The reality of Alzheimer’s, keys to prevent it

Alzheimer’s Disease

The World Health Organization predicts that by the year 2050, the number of people over 80 years of age will nearly quadruple to 395 million – and 1 in 6 will live with dementia or Alzheimer’s.

It is estimated that in 2015, 5.3 million people in the most industrialized countries were diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. This number is expected to increase year after year as the population proportion over 65 years continues to rise. The global cost of Alzheimer’s now amounts to €600 billion per year and is expected to increase even further.

Families are the ones who suffer the most from Alzheimer’s

“Generally, family members are the ones who feel the pain of this disease the most as they still retain memories, unlike patients who have already lost them.”

The hardest part of considering the possibility of placing a loved one in a care center away from home is often for the family, leaving them in a place without knowing if they will be aware of what is happening or if they will feel abandoned. Undoubtedly, this is a decision at a very personal level with multiple factors whose relevance varies in each situation, and each patient is different.

Experts report that, while many patients with early-stage dementia may find it difficult to adapt to life in a strange place without their families, many in advanced stages adapt surprisingly well to a place with good care because “they live in a world of memories.”

Continuous efforts must be made to improve the quality of life and care for people living with dementia, and this requires awareness of prevention. Studies show that loneliness is related to the onset of Alzheimer’s, as well as emotional stress.

How to reduce your risk of dementia or Alzheimer’s through diet

Since there is no conventional cure for dementia, the issue of prevention is paramount. As Dr. Perlmutter indicates, evidence shows that various lifestyle factors are underlying causes of dementia; similarly, avoiding fats and consuming excessive carbohydrates are at the epicenter of the disease.

The following list of basic nutritional strategies will help you maintain a healthy brain as you age:

1. Avoid sugar and refined fructose — Ideally, keep your sugar levels to a minimum, where your total fructose consumption is less than 25 grams per day, or up to 15 grams per day if you suffer from insulin or leptin resistance.

Avoid all artificial sweeteners, especially aspartame, which studies have linked to the development of Alzheimer’s disease.

2. Avoid gluten and casein (especially wheat and pasteurized dairy, but not dairy fat like butter) — Research has shown that gluten negatively affects your blood-brain barrier and makes your gut more permeable, promoting inflammation and immune dysfunction; both factors are believed to play a role in the development of Alzheimer’s disease.

3. Optimize your gut flora by consuming fermented foods.

4. Increase your intake of healthy fats, such as animal-based omega-3s — Get enough omega-3 fats, like those found in wild Alaskan salmon, sardines, and krill oil, which help protect your brain.

5. Reduce your total calorie intake or practice intermittent fasting — Intermittent fasting is a powerful tool that stimulates your body to remember how to burn fat and repair insulin or leptin resistance, which is a primary factor in the development of Alzheimer’s.

6. Improve your magnesium levels — Preliminary research suggests that increasing magnesium levels in the brain may reduce symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease.

Unfortunately, most magnesium supplements do not cross the blood-brain barrier; however, all indications are that magnesium threonate may cross it, making it superior to other forms.

7. Follow a nutritious diet rich in folate and zinc — Fresh vegetables are the best source of folate. Avoid taking a folic acid supplement, which is the inferior synthetic version of folate.

Research suggests that zinc deficiency may contribute to Alzheimer’s disease by promoting the accumulation of defective proteins in the brain, which is one of the characteristics of this disease.

8. Avoid toxins and environmental chemicals as much as possible — The increase in Alzheimer’s disease may be related to genetically modified foods and the way they are grown; herbicides like glyphosate are chelating agents.

Other lifestyle guidelines that help protect your brain

In addition to diet, various lifestyle factors affect your neurological health. To minimize the risk of developing dementia or Alzheimer’s, address the following aspects:

Engage in regular exercise AND avoid sitting — Exercise helps the brain produce new neurons, which helps prevent neuronal degeneration.

Sitting for long periods is associated with a higher risk of developing various diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and neurological diseases. Stand and walk as often as possible, aiming for about 7,000 to 10,000 steps per day.

Get enough restorative sleep — Recent studies indicate that poor sleep habits cause brain damage and may accelerate the onset of Alzheimer’s.

Manage your stress levels — Researchers found that nearly 3 out of 4 Alzheimer’s patients experienced severe emotional stress in the 2 years prior to their diagnosis.

Optimize your vitamin D levels with prudent sun exposure — Keep your vitamin D level between 50-70 ng/ml, as there is a close relationship between vitamin D deficiency and Alzheimer’s disease.

Vitamin D can enhance important chemicals in your brain, protecting your neurons by increasing the effectiveness of glial cells in recovering damaged neurons. Vitamin D may also benefit in preventing dementia due to its anti-inflammatory and immune-stimulating properties.

Eliminate mercury from your body — Dental amalgam fillings, which contain 50% mercury by weight, are one of the main sources of heavy metal toxicity.

Once you have optimized your diet, consider implementing a mercury detoxification protocol.

Eliminate aluminum from your body — Many people with Alzheimer’s have high levels of aluminum in the brain. Some sources of aluminum include antiperspirants, non-stick cookware, vaccine adjuvants, etc.

Avoid flu vaccines as most contain mercury and aluminum, which are well-known neurotoxic and immunotoxic agents.

Avoid medications – especially anticholinergics, statins, and benzodiazepines — Medications that block acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter in the nervous system, have been shown to increase the risk of dementia.

These medications include certain nighttime pain relievers, antihistamines, sleep aids, certain antidepressants, medications for incontinence, and certain narcotic pain relievers.

Statins are also particularly problematic because they suppress cholesterol synthesis, reduce coenzyme Q10 in your brain, and prevent the brain from receiving essential fatty acids and fat-soluble antioxidants.

Studies show that adults who use benzodiazepines (Valium, Xanax, Ativan, etc.) to treat their anxiety or insomnia have about a 50% higher chance of developing dementia, especially if taken chronically. Try Chiropractic; it will help you solve it naturally.

Challenge your mind every day — Mental stimulation – Learning something new, like playing an instrument or speaking a new language – is associated with a lower risk of Alzheimer’s.

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