What should be done to help those infected with AD or to increase public awareness?
I would appreciate your thoughts.
Alzheimer's Disease. A very important factor in the treatment of Alzheimer's is keeping active - both physically and mentally.
Walking, tai chi, swimming, reading, playing games and socializing with others are all excellent ways to keep active.
In China, old people who are surrounded by a loving family and have grandchildren around have better mental function than those who live alone. We are not saying that you have to live in a crowded house with an extended family to be healthy, but do recommend having a hobby and keeping some excitement in your life.
Although a relationship between a stressful lifestyle, a low level of education and a lack of stimulation has been raised through some studies, experts say such links are not yet definitive but deserving of further study. Despite the unproven associations, what harm could fostering a healthier, less stressful lifestyle be?
Moderate alcohol consumption may reduce the risk. One study found that those drinking under one or two drinks per day had a roughly 50% lower risk of developing the disease, while people drinking more than one or two drinks had a 30% lower risk than non-drinkers. Although a protective effect may be had by consuming alcohol, the advice to drink is still premature. Some people are consuming a modest level of alcohol each day as a preventative measure against heart disease and this study appears to confirm that benefit.
Tacrine is a synthetic drug that has been used successfully with Alzheimer's patients. Studies indicate that Alzheimer's patients have a deficiency of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine (ACh) in particular areas of the brain. Tacrine works by blocking the enzyme that breaks down ACh, which means that more ACh is available in the brain.
Chinese Medicine - According to Chinese medicine theory, the kidney is the internal organ system that is responsible for reproduction, growth and aging over time. The kidneys also control the bones, the bone marrow (which includes the brain and spinal cord), the head hair and the ears. The Western idea of genetic inheritance is very compatible with the Chinese concept of identifying the Kidneys with reproduction and inherited constitution.
Furthermore, the traditional kidney-related signs of aging, such as gray hair, loss of memory and hearing difficulties are also compatible with what Western medicine recognizes as age-related adrenal gland slowdown or dysfunction. Both Eastern and Western medicine recognize that stress can affect the adrenal glands and accelerate the aging process.
Because signs of aging, including symptoms of Alzheimer's, are related to loss of Kidney energy over time, part of the treatment for Alzheimer's is taking Kidney tonics. There are many foods and herbs that are valued by the Chinese as Kidney energy tonifiers.
Some good Kidney foods are black sesame seeds, kelp, shiitake and black ear mushrooms. In general, black and/or salty-tasting foods act on Kidney energy. Some herbs that benefit the kidneys are He Shou Wu, rehmannia root and ginseng.
During the last 20 to 30 years, Asian scientists have been systematically analyzing the herbs used in traditional Chinese medicine. The traditional uses of herbs are often completely validated by scientific research. Unfortunately, much of this research and information is not available in the U.S. because it is only printed in Chinese or Japanese journals. Western pharmaceutical companies tend to focus on developing synthetic drugs that can be patented, rather than researching existing plant material.
There are several Chinese herbs that have a positive effect on Alzheimer's symptoms, including the well-known ginseng (Panax ginseng) and ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba).
Ginsenosides from ginseng can increase production of ACh in the brain. Ginseng has been used for centuries in China as a warming, yang-stimulating herb that improves mental function. Huperzine A, derived from Hyperzia serrata root, works in a similar manner to the synthetic drug Tancrine.
Patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's-type dementia have shown statistically significant improvement with Ginkgo use. One effect of Ginkgo extract is that of promoting vasodilation and blood flow, thus providing a therapeutic effect on cognitive disorders and high blood pressure. In Germany, doctors are enthusiastic about the benefits of ginkgo. A combination of ginkgo and ginseng called Gincosan is claimed to produce very good results in elderly patients.
Aside from Gingko, two other herbs, Yi Ye Chau (Securinega suffruticosa) and Fan Hong Hua (Crocus sativa), have been proven to have positive effects on the central nervous system.
Keep your weight down, and keep simple sugars and refined carbohydrates to a minimum. Researchers have found that diabetes mellitus (for which these are risk factors) nearly doubles the risk of developing both vascular dementia and Alzheimer's disease.
Alzheimer's Disease has been linked to a number of risk factors, including exposure to aluminum. Now from France comes a report that drinking water with high aluminum concentrations may indeed increase the risk of developing Alzheimer's and dementia.
High sources of aluminum in the diet include: aluminum cooking utensils, aluminum-containing antacids, tap water (which may have aluminum sulfate added to remove particulate and organic matter).
Stay physically active. Patients with Alzheimer's disease have been found to have had lower levels of physical activity earlier in life. Those who exercised regularly throughout life were less likely to contract the disease than those who were inactive. Doctors caution that exercise does not guarantee immunity.
The popular image of this sex hormone is primarily as a muscle-building machismo-inducing substance that "pumps men up", yet clinical research is uncovering important roles for testosterone in many other diverse areas of health and physiology, including the brain. New evidence suggests that testosterone may enhance memory function and protect against the development of Alzheimer's disease.
Maintain adequate zinc status: Reduced levels of zinc are being linked to Alzheimer's disease.
There is growing evidence suggesting that low blood folate levels can increase the risk of getting Alzheimer's. Low folate levels can trigger a build-up of the amino acid homocysteine, which has been linked to higher risk of Alzheimer's and accelerated atrophy of the medial temporal lobe in Alzheimer's patients.
Both vitamin E and vitamin C supplements reduced the incidence of Alzheimer鈥檚 disease in a study.A reasonable protective benefit could be expected with 400 IU of vitamin E or 500mg or more of vitamin C. |
