Natural Remedies For Memory Loss And Dementia

Natural Remedies For Memory Loss And Dementia

Using natural remedies for memory loss and dementia is a great way to help improve your memory and overall health. The key is to find a supplement that is right for you. There are several different types of supplements available, each of which will help to improve your health in a different way. Depending on your needs, you might want to look into Acetyl-L-carnitine, Ginseng, Saffron, and Huperzine A. These are some of the most popular supplements available, and each can help improve your memory and overall health.

How Is Dementia Diagnosed

Confirming a diagnosis of dementia can be difficult. Many diseases and conditions can cause or lead to dementia. In addition, many of its symptoms are common to many other illnesses.

Your healthcare provider will:

• Ask about the course of your symptoms.
• Ask about your medical history.
• Review your current medications.
• Ask about your family history of disease including dementia.

They may also order tests, including laboratory tests, imaging tests and neurocognitive tests .

Neurologists and geriatricians may assist in making the diagnosis of dementia.

Laboratory tests

Laboratory tests rule out other diseases and conditions as the cause of dementia, such as infection, inflammation, underactive thyroid and vitamin deficiency .

Sometimes, healthcare providers order cerebrospinal fluid tests to evaluate autoimmune conditions and neurodegenerative diseases, if warranted.

Imaging tests

Your healthcare provider may order the following imaging tests of your brain:

Neurocognitive testing

During neurocognitive testing, your healthcare provider uses written and computerized tests to evaluate your mental abilities, including:

• Problem solving.

Psychiatric evaluation

A mental health professional may check for signs of depression, mood changes or other mental health issues that might cause memory loss.

Drink Alcohol In Moderation

Consuming too many alcoholic beverages can be detrimental to your health in many ways and can negatively impact your memory.

Binge drinking is a pattern of drinking that raises your blood alcohol levels to 0.08 grams per ml or above. Studies have shown it alters the brain and results in memory deficits.

A study of 155 college freshmen found that students who consumed six or more drinks within a short period of time, either weekly or monthly, had difficulties in immediate and delayed memory-recall tests compared with students who never binge drank .

Alcohol exhibits neurotoxic effects on the brain. Repeated episodes of binge drinking can damage the hippocampus, a part of the brain that plays a vital role in memory .

While having a drink or two now and then is likely OK, avoiding excessive alcohol intake is a smart way to protect your memory.

Summary Alcohol has neurotoxic effects on the brain,including reducing memory performance. Occasional moderate drinking is typically not anissue, but binge drinking can damage your hippocampus, a key area of your brainassociated with memory.

Recommended Reading: Can Dementia Get Worse After A Fall

How Much Coconut Oil Do You Need To Take

Firstly, understand that you cannot overdose on coconutoil ever! However, too much in the beginning can cause mild diarrhea in somepeople so its best to start off slow and gradually build up. Two tablespoonstaken three times daily in divided doses is best to begin with.After a few weeks you can then increase to four tablespoonsconsumed three times per day. Just make sure the coconut oil you buy is 100% organic, virgin coconut oil. Processed coconut oil contains trans fatty acidsand should never be eaten.

In addition to taking coconut oil every day, its also agood idea to make up some coconut milk and use this instead of drinking cowsmilk. Processed dairy is exceptionally bad for dementia suffers but coconut milk is exceptionally good! You can find outhow to easily make your own coconut milk here wellnessmama.com

What Can I Expect If I Have Dementia

Getting a diagnosis of dementia is certainly difficult to hear. Several types of dementia arent reversible. Others are a side effect of other serious diseases. Some dementia-like symptoms are due to conditions that can be treated and reversed.

Your healthcare team, which will probably include a neurologist and/or a geriatric-psychiatrist or a geriatrician, will order the needed tests to make the correct diagnosis. The medications available today focus on slowing the decline.

The goal is to maintain your or your loved ones quality of life. Some people with Alzheimers dementia can live up to two decades, but each person has their own unique course. Researchers continue learning about the mechanisms that cause dementia and testing different methods to slow, and someday, hopefully, cure this disease.

Read Also: What Is The Abbreviation For Alzheimer’s Disease

Suggestion : A Balanced Diet

For patients with dementia, a healthy and balanced diet is a solid start to improve cognitive function and slow down the progression of the disease. This improvement most likely results from improving blood flow and reducing oxidative stress in the brain via diet changes.

One example of a healthy diet for the brain is the MIND diet, which emphasizes green leafy vegetables, berries, nuts, whole grains, fish, and poultry while avoiding red meat, dairy products, sweets, and fried food. Studies show that following this diet is associated with a slower decline in cognition equivalent to being 7.5 years younger.

The Mediterranean diet and the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension diet are also good choices for dementia patients, as both encourage consumption of fruits and vegetables and the avoidance of sugary treats and processed food.

Determine Personalized Natural Supplements For Dementia

The best supplements for dementia remain those that work best with your loved ones individual medical situation, lifestyle, and genetic factors. You can learn more about your loved ones genetic factors that affect nutrition and vitamin deficiencies through the new science of nutrigenomics, also called DNA nutrition testing.

This can be done either by requesting the test from your doctor or by ordering a test to be delivered at home through popular companies, such as Nutrigenomix or Nutrition Genome.

There are even companies, such as Genopalate, that can simply review any previous 23andMe or AncestryDNA results and give you a tailored nutrigenomic report without making you take a genetic test again. You can request that your previous genetic test results be sent to Genopalates nutrigenomic lab for a diet-specific report.

Recommended Reading: Signs Of Dementia Vs Alzheimer’s

What’s The Life Expectancy Of A Person With Dementia

Theres no easy way to answer this question. Dementia is an umbrella term that covers the many different types of underlying neurodegenerative diseases.

Each type of neurodegenerative disease has its own unique pattern and development in each person. Also, each person has a unique health profile. Some people may be relatively healthy and others may have several co-existing health issues. All of these factors play a role in the pace of decline in a person with dementia.

To answer more broadly, Alzheimers is the most common type of dementia. The average lifespan after the earliest symptoms is eight years. However, some people have lived as long as 20 years after an Alzheimers disease diagnosis.

How Common Is Dementia

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that 5 million U.S. adults age 65 or older have Alzheimers and related dementia. By 2060, the CDC projects that about 14 million people will have dementia, which is about 3.3% of the population.

Alzheimers disease is the sixth leading cause of death in the U.S. and the fifth leading cause of death in Americans age 65 and older.

You May Like: Alzheimer’s Association Rhode Island

Coordinate Care And Treatments

You should always consult your loved ones medical care team, dietician, pharmacist, naturopathic provider, or other health experts prior to adding, changing, or stopping any type of supplement regimen.

Its also important to follow dosing instructions for the specific products you are using. Take note of any contraindications or possible side effects on the label of the product. A pharmacist can possibly help you and your loved one identify contraindications or drug interactions that may apply.

It can be stressful as a caregiver to manage your loved ones medications and supplements for their optimum health. As time goes on, you may want to consider looking into long-term memory care or in-home care options for them. Memory care communities or a home health aide can help ensure that your loved one gets the vitamins, supplements, and tailored nutrition they require.

If you would like help with your loved ones long-term care, reach out to a Senior Living Advisor at A Place for Mom. This free service can assess your loved ones situation and help you locate memory care options in your local area.

Does Memory Loss Mean Dementia Is Starting

One common misbelief about memory loss is that it always means you or a loved one has dementia. There are many causes of memory loss. Memory loss alone doesnt necessarily confirm a diagnosis of dementia.

Its also true that some memory changes are normal as a person ages . However, this type of memory loss isnt functionally disabling meaning, it doesnt interfere with daily life.

Dementia interferes with your ability to function. Dementia isnt forgetting where you left your keys. A person with dementia can have situations like forgetting what keys are used for. Dementia isnt a normal part of aging.

You May Like: Does Jack Nicholson Have Alzheimer’s

Changing Your Lifestyle Enhancing Your Memory

While there is no specific diet to prevent Alzheimer’s, studies have shown that a healthy diet may help lower the risk. Research has shown that the Mediterranean diet may lower the risk of developing Alzheimer’s, and may even help prolong life in people with Alzheimer’s. The Mediterranean diet has very little red meat. The diet focuses on fruits, vegetables, and nuts, with moderate amounts of dairy, fish, and poultry. Olive oil is an important source of healthy fats. Moderate amounts of alcohol, particularly wine, may also lower the risk of Alzheimer’s. However, doctors don’t recommend that people start drinking alcohol to prevent disease.

Researchers speculate that there may be a small protective quality of caffeine from the risk of dementia. But more research needs to be done in this area. In the meantime, Lausier recommends the “common sense” steps for enhancing your memory, such as not smoking and avoiding too much caffeine or alcohol. “Some of these changes may make more difference in the outcome than a lot of expensive drugs or supplements.”

Challenging your brain to learn new things is another important way to prevent memory loss, she says. It might involve learning a foreign language, an instrument, or a computer program, for example. “It doesn’t matter if you’re successful,” she says. “Just the act of trying turns on parts of your brain that are getting cobwebs.”

Show Sources

Natural Alzheimers Treatment #: Sleep

Research indicates there is a strong link between cognition and sleep. Studies into sleep deprivation show that healthy adults losing even one-third of a normal nights worth of sleep can suffer severe short-term memory loss, comparable to cognitive impairment seen in dementia. Those diagnosed with Alzheimers disease and related dementias can suffer even greater consequences when their sleep is disturbed, making normal dementia symptoms worse. Normally, sleep disturbances are common side effects of dementia, so this problem can be quite complicated for an elder with dementia as well as their caregiver.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy has been shown to improve symptoms of insomnia as well as depression in elders, the main benefit of therapy being education about good sleep hygiene. Elders and their caregivers both benefit from CBT for stress relief and insomnia.

Another useful tool to help regulate our circadian rhythms as we age is bright-light therapy , where bright lights are viewed by the person with insomnia at certain times of day in order to prompt the body into picking up a healthy circadian rhythm. Exercise is also a great way to improve sleep, with research showing that regular aerobic exercise is one of the best ways to naturally regulate sleep.

You May Like: Is Dementia Passed Through Genes

Suggestion : Stress Reduction

Given the symptoms patients experience, its not surprising that stress is a concern in dementia. These patients may be less able to advocate for themselves or to find ways to alleviate stress.

Mindfulness practices like tai chi, yoga, meditation, or breathing exercises can help reduce stress. Some studies even suggest that these mind-body interventions have a small impact on cognitive function, attention, and executive function in patients with mild cognitive impairment or dementia.

We suggest that our patients engage in meditation or breathing exercises twice a day and yoga at least once a week.

Are There Different Types Of Dementia

Dementias can be divided into three groups:

• Reversible dementia-like symptoms caused by other illnesses or causes.

Primary dementia

Types of primary dementia include:

Dementia due to other diseases and conditions

Other causes of dementia include:

Dementias due to reversible causes

Some conditions can cause dementia-like symptoms that can be reversed with treatment, including:

Recommended Reading: What Colours Do Dementia Patients Prefer

Dementia May Not Be Curable At The Moment However There Are Some Herbs And Spices That Can Help With Memory And Cognitive Function

Dementia affects the usual processes of the brain, and impairs memory. There are various pharmaceuticals being used and trialled, there are also some natural remedies that can be used to enhance memory and cognitive abilities. Mainstream pharmaceuticals should not be replaced by natural remedies without first consulting a GP. Also check with a GP before using any remedies to understand if there may be any chemical interactions with your existing medication.

Social Interaction And An Active Mind

Social interactions can lead to happiness, exerting a positive effect on patients with Alzheimers disease and their families.

Ensuring constant social contact improves the quality of life for patients in every stage of Alzheimers disease.

Keeping your mind active reduces the risk for cognitive decline. Learning a new activity, such as dancing, creates new pathways of communication in the brain. Acquiring new skills and reminiscing on cherished life events are excellent ways to help prevent loss of cognitive function.

Maintaining an active mind is a very important lifestyle choice. Challenging oneself with problem solving activities, maintaining friendships, and learning new sensory skills help stimulate the mind.

Recommended Reading: How Are Stem Cells Used To Treat Alzheimer’s

Herbal Medicine For The Treatment Of Vascular Dementia: An Overview Of Scientific Evidence

Dennis Chang

Abstract

Dementia is a leading cause of mental and physical disability. Vascular dementia is the second most common cause of dementia after Alzheimers disease constituting 1015% of the dementia population. Currently there are no approved pharmaceutical options for VaD and the conventional anti-AD therapies provide only modest, short-term relief of symptoms associated with VaD. Herbal medicines have been used for the management of dementia-like symptoms for centuries and may provide viable therapies for VaD due to their multicomponent and multitarget approach. This review is designed to provide an updated overview on the current status of herbal medicine research, with an emphasis on Chinese herbal medicine, for the treatment of VaD or dementia. A case study is also provided to demonstrate the development process of a novel standardized complex herbal formulation for VaD. The article reveals some preliminary evidence to support the use of single and complex herbal preparations for VaD and dementia. Multiple issues in relation to clinical and preclinical research have been identified and future research directions are discussed.

1. Introduction

2. Pathophysiology and Therapeutic Options for Vascular Dementia

3. Individual Herbs Used in VaD

3.1. Gingko biloba

3.2. Huperzia serrata

3.3. Curcuma longa

3.4. Ginseng

3.5. Bacopa monnieri

3.6. Crocus sativus

3.7. Camellia sinensis

4. Complex Herbal Formulations

4.1. Mechanisms and Synergistic Effects

References

What Are The Symptoms Of Dementia

Early symptoms of dementia include:

• Forgetting recent events or information.
• Repeating comments or questions over a very short period.
• Misplacing commonly used items or placing them in unusual spots.
• Not knowing the season, year or month.
• Having difficulty coming up with the right words.
• Experiencing a change in mood, behavior or interests.

Signs that dementia is getting worse include:

• Your ability to remember and make decisions further declines.
• Talking and finding the right words becomes more difficult.
• Daily complex tasks, such as brushing your teeth, making a cup of coffee, working a TV remote, cooking and paying bills become more challenging.
• Lessening of rational thinking and behavior and your ability to problem-solve.
• Sleeping pattern changes.
• Increases or worsening of anxiety, frustration, confusion, agitation, suspiciousness, sadness and/or depression.
• Needing more help with activities of daily living, such as grooming, toileting, bathing and eating.
• Experiencing hallucinations .

These symptoms are general symptoms of dementia. Each person diagnosed with dementia has different symptoms, depending on what area of their brain is damaged. Additional symptoms and/or unique symptoms occur with specific types of dementia.

You May Like: What Part Of The Brain Causes Dementia

Vitamin And Nutrient Supplements

Many of the risk factors for Alzheimers disease can be negated by the increase or introduction of vitamins, herbal medicine, and dietary supplements into your diet.

Researchers and the Alzheimers Association have even performed randomized controlled trials on the treatment of Alzheimers with some of these natural remedies:

Natural Remedies For Dementia And Alzheimers Treatment Option #: Cinnamonextract

Researchers have now been able to confirm that dementia diseases such as Alzheimers are actually a form of diabetes. In fact,Alzheimers is now being labelled as type III diabetes. What this means is thebrain has basically become insulin resistant. But whats really exciting isthat cinnamon extract, which works extremely well for type I and type IIdiabetes, also works very well for dementia especially Alzheimers disease

In a study published in the Journal of Alzheimers Disease, researchers found two compounds incinnamon extract help stop the disintegration and dysfunction of the tau protein.By keeping this protein strong, scientists believe neurofibrillary tangles can be prevented and even reversed. Insulin and insulinreceptors located in the brain are also essential for memory and cognitivefunctions, and these have been found to be significantly lower in Alzheimers patients.But cinnamon regulates brain insulin activity, which in turn, helps to restorenormal brain functioning. 2

You May Like: Test To See If I Have Dementia