Can Certain Foods Prevent Alzheimer's?

With Alzheimer's diagnoses on the rise, everyone wants to know if there is a way to prevent the disease. Alzheimer's disease is known for causing memory loss, behavioural issues, and eventually will cause patients to lose the ability to function. This heartbreaking disease robs people of their independence and identity. Even more heartbreaking, is the fact that it already affects millions of people around the world and sadly, there still isn't a cure.
Anyone who has cared for or has known someone living with Alzheimer's disease already knows that this is a truly devastating diagnosis to endure. Medications and other treatments can slow down the progress of the symptoms, but cannot yet stop the disease altogether. While there is some promising research, a cure still appears to be a far off solution.
This begs the question: Is there anything that can prevent Alzheimer's disease? Well, some doctors believe that certain foods may be linked to the disease...and that certain memory boosting foods may actually help to prevent the disease in the future.
Researchers have linked diets that are high in carbohydrates and sugars to an increased risk of developing mild cognitive impairment (MCI.) This impairment tends to be an indication that Alzheimer's disease may develop in the future. Further, more studies have suggested that a high consumption of saturated fats and cholesterol may also impact brain function. Saturated fats can be found in most processed foods, as well as most foods from animals, such as beef, veal, lamb, pork, butter, cream, milk, cheese, and other dairy products. It can also be found in various oils.
If there is any truth to these scientific studies, a poor diet may actually increase the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. Given that so many of us live on pre-packaged 'to-go' meals, frozen dinners, and fatty fast food, this is a troubling concept. It doesn't help that generally, our food portion sizes are much larger than they should be. In a fast-paced society, healthy, smart meals seem to have fallen to the wayside. Unfortunately, it seems that this may negatively impact our long-term physical and mental health.
This type of fast-paced lifestyle has become commonplace. Take a moment to think about your own eating habits - are you proud of the food that you consume? If your answer is no, then it is important to find out what can be done to offset a diet that is rich in saturated fats and cholesterol.
American geriatric neurologist Dr. Marwan Sabbagh believes that prevention is key. A positive lifestyle and making small, healthy changes may be able to help decrease the likelihood of young onset dementia and Alzheimer's disease. He recently co-authored a cookbook with chef Beau MacMillan that aims to encourage proper eating habits. By eating smarter and being more aware of the long-term effects of our lazy diets, it is hopeful that many degenerative brain disorders will be reduced in the future.
Dr Sabbagh's cookbook, "The Alzheimer's Prevention Cookbook: 100 Recipes To Boost Brain Health" is all about healthy, memory boosting foods. This cookbook features recipes that are designed to reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease, as well as delay symptoms of the disease. This includes dementia and memory loss. The book is targeted toward those who are already in the early stages of a degenerative brain disease and those with family links to Alzheimer's.
"The Alzheimer's Prevention Cookbook" combines scientific research with real-life solutions. Many of the recipes featured in the book use ingredients that are known for improving memory, such as turmeric, cinnamon, and leafy greens. The cookbook uses research from various studies that suggest that Mediterranean-style eating may reduce the risk of developing MCI. A Mediterranean diet is based on the eating habits of people living in the countries that border the Mediterranean Sea. This type of diet is generally made up of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, potatoes, nuts, seeds, beans, olive oil, and a lot of fish.
The Mediterranean-inspired diet is believed to have links to a decreased risk of developing MCI. Since MCI can progress to Alzheimer's disease, prevention of this disease is an essential part of maintaining a healthy lifestyle. The cookbook incorporates a number of recipes that will best prevent memory loss and improve the symptoms of memory loss in patients that are already dealing with MCI or Alzheimer's.
Some of the recipes that are included in the book range from peach smoothies - which can have a number of nutritional benefits, to Ahi Tuna on Rye with Spinach Pesto Yogurt. There are recipes included for every meal of the day. All of the recipes in the book focus on being healthy, good for you, and on keeping saturated fats to a minimum. Dr Sabbagh believes that these brain-healthy meals can be an effective way of living a healthy lifestyle and preventing memory loss and brain diseases.
Making changes in your diet is the key in the prevention of Alzheimer's. Studies have shown that some of the changes in the brain associated with Alzheimer's disease actually start happening 25 years before any symptoms actually occur. This staggering statistic truly emphasizes the importance of embracing a healthy diet now that focuses on memory boosting foods and ingredients.
It is important to note that all of the preventative measures in the world may not actually prevent Alzheimer's disease. The recipes outlined in "The Alzheimer's Prevention Cookbook" are merely ways to focus on healthy living, using scientific studies as a base. By being smart about the kinds of foods that we are consuming, the risk of developing this disease may be reduced. With Alzheimer's being such a devastating disease, any reduced risk is a benefit.
The question remains: Can certain foods actually prevent Alzheimer's disease? Studies certainly show strong links that suggest this may be the case. By being conscious of our intake of saturated fats, sugars, and carbohydrates, the risks of developing the disease are reduced. Additionally, the severity of symptoms may also be reduced through this diet.
It may sound easy on paper to lower your intake of saturated fats, cholesterol, and carbohydrates. However, in today's society this may prove more difficult. The best thing you can do, is try to be aware of what you are eating. Take the time to focus on what is best for you and your long-term health whenever possible.
There are so many benefits to a healthy diet, beyond the hope of preventing Alzheimer's disease. This type of diet can also improve the overall quality of the life you are living, now and in the future.
Dr. David Tal has more than twenty years of clinical experience. He strongly believes that medical treatment can improve the life of Alzheimer's and memory loss patients. His participation at the Age Matters Alzheimer's Clinic allows him to share his knowledge with patients and their families.

Brain Pacemaker May Help Alzheimer's Patients

Alzheimer's disease affects millions of people all over the world - nearly 36 million, in fact. This degenerative brain disease impacts memory function, levels of understanding and processing information, and even personality. This devastating disease impacts millions of patients and their families every day.
While there is no cure for this disease, research is being done to slow down and hopefully reverse the effects of the disease. There is a new surgical procedure that is beginning to give hope to patients who are currently suffering from Alzheimer's.
Researchers at John Hopkins University have been working on a brain pacemaker. This pacemaker may help to treat patients with the degenerative disease. It would insert two wires into the brain where memory function is linked, while a battery would fit underneath the shoulder blades. The battery would run electricity through the wires, in turn, stimulating the brain. The goal is that the wires will stimulate parts of the brain that are linked to memory - which could stop or slow down the effects of the disease.
While researchers claim that the procedure itself is not overly invasive, the surgery requires that holes be drilled into the patient's skull. Despite what the researchers may claim, this invasive nature of this surgery is clear. However, this brain pacemaker, used with Alzheimer's drug therapy could potentially slow down or even reverse the effects of Alzheimer's disease. This could radically change the lives of those who are living with the disease.
Parkinson's disease research actually inspired this project. A similar brain pacemaker has been used to treat patients suffering from Parkinson's. It has been largely successful, and has treated tens of thousands of patients. The researchers at John Hopkins University are hoping for similar results with the Alzheimer's brain pacemaker. The two procedures are similar, but stimulate different parts of the brain.
There have already been six clinical trials of this new Alzheimer's brain pacemaker in Canada. The results of these clinical trials found that the patient's memories improved slightly, and that their brain metabolisms actually improved drastically. Dr. Paul Rosenberg, an Alzheimer's specialist at John Hopkins University felt "cautiously optimistic" about the results of the first round of clinical trials. Clinical trials of the brain pacemaker will soon be taking place in the US.
Unfortunately for Alzheimer's patients, many of the more recent drug trials have led to disappointing results. Perhaps this is why the Alzheimer's brain pacemaker is gaining so much attention. People all over the world are hoping that this new research and the next round of clinical trials may lead to a cure. Since Alzheimer's impacts so many lives both directly and indirectly, a cure to this degenerative brain disease is essential.
Before you get your hopes up too high, keep in mind that the procedure will likely not be available for a few more years. No one knows yet if the brain pacemaker for Alzheimer's will be what it takes to cure the disease. Only time will tell how this procedure will impact the future of the disease. Still, it gives hope that a cure for Alzheimer's disease is on the horizon.
Dr. David Tal has more than twenty years of clinical experience. He strongly believes that medical treatment can improve the life of Alzheimer's and memory loss patients. His participation at the Age Matters Clinic allows him to share his knowledge with patients and their families.