What Are The Top Ten Ways To Naturally Prevent Dementia:
It is important to address many of the underlying causes of dementia. Dementia is a multifactorial condition.
The Paleo diet is rich in essential protein, fats and the right type of carbohydrates to support brain health. It is highly anti-inflammatory and nutrient-dense. It provides the antioxidants and nutrients needed for optimal neurotransmitter function.
Research has shown that the currently popular high carbohydrate diet is evolutionarily discordant and contributes to Alzheimers disease development by altering lipid metabolism and damaging cells .
The suns UVB rays hit the skin and convert cholesterol in the skin to vitamin D. The sun is your best source of vitamin D. Vitamin D deficiencies have been liked to an increased risk of developing dementia .
Additionally, abnormal cholesterol levels have also been associated with the development of dementia and Alzheimers disease . The sun is a powerful tool for keeping brain cells happy and healthy by regulating cholesterol levels and increasing vitamin D concentrations.
Cognitive- stimulating activities such as reading a book, learning a new hobby or even doing a puzzle have been shown to prevent dementia.
Exercising your mind is beneficially similar to exercising your body. It helps to increase the strength and communication between neuron connections.
Diet And Dementia Risk
Changes in the brain can occur years before the first symptoms of Alzheimer’s appear. These early brain changes suggest a possible window of opportunity to prevent or delay dementia symptoms. Scientists are looking at many possible ways to do this, including drugs, lifestyle changes and combinations of these interventions. Unlike other risk factors for Alzheimers that we cant change, such as age and genetics, people can control lifestyle choices such as diet, exercise and cognitive training.
How could what we eat affect our brains? Its possible that eating a certain diet affects biological mechanisms, such as oxidative stress and inflammation, that underlie Alzheimers. Or perhaps diet works indirectly by affecting other Alzheimers risk factors, such as diabetes, obesity and heart disease. A new avenue of research focuses on the relationship between gut microbes tiny organisms in the digestive system and aging-related processes that lead to Alzheimers.
Why Are Social Activities Good For The Brain
Having a conversation with someone can also exercise a wide range of your mental skills, for example:
- actively listening to and communicating with the other person
- considering the meaning of what someone is trying to tell you and how they feel
- finding the right way to express what you want to say and putting words together in the right order for someone to understand
- recalling things that have happened which are relevant to what youre talking about.
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Supplements Wont Prevent Dementia But These Steps Might
Scientists still have no magic shield against Alzheimers disease and other dementias. Yet there is evidence that some strategies may help.
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By Paula Span
Donna Kaye Hill realized that her 80-year-old mother was faltering cognitively when her phone suddenly stopped working. When Ms. Hill called the phone company, they told me she hadnt paid her bill in three months.
Finding other alarming evidence of memory gaps, she took her mother, Katie, to a memory clinic. A geriatrician there diagnosed dementia and recommended two prescription drugs and a dietary supplement, a form of vitamin E.
Katie Hill dutifully took vitamin E capsules, along with a host of other medications, until she died four years later. As she declined, her daughter didnt think the vitamin, or the two prescription medications, was making much difference.
But if it doesnt hurt, if theres a chance it helps even a tiny bit, why not? she reasoned. Ms. Hill, 62, a retired public employee in Danville, Va., takes fish oil capsules daily herself, hoping theyll help ward off the disease that killed her mother.
Last month, the F.D.A. cracked down on this burgeoning market, sending warning letters or advisories to 17 companies selling about 60 supplements with names like Cogni-Flex and Mind Ignite.
Natural Alzheimers Treatment #: Nutrition
There have been extensive studies in recent decades, as well as centuries-old wisdom across the globe, that shows how many aspects of nutrition work to help those with memory impairment and dementia. Improving some symptoms of dementia may be as simple as adding a supplement to your daily vitamin regimen, but it could also involve making drastic changes to your diet like eliminating white sugar. The effectiveness of nutrition therapy varies from person to person, but its likely that you may see some benefit.
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Hearing Loss And Dementia Risk
People with hearing loss in midlife are at a higher risk of dementia. Older adults with hearing problems also have higher odds of dementia except for those who use hearing aids. socially isolating, Larson said. Social isolation and inability to engage with others in speech and listening has a detrimental effect on maintaining brain reserve.
Heres what you can do:To prevent hearing loss, Larson urged people to avoid excessive noise. Those who have hearing difficulties should seek testing and, if appropriate, use a hearing aid.
Read more about past research on the link between hearing loss and cognitive decline
Can Naturalremedies Help To Treat And Even Reverse Dementia
The answer to this question is a definite yes!! You justneed to start treating the affected person as soon as possible . But even if they are in the latter stages of the disease, you canstill help them tremendously by using natural therapies. In fact, you wontbelieve the astounding changes that will happen, even within a few short weeks.And the best part about using natural remedies for treating dementia overpharmaceutical medications is there are no harmful side effects!
All of thesenatural treatments and home remedies are safe. You have nothing to lose by trying them, solets get started with our top 10 recommendations in order of importance
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Healthy Oils Like Extra Virgin Olive Oil And Coconut Oil
Extra virgin olive oil and coconut oil are said to be beneficial towards fighting the effects of Alzheimers.
The medium-chain triglycerides present in coconut oil increase the level of ketone bodies in the blood, which work as alternative brain fuel and improve cognitive performance.
Extra-virgin olive oil contains oleo can, a phenolic compound that improves the production of key proteins and enzymes that break down amyloid plaques. Therefore, extra-virgin olive oil acts as a neuroprotective mechanism against Alzheimers disease.
While further research is required, there is strong anecdotal evidence for the benefits of both these oils incorporated into your cooking. As little as one tablespoon of coconut oil per day may help to improve cognitive functioning and memory, and
If You Live In England
Your GP may invite you to an NHS Health Check, or you can book an appointment by contacting them.
This NHS Health Check is available to anyone aged 4074 who lives in England and does not already have diabetes, heart, kidney or circulation problems. It is designed to find any early signs of these conditions and stop them getting worse. Ideally, you should have this check-up every five years.
After your health check, you can discuss any concerns with a healthcare professional and get advice on looking after your health, including reducing your risk of dementia.
If you already have any of these conditions, its still important to have regular health check-ups. However you dont need to book an NHS Health Check specifically.
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What You Should Do For Alzheimers Prevention
Even though we don’t have enough evidence that all healthy lifestyle choices prevent Alzheimer’s, we do know they can prevent other chronic problems. For example, limiting alcohol intake can help reduce the risk for certain cancers, such as breast cancer. Best advice: make as many healthy lifestyle choices as you can. “They’re all beneficial, and if they help you avoid Alzheimer’s, all the better,” says Dr. Marshall.
Know the symptoms of Alzheimer’sForgetting where you parked your car can be annoying. If it happens all the time, it can be disturbing, and you may worry that it’s a sign of a more serious condition. But don’t panic. There’s a difference between normal age-related memory slips, such as forgetting where the car keys are, and more serious signs of memory loss, such as forgetting what car keys are used for. Early symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease include frequent memory loss, confusion about locations, taking longer to accomplish normal daily tasks, trouble handling money and paying bills, loss of spontaneity, and mood and personality changes. “If you have a decline in your memory or thinking that affects your ability to perform any of your daily routines, ask your doctor for a screening to evaluate you for Alzheimer’s and related conditions,” says Dr. Gad Marshall, a Harvard Medical School assistant professor of neurology. |
Natural Alzheimers Treatment #: Non
Acupuncture is the practice of inserting thin needles into the body at specific medians to facilitate a range of health improvements, including improved cognition in dementia patients as well as immediate and long-term pain relief. This medical procedure has been used for centuries across the globe, and modern science has verified its efficiency through MRI studies. Recent clinical trials show that not only is acupuncture a safe option that improves cognitive ability, but trial participants reported improvement in other areas as well, including pain and insomnia.
Reflexology, the practice of careful foot and hand massage to alleviate pain, and gentle massage are both proven to be great ways to improve quality of life for those living with dementia, as well as improve mood. Nursing home studies show that massage improved pain and reduces distress in memory care patients.
Unfortunately, there is no miracle cure for Alzheimers disease. But natural Alzheimers treatments that slow the progression are welcome news for patients and their caregivers, and promote a healthier body and mind overall. Have you found any of these treatments to be helpful in your experience with loved ones or patients living with Alzheimers?
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Metabolic Low Thyroid Associated With Higher Risk Of Dementia
This means optimizing your hormone levels. For example: Low thyroid levels were associated with a 240 percent higher risk of dementia in women. Borderline elevated thyroid had as much as an 800 percent higher risk in men.
Every 50 percent increase in free testosterone in the bloodstream was associated with a 26 percent decrease in the risk of developing Alzheimers. In one study, men who developed Alzheimers disease had about half the free testosterone in their bloodstreams as men who did not.
Obesity And Dementia Risk
Research shows people who are obese are more likely to develop dementia later in life. Some researchers say obesity should be considered premature aging, as it is strongly linked to chronic health problems in old age.
According to Adesola Ogunniyi, an author of the report and a professor of medicine at University of Ibadan, Nigeria, obesity is a risk factor for chronic cardiovascular diseases, which damage blood vessels in the brain and reduce blood flow. This leads to a cascade of inflammation and oxidative stress an imbalance between oxygen-containing molecules and antioxidants which would eventually lead to the death of brain cells.
Heres what you can do:Ogunniyi recommended losing weight, avoiding excess calories and reducing sugary beverages along with staying active and exercising.
Read more about past research on the link between obesity in midlife, body mass index and dementia
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The Link Between Traumatic Brain Injury And Dementia Risk
Traumatic brain injury , a risk factor in midlife, is often caused by injuries sustained from automobile, sports accidents and exposure to blasts among members of the military. Severe TBI is linked to abnormal tau proteins, a biomarker of Alzheimers. People aged 50 years or older with a history of TBI are at an increased risk of dementia compared to those without TBI.
Meanwhile, falls are the leading cause of TBI among older adults. And older adults with concussion have double the risk of dementia.
Heres what you can do:To reduce risk of falls for older adults, doing balance exercises and maintaining muscle strength especially in the legs is crucial, Larson said. Lookout for items around your home which can cause a trip. And avoid walking on slick surface barefoot or with stockings.
Read more about past research on TBI and dementia among military veterans, and the different proteins involved in TBI.
Dr Zoltan P Rona Md Msc
Dr. Zoltan P. Rona is a graduate of McGill University Medical School and has a Masters Degree in Biochemistry and Clinical Nutrition from the University of Bridgeport in Connecticut .He is the author of 11 books on natural medicine three of which are Canadian bestsellers, The Joy of Health , Return to the Joy of Health , and Childhood Illness and The Allergy Connection .He is co-author with Jeanne Marie Martin of The Complete Candida Yeast Guidebook and is medical editor of the Benjamin Franklin Award-winning Encyclopedia of Natural Healing .He has had a private medical practice in Toronto for the past 42 years, has appeared on radio and TV as well as lectured extensively in Canada and the U.S. Visit his website for appointments, call 764-8700 Office: 390 Steeles Ave. W. Unit 19, Thornhill, ON
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Alzheimers Diet: 16 Foods To Fight Dementia + What To Avoid
The best Alzheimers diet is Dr. Dale Bredesens KetoFLEX 12/3 diet. This slightly-flexible ketogenic diet can lower your risk of developing Alzheimers disease or dementia, especially in the earliest stages of cognitive decline.
This revolutionary diet also encourages 12-hour fasting periods so the body has more time to repair cell damage. Make sure to not eat within 3 hours of going to bed either.
By eating foods such as green leafy vegetables, fish, nuts, and even an occasional glass of red wine, you can reduce your chances of developing Alzheimers.
Other Guidelines For Cognitive Health
Again, while there is no real way to prevent Alzheimers disease, taking care of your health starting at a younger age is always recommended. Here are some other tips that researchers in the field of dementia suggest that we all strive to maintain:
- Keep your blood pressure low ideally below 120/80 or lower
- Keep your weight in a healthy range: obesity can be a risk factor for Alzheimers disease
- Total cholesterol below 200 mg/d. and an LDL of 70 mg.
- Consume Alcohol in moderation
- Exercise increases blood flow to the brain aim to get at least 30 minutes of physical activity daily
- Watch your sugar lower your risk factors for diabetes as it has been know to aid in developing Alzheimers
- Avoid trans fats
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Medical Options For Treating Dementia
There are various pharmaceutical medications availablewhich are designed to treat one or more of the symptoms. Antidepressants, moodstabilizers and antipsychotics are the most common. But all of these drugs comewith risks, many of which are severe. A new study from the University ofMichigan Health System found that medications for dementia may significantly increasepatients health risks. Whats more, the risk increases with the dosage of thesemedications, along with drug interactions . Cindy D. Marshall, MD, medicaldirector of the Baylor Memory Center in Dallas, Texas, talks about some of therisks of these medications…
“TheFDA issued a 2005 black block warning on the use of antipsychotics in dementiapatients due to mounting evidence showing increased mortality. The mechanism ofdeath is not specifically defined in the data, but typically includescerebrovascular events , cardiovascular events and infections .” 1
Other psychiatric medications such as the mood stabilizer,valproic acid also carry higher risksand much less benefit, according to Dr. Maust and his research team. With thenewer and more commonly used antipsychotics, the risk definitely increases withhigher dosages.
In addition to these, you have cholinergic treatments and memantine treatments, which are designed to stabilize the symptoms ofAlzheimers and Parkinson’s disease. However, these have been found to have limited ability andonly work for a short while.
Pillar #: Mental Stimulation
Its important to continue learning new things and challenging your brain throughout life. Whether youre looking to prevent the onset of dementia or delay its progression, when it comes to your brain the key is to use it or lose it. In the groundbreaking NIH ACTIVE study, older adults who received as few as 10 sessions of mental training not only improved their cognitive functioning in daily activities in the months after the training, but continued to show long-lasting improvements 10 years later.
Activities involving multiple tasks or requiring communication, interaction, and organization offer the greatest benefits. Set aside time each day to stimulate your brain:
Learn something new. Study a foreign language, practice a musical instrument, or learn to paint or sew. One of the best ways to take up a new hobby is to sign up for a class and then schedule regular times for practicing. The greater the novelty, complexity, and challenge, the greater the benefit.
Raise the bar for an existing activity. If youre not keen on learning something new, you can still challenge your brain by increasing your skills and knowledge of something you already do. For example, if you can play the piano and dont want to learn a new instrument, commit to learning a new piece of music or improving how well you play your favorite piece.
Follow the road less traveled. Take a new route or eat with your non-dominant hand. Vary your habits regularly to create new brain pathways.
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