Mind-Stimulating Activities... for the Memory Challenged, Loved Ones, and Professionals,explores this simple way to prevent dementia

Over 5 million people in the US now have Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia. Countless others are affected by this. Don’t you wish you could do something to prevent yourself from developing dementia? Wouldn’t you like to prevent others from getting dementia? You can.

Here is one thing you can do right now to stop the spread of this disease. Eat a healthy diet and tell others to do the same!What does this mean?A brain-healthy diet includes lots of fruits, veggies and whole grains, fish, good fats such as olive oil rather than saturated and trans fats, and lean meats -- although meat consumption should be kept to a minimum,

One such diet is the Mediterranean diet. The Mediterranean diet incorporates the basics of healthy eating, plus a splash of flavorful olive oil and perhaps a glass of good red wine, among other components characterizing the traditional cooking style of countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea.Why does this diet work?This eating pattern has been associated with a lower level of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation — a change in LDL cholesterol (the "bad" cholesterol) that makes it more likely to build up deposits in your arteries. No build up of fatty deposits in the brain’s arteries means no dementiaStudies have shown that omega-3 fatty acids, which are consumed in the Mediterranean diet, lower triglycerides and may provide an anti-inflammatory effect helping to stabilize the blood vessel lining. No inflammation of the brain’s blood vessel lining means no dementia.

Red wine has an aspirin-like effect, reducing the blood's ability to clot, and also contains antioxidants. The fruits and vegetables also contain antioxidants. The Mediterranean diet typically includes some red wine and many fruits and vegetables. Red wine is consumed only in moderation. This means no more than one 5-ounce glass of wine daily for women (or men over age 65), and no more than two 5-ounce glasses of wine daily for men under age 65. Any more than this increases the risk of health problems, including increased risk of certain types of cancer. More antioxidants for the brain and reduced clots in the brain mean no dementia.In other words, eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables.

Limit your intake of red meat. Eat fish instead(especially salmon) but not fried or laden with butter or heavy sauces. Consume healthy fats such as olive oil, nuts and canola oil (but use these in moderation because of their high calorie content). Reduce or eliminate saturated fat and trans fats (also known as hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils) from your diet. Read food labels to see what you're really buying. Follow this diet plan and significantly reduce your chance of developing dementia. Persuade others to follow this diet as well.

Make sure to consult with your doctor before starting any diet.

Sunday, August 19, 2007

Stop this, prevent dementia

Over 5.1 million people in the United States have dementia. Many of them did this in the past. This probably increased their chance of getting dementia five fold.Also this likely puts into effect a vicious cycle of artery damage, clotting, and increased risk of stroke causing mental decline, writes researcher A. Ott, MD, a medical microbiologist with Erasmus University Medical Centre in the Netherlands.

What is this you ask. It is smoking. Smoking not only increases your risk of having a stroke or heart attack or developing lung cancer or emphysema, but it also increases your risk of developing dementia.


Higher rates of mental decline are found in both men and in women whether they have a family history of dementia or Alzheimer's disease or not. Education level does not matter either.


The number of years a person smoked dramatically increases their rate of mental decline.


Therefore we have another reason to quir smoking. There is substantial evidence that chronic tobacco use is harmful to the brain and speeds up onset of Alzheimer's disease, Ott says.
Every cigarette actually does do a little bit of damage.


Decrease your risk of developing dementia and stop smoking now
For information on how to quit, visit WEB MD

Saturday, August 11, 2007

Welcome to dementia views you can use

Thank you for stopping by. In the weeks to come, I plan to share practical information about dementia prevention, delayed onset and strategies for maintaining the highest level of function for those who already have the disease. I welcome questions. I invite you to visit my website
http://www.alzheimersideas.com

Friday, August 10, 2007

How to educate yourself about dementia

Finding accurate information about dementia can be overwhelming. There are so many places to look.
Latest research shows that there may be no such thing as ‘normal age-related memory loss’. All forms of memory loss now appear to be due to a dementia. Thus it is important to educate yourself about dementia because it will affect someone you know
Of course, there are over 5 million Americans who currently have dementia. For those folks there are treatment options, but there are also simple interventions that can be used to maintain the remaining cognitive skills of those afflicted.
What if someone you know already has dementia, what are the treatment options for him/her? What else besides drugs can be used effectively?
One thing both Dr Janice Funk and Dr Paul Raia of the Massachusetts Alzheimer’s Association recommend is to keep the mind, of a dementia person, active. An excellent way to do this is to use a tool developed by Susan Berg. This tool is a book specially designed for the person with dementia, their loved ones and all involved professionals. The name of the book is Adorable Photographs of Our Baby-Meaningful, Mind-Stimulating Activities and More for the Memory Challenged, Their Loved Ones, and Involved Professionals
To order this book visit http://www.alzheimersideas.com
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