Myth : Coenzyme Q10 Treats A Number Of Conditions Including Alzheimers
The bad news, says former ADDF Assistant Director, Penny Dacks, is that most supplements have very little evidence to support their use, particularly evidence gathered from humans . Coenzyme Q10 , for instance, is a naturally occurring antioxidant found in the body and CoQ10 levels decrease with age. Its become a popular supplement to treat Alzheimers. Unfortunately, there is relatively strong evidence suggesting it will not protect the brain.
There is, however, some evidence to support the use of CoQ10 for high blood pressure and heart failure.
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National Institutes of Health. Dietary Supplement Fact Sheets.
Travica et al. Vitamin C Status and Cognitive Function: A Systematic Review.
World Health Organization. Dementia.
B Vitamins: B3 B6 B12 & Folic Acid
B Vitamins
B Vitamins have an important role in the human brain and nervous system. They are responsible for the creation and maintenance of cells in the brain.
Researchers at the University of Oxford and at the CDC found that individuals who took a B Vitamin supplement were less likely to develop Alzheimer’s Disease than those who did not.
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Powerful Vitamins For Alzheimers Prevention
Are you worried that you or someone you love may be developing memory problems or early onset of Alzheimers?
Youre not alone.
In fact, over 5 million Americans are living with Alzheimers Disease.
It doesnt hurt to start adding important vitamins for Alzheimers prevention into your diet. Even if you already have the disease, you may be able to slow the process with certain dietary changes.
Check out five powerful vitamins for Alzheimers Prevention.
Increase Your Phosphatidylcholine Intake
- Fry three ounces of beef liver in a pan for 65% of daily phosphatidylcholine benefits.
- A large, boiled egg accounts for 27% of this minerals recommended intake.
- Roast chicken breast or soybeans
- Beef isnt always bad. In fact, it represents 13% of your needed phosphatidylcholine.
- Go for grains, like wheat germ and quinoa.
These brain vitamins and minerals are common recommendations for most seniors. For help addressing specific dietary concerns, consider consulting a dietitian or your doctor.
Chai, Bingyan et al. Vitamin D deficiency as a risk factor for dementia and Alzheimers disease: an updated meta-analysis.
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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.
What The Experts Say Are The Best Supplements For Your Brain
What the Experts Say Are the Best Supplements for Your Brain
Maintaining optimal brain health encompasses several areas of self-care, including adhering to a healthy diet and lifestyle, managing stress and socializing regularly. Taking dietary supplements can help promote brain health, but how will consumers know which supplements are worth the investment?
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Vitamin K May Promote Brain Health
Dr. Jennifer Bramen, a senior research neuroscientist, spoke with MNT on the findings. Dr. Bramen is cautiously optimistic about the results of the study, but believes more research is needed particularly in humans.
There are many forms of vitamin K, and they all have different dietary sources, commented Dr. Bramen. MK-7 is found in fermented vegetables, and there are known benefits of eating these foods.
They are excellent for your gut microbiome, which has a well-established link to cognitive decline, Dr. Bramen continued. I would recommend incorporating these into a diet designed to promote brain health and cognition.
Dr. Bramen works at Pacific Neuroscience Institute at Providence Saint Johns Health Center in Santa Monica, CA.
How Can I Get The Vitamins And Minerals I Need
It is usually better to get the nutrients you need from food, rather than a pill. Thats because nutrient-dense foods contain other things that are good for you, like fiber.
Most older people can get all the nutrients they need from foods. But if you arent sure, talk with your doctor or a registered dietitian to find out if you are missing any important vitamins or minerals. He or she may recommend a vitamin or dietary supplement.
If you do need to supplement your diet, look for a supplement that contains the vitamin or mineral you need without a lot of other unnecessary ingredients. Read the label to make sure the dose is not too large. Avoid supplements with mega-doses. Too much of some vitamins and minerals can be harmful, and you might be paying for supplements you dont need. Your doctor or pharmacist can recommend brands that fit your needs.
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Preventing Dementia: Do Vitamin And Mineral Supplements Have A Role
Vitamin and mineral supplements for cognitively healthy peopleThis new Cochrane Review concerns the effects of vitamin and mineral supplements on cognitive function in people with no cognitive problems when they started taking part in the research studies. Although the review authors looked for studies involving people aged 40 and over, there are few data on people taking supplements under the age of 60. Despite being able to include 28 studies involving more than 83,000 people, there are limitations of the evidence which mean that confident conclusions cant be drawn. Heres what they found.B vitamin supplementsTaking B vitamin supplements probably has little or no effect on overall cognitive function at any time point up to five years and may have no effect at five to ten years. There are very few data on harms or on the incidence of cognitive impairment or dementia.
Antioxidant vitamins: ßcarotene, vitamin C or vitamin EThe results are mixed, but the review authors say that long-term supplementation with antioxidant vitamins may be the most promising area for future research. There is low-certainty evidence of benefit in overall cognitive function with long-term supplementation with ßcarotene and with vitamin C , but an antioxidant vitamin combination or vitamin E, alone or with selenium, may have no effect.
Selenium
Vitamin C And Antioxidants
Here is my favorite Vitamin C again helping us with another disease. The other antioxidants seem to be great for everything as well. Vitamin C also helps the body convert protein to tyrosine.
Increasing the bodys level of the neurotransmitter norepinephrine may also help AD patients. Norepinephrine is made from the amino acid tyrosine, which is made from phenylalanine. We get plenty of phenylalanine from protein our diets if we eat protein foods, but the conversion to tyrosine and ultimately norepinephrine may not take place if there is a deficiency of another coenzyme: vitamin C. Vitamin C increases norepinephrine production. Vitamin C may, therefore, be of special value in the treatment AD.
Here is the best way to buy Vitamin C. In Bulk. Bulk Powders Vitamin C Crystals.
I dont mess around with Vitamin C tablets anymore. I only buy in bulk for the tremendous savings. This powder breaks down to about 2 pennies per 1000mg dose.
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Be Sure To Take Your Vitamins And Memory
If youre serious about the prevention of Alzheimers and improving memory loss, you should definitely take a high potency multiple vitamin and mineral capsule. Be sure the vitamin formula you choose contains folic acid and vitamin C. Folic acid reduces homocysteine levelshigh homocysteine levels put you at risk for both heart disease and memory loss. Vitamin C has been shown to reduce your risk of Alzheimers disease by 20% when taken with vitamin E. To take advantage of its fullest benefits, you should take a dose of 2,000 mg of vitamin C per day.
When you create a balanced diet that puts your overall wellbeing at the forefront, youre not only doing good for your body, but youre also supporting and enhancing your memory as well.
Consider including the following memory-specific nutrients in your daily vitamin plan:
- coenzyme Q10
Discover our latest research update in the Summer 2014 White Paper.
Vitamin K Quick Facts
It is important to take in many different types of vitamins and minerals to maintain health. One vitamin that plays a role in both brain and bone health is vitamin K, which is often found in green leafy vegetables.
Professor Mohamed El-Sherbiny, the senior author of the study, spoke with Medical News Today and explained why vitamin K is important.
The aging process is associated with deterioration of brain functions, said Prof. El-Sherbiny. Vitamin K is a natural fat-soluble vitamin protects the brain from the development of Alzheimers.
Prof. El-Sherbiny is an anatomy professor at AlMaarefa University.
There is a recommended daily amount for vitamin K that varies with age, Prof. El-Sherbiny continued.
Consuming adequate amounts of vegetables and fruits is satisfactory to maintain normal vitamin K levels. However, supplements are also available to substitute for natural sources in case of inability to consume them.
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Costs Of Supplements For Alzheimers / Dementia
The costs of supplements can vary wildly, and because their quality is often unverified, consumers should be careful. Just because a supplement is more expensive, that doesnt mean its better . Consumerlab.com, for instance, found that a quality-verified source of Coenzyme Q10 can be bought for nine cents per day, but other versions of the same supplement are available for 10 times as much.
Causes Of Mental Decline
You might say that prescription drugs are one of the major contributors to accelerated brain aging. Chief amongst these are the statin drugs for high cholesterol, fluroquinolone antibiotics, prescription tranquilizers, antidepressants, and electroconvulsive shock therapy. Concussions will do the same. Statin drugs, for example, deplete the brain of the important antioxidant CoQ10 as well as numerous steroid hormones, including vitamin D. The longer you use statin drugs, the greater will be your cognitive decline. A few years ago I reported on the dangers of these overprescribed cholesterol-lowering drugs in this magazine
Another major issue is the growing problem of mercury toxicity from dental fillings, industrial pollution, and fish of all types. Mercury and other toxic heavy metals play an increasingly large role in damaging the brain. To rid the body of these toxins, consider using the far infrared sauna , cilantro , chlorella , bentonite clay , and other detoxifying strategies regularly.
Commonly prescribed drugs for Alzheimers or dementia rarely benefit an aging brain and serve primarily to keep agitated patients with dementia quiet or muzzled. The good news is that evidence supports the use of many nutrient supplements that can enhance brain function and prevent brain tragedies in later life.
Here are my top 10 favorites based on the most recent studies and my clinical experience:
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Other Potential Biologic Mechanisms Of Folate
Data are limited on potential mechanisms of folate effects on dementia other than homocysteine concentration. One possibility is that folate deficiency may decrease acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter that is reduced in Alzheimers disease. Folic acid is involved in the metabolic pathway for acetycholine synthesis. At least one animal model, however, did not find evidence of dietary folate effects on acetylcholine metabolism . Another possibility is that folate deficiency increases oxidative stress, but again, data on the antioxidant effects of folate are limited .
Fight Dementia Symptoms With Top Minerals And Vitamins For Memory
Nearly 10 million seniors receive a dementia diagnosis each year, ushering in new challenges and concerns for their families. As caregivers evaluate treatment, strive to preserve quality of life, and hope to stave off symptoms, the connection between diet and dementia serves as a helpful entry point.
Recommended foods to prevent dementia often include robust, well-researched vitamins and minerals. These vitamins that help with memory care can be tasty and easy to find chances are some of your senior loved ones favorite foods already contain these much-needed nutrients.
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Best Ways To Help Your Memory
For young and older people alike, its valuable to get your dietary vitamins from the food you eat. Supplements can fill in the gaps, but check with your doctor before you go over the recommended daily intake.
No matter your age, the best way to combat memory decline is to eat well and exercise your body and your brain. The Mediterranean diet is a good source of all the vitamins your body needs.
The Mediterranean diet has been as a way to improve memory. The hallmarks of the diet include:
- mostly plant-based foods
- limiting red meat
- eating fish
- using liberal amounts of olive oil to prepare meals
Diets that are similar to the Mediterranean diet include the MIND diet as well as the DASH diet. Both diets have been found to reduce the occurrence of Alzheimers disease.
The MIND diet, in particular, emphasizes the consumption of green, leafy vegetables and plant-based food in addition to the high protein and olive oil recommendations of the Mediterranean diet.
Having a strong support network and being engaged in your local community have been suggested as ways to delay or prevent dementia. Establishing healthy sleep habits can also protect your brain.
Alzheimers Vs Dementia: Whats The Difference
Both Alzheimers disease and dementia involve cognitive decline, but not all dementia patients have Alzheimers. Dementia is one of the main symptoms of Alzheimers. Alzheimers is the most common type of dementia.
Alzheimers disease is caused by misshapen protein structures in the brain . Over time, the malformations kill the brain cells theyre in, limiting cognitive function.
Because Alzheimers is defined by these microscopic changes in the brain, doctors cant say for certain whether a person has Alzheimers without performing an autopsy.
The early symptoms of Alzheimers disease include:
- Confusion
- Difficulty finding the right words when speaking or writing
- Getting lost easily
When a patient starts to develop noticeable symptoms, Alzheimers medications may help. However, making diet and lifestyle changes seems to be just as effective, if not more so.
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Directions For Future Studies
The most important issue for future studies is whether B-vitamin supplementation is of benefit or harm for the prevention of neurodegenerative diseases. Clinical trials can address the issue in persons without vitamin deficiency, but cannot address the issue for a large segment of the older population who are vitamin B12 deficient, as it would be unethical not to treat known deficiency. In the absence of a suitable animal model, we must rely on epidemiologic studies. These studies should be of prospective or of longitudinal design. The longitudinal studies of cognitive decline should include multiple cognitive tests measured at multiple time points, and use analytic methods such as mixed models to measure cognitive decline. Very importantly, these studies should adjust for the important dietary and non-dietary confounders, and use multiple diagnostic methods to diagnose vitamin B12 deficiency. These types of studies require large samples to obtain informative results. Finally, these studies need to be conducted in diverse, population-based samples that include the oldest old, as the medically underserved and older segments of the population are the most likely to have unrecognized or untreated vitamin B12 deficiency.
Vitamins And Minerals For Older Adults
Vitamins help your body grow and work the way it should. There are 13 essential vitamins vitamins A, C, D, E, K, and the B vitamins .
Vitamins have different jobs to help keep the body working properly. Some vitamins help you resist infections and keep your nerves healthy, while others may help your body get energy from food or help your blood clot properly. By following the Dietary Guidelines, you will get enough of most of these vitamins from food.
Like vitamins, minerals also help your body function. Minerals are elements that our bodies need to function that can be found on the earth and in foods. Some minerals, like iodine and fluoride, are only needed in very small quantities. Others, such as calcium, magnesium, and potassium, are needed in larger amounts. As with vitamins, if you eat a varied diet, you will probably get enough of most minerals.
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Beware Of False Claims About ‘treatments’
Receiving a diagnosis of dementia can be a difficult time for the individual and their families.
Dementia can make individuals more susceptible to aggressive marketing messages.
Its unacceptable for companies to exploit people who are in this vulnerable position, valuing profits over well-being.
We are concerned that people looking for information are not receiving the support or treatments they need following a diagnosis. Unsurprisingly, this leads to people looking online for alternatives.
Along With These Supplements Try The Mind Diet
While the MIND diet is obviously not a supplement but a way of eating, it’s important enough to mention here because research has found it to be effective in helping reduce cognitive decline.
“The MIND diet’s goal is to reduce dementia and the decline in brain health that often occurs as people get older,” says Amy Goodson, MS, RD, CSSD, LD author of The Sports Nutrition Playbook and another member of our expert board. “MIND stands for the Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay, and it combines components from both the Mediterranean and DASH diets.”
Some common foods found in the MIND diet are vegetables, berries, olive oil, whole grains, fish, beans, and nuts.
“An increased intake of these foods is thought to help lower the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and improve better brain functioning over time,” says Goodson.
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