Dementia......... Any Preventive Measures ?

[skippybangkok]

Gandma basically died of Dementia. Uncle of Alzheimer.

Had my 72 yr old mother for holidays, and although doing well, its clear she is becoming more forgetful. i.e. i re-set all of her passwords for all services she uses to the same password ( facebook (believe it or not ), skype, and a few others), and now she is off asking my sis in Oz same questions about passwords again.

Generally on mother side( not father ) there is clearly some genetical traits which i would prefer to avoid if i can ( i met a 82 year old guy last week who is running a big business in Taiwan, and has increase sales 3x in the last year !!! talk about being still sharp ).

Anyway, i have taken Lecitin for years ( not sure if helps ), but wondering if anyone has any insights on how to slow or prevent such things.

[NancyL]

I'm not a medical professional, but I have an interest in this subject and have read about it extensively. Someone may come along to fill you in on the latest studies where they're trying to look for genetic markers and doing drug trials.

However, my big "take away" from my reading is that all the things that contribute to good heart health can also go a long way in preventing dementia, i.e. keeping your weight, blood sugar and cholestrol under control, eating lots of fruits and veggies, exercising regularly, alcohol in moderation and keeping your mind active by learning new things and having new experiences. For me, my continuing efforts to learn the Thai language are exercise for my mind.

I think that unless you address the "basics", no special dietary supplement is going to be of much value.

[Sheryl]

I'm in the same boat, my father died of Alzheimers and everytime I have a "senior moment" I mildly panic. So i follow the research very closely.

Everything Nancy said re diet and exercise is correct. Plus, there is some evidence that low levels of B12 (as can occur in older people) is a risk factor and that niacin supplementation may be helpful. Personally I am taking a high potency B complex that includes 60 mg niacin. I also take separately sublingual b12 but that is because I am a vegetarian,. might not be necessary otherwise but it would be good to check your B12 levels (a simple blood test can do this).

BTW your Mother should see a neurologist specializing in AD for evaluation. There are drugs (Aricept etc) that slow the progression of the disease and they work best if started early. there is also a new nutriceutical" product called Axona which improves cognitive functioning in AD, a similar benefit may be obtained by taking cocount oil daily but this has not been scientifically studied. . Note that this is not a preventive -- it just helps reduce symptoms once AD is present. this is because in AD the brain's ability to metabolism glucose is reduced, and coconut oil (and the medication Axona0 contain a type of fat that convertys to ketones in the boidy which the brain is able to utilize as an alternatiove to glucose). See http://alzheimersweekly.com/content/axona-mct-coconut-oil-differences-benefits

[beammeup]

I'm in the same boat. be carfull about the B12. Cancer loves and thrives on B12. My old man had dimentia and B12 defincientcy (dimentia possibly caused by the B12 deficientcy). I think they call it pernicias anemia, they started giving him B12 shots in the ass once a month. he almost imediately developed cancer and died 8 years later of cancer. I'm a pescaterian, a serving of oysters once a year will probably give you all the B12 you need. It stores for up to 10 years.

[Sheryl]

There is no definitive evidence that B12 supplements increase the risk of cancer. various studies have foun d different thin gs and often not been duplicated.

See this libnk fior a complete review of what is and is not known:

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/vitamin-B12/NS_patient-vitaminb12/DSECTION=evidence

[Rumpole]

A couple of studies I saw suggested that tumeric may reduce the odds of getting Alzheimers, based on the supposition that it is a key-ingredient in Indian cooking, and India has one of the lowest Alzheimers rates in the world. I wouldn't go overboard on the korma or vindaloo though, as India also has one of the highest rates of congestive heart failure in the world! (Probably something to do with all the ghee they use).

As tumeric is relatively tasteless, I sprinkle it in other things, when I remember (), such as noodles, scrambled eggs and pasta sauces etc and sometimes drink it in hot water, with lemon and a bit of honey. Doubtless the medical establishment will come out with a report next month stating that it is useless in helping to prevent dementia anyway and also causes cancer.

Edited October 17, 2012 by Rumpole

[Tolley]

I thought there is some linkage to omega threes. Based on that i would consider supplementing with fish oil or krill.

[tfc]

There have been studies that show that walking reduces the risk of dementia:

http://walking.about.com/od/mindandspirit/a/dementia092404.htm

The some more recent studies that show that slower walkers may have a higher chance of dementia:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-17028712

I don't think they are so sure why yet. I was kicking around the idea that perhaps faster walking requires more coordination in body and brain, something like exercising a muscle which keeps it strong and flexible - keep in mind that I'm not in the sciences, just a regular guy thinking about things so take what I say with the usual grains of salt.

In any case I'd extend that perhaps fast walking is a good way of reducing onset of dementia.

[JSixpack]

India also has one of the highest rates of congestive heart failure in the world! (Probably something to do with all the ghee they use).

Probably has something to do with the sugar and flour.

Tumeric, though, might be helpful. I do have curry often anyway.

[bkkbudddy]

Aloha,

Choline inositol, 1,000 mg twice a day with food!

[skippybangkok]

Aloha,

Choline inositol, 1,000 mg twice a day with food!

Aloha too.

Thanks

[Screws]

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2626915/

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2010-08/nyu-nef080310.php

Floss, then brush after each meal. Soft brush & fluoride paste.

Or if your Mum cannot, get the carer to do it. Or use floss picks, those plastic toothpicks with the bow with the floss inside. Easier for '3rd partys' to use.

At least floss & brush after evening meal, if not each meal.

Edited October 21, 2012 by Screws

[JSixpack]

A

recent study found that seniors over the age of 70 who ate high-carb diets had four times the risk of Alzheimer’s disease as seniors who ate more fat and protein.

Mild cognitive impairment, actually.

Read more:

http://www.marksdail.../#ixzz29ze9NIPs

Edited October 22, 2012 by JSixpack

[tropo]

India also has one of the highest rates of congestive heart failure in the world! (Probably something to do with all the ghee they use).

Probably has something to do with the sugar and flour.

Tumeric, though, might be helpful. I do have curry often anyway.

It could also be a general lack of essential vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals in a very poor overcrowded country.

[tropo]

There's evidence that people who drink coffee on a regular basis are up to 80% less likely to develop Parkinson's disease.

[Sheryl]

These are all just correlations. Correlation is NOT the same as causation, Also, many of these studies fail to be successfully replicated. To my reading (and given my persobal stake in this, I read a lot and very carefully) the best bets are B12, niacin, fish oil, exercise. A diet with more fat may help those with early AD as the brain can utilize ketones to help cpompensate for its impaired ability to metbolize glucose but that doesn't neceesraily mean it ewill prevent the condition in the first place.

The lst sure fire way to greatly reduce your risk is to die young, frankly speaking. the longert you live the greater the odds of this.

[tropo]

The lst sure fire way to greatly reduce your risk is to die young, frankly speaking. the longert you live the greater the odds of this.

It would also solve the problem of so many grumpy old men posting in the health forum. Everyone should die in their teens to prevent degenerative disease. What was the name of that recent movie where everyone died at age 25?

[tropo]

These are all just correlations. Correlation is NOT the same as causation, Also, many of these studies fail to be successfully replicated. To my reading (and given my persobal stake in this, I read a lot and very carefully) the best bets are B12, niacin, fish oil, exercise. A diet with more fat may help those with early AD as the brain can utilize ketones to help cpompensate for its impaired ability to metbolize glucose but that doesn't neceesraily mean it ewill prevent the condition in the first place.

Unfortunately we don't really have time to wait until the benefits of coffee are fully known (or not) as most of us are nearing our golden years and at high risk of developing Alzheimer's and related diseases.

B12, fish oil (essential fatty acids) and niacin are essential nutrients. Coffee is not. It makes sense that a drug (caffeine) which stimulates brain activity may have some useful benefits on brain degeneration.

[skippybangkok]

These are all just correlations. Correlation is NOT the same as causation, Also, many of these studies fail to be successfully replicated. To my reading (and given my persobal stake in this, I read a lot and very carefully) the best bets are B12, niacin, fish oil, exercise. A diet with more fat may help those with early AD as the brain can utilize ketones to help cpompensate for its impaired ability to metbolize glucose but that doesn't neceesraily mean it ewill prevent the condition in the first place.

Unfortunately we don't really have time to wait until the benefits of coffee are fully known (or not) as most of us are nearing our golden years and at high risk of developing Alzheimer's and related diseases.

B12, fish oil (essential fatty acids) and niacin are essential nutrients. Coffee is not. It makes sense that a drug (caffeine) which stimulates brain activity may have some useful benefits on brain degeneration.

Fish oil it is then..... Will get back to you in 20 years ( if it works, if not i have forgotten )