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ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE, DEMENTIA, SENILITY
Natural support for healthy mental function
An estimated 6% of the over-60 population suffer from Alzheimer’s
disease, while "Senile dementia," or non-Alzheimer’s senility, affects
a similar number. The two diseases are difficult to distinguish,
especially early-on. Diagnosis is a matter of clinical judgment on the
part of the doctor. The only definitive diagnosis of Alzheimer’s is a
post-mortem examination of the brain, where deterioration of brain
cells and "scarring" are evident.
It is sometimes difficult for a lay person to distinguish "ordinary
forgetfulness" from symptoms of age-related memory changes. Here are
symptoms of greater concern: 1.) Memory lapses that occur more
frequently and become more severe 2.) Depression, anxiety, or paranoia
3.) Loss of judgment and discrimination 4.) Mood changes:
irritability, anger, loss of interest in everyday activities 5.) Loss
of awareness of everyday events.
There are many non-Alzheimer’s, non-senility health problems that can
cause memory and mood changes. For this reason, it is important to see
your doctor for a complete physical examination. Your doctor will be
able to discover if you have a health problem that is causing memory
changes. Remember, most memory loss is either normal forgetfulness or
caused by another illness or lifestyle factor. Secondly, and
simultaneously, begin the positive steps outlined below. Simple
factors such as B vitamin deficiencies can cause serious mental
changes. Don’t let easily correctable memory changes happen to you!
DIET AND LIFESTYLE RECOMMENDATIONS
- Eat a well-balanced diet. Lack of
nutrients can cause memory changes.
-
Exercise regularly. Exercise improves blood flow, nutrients, and
oxygen to the brain.
- Avoid cigarette smoke. Cigarette smoke contains carbon monoxide,
which is toxic to the brain.
- "Exercise" your brain: read, work crossword puzzles, use name
associations, pay attention to life!
- Avoid aluminum (found in cookware, antiperspirants, antacids,
beverage cans). Aluminum and other toxic metal accumulation in the
brain is associated with Alzheimer’s disease.
PRIMARY SUPPORT
-
Take Daily Multi Vitamin
and Mineral Supplement.
This should include vitamins A,C,E, beta
carotene,
bioflavonoids, B complex vitamins
(especially B1, B6, B12, folic acid), and selenium.
Maxi Multi contains optimal daily
doses of these nutrients.
-
Max EPA (fish oil): 1 cap, 3 times
per day with meals to prevent or reverse inflammation. Take higher
doses as directed if your hs-CRP tests are elevated. Flax oil is also
beneficial but requires a biochemical conversion in the body which is
deficient in many people, so fish oil is more certain.
ADDITIONAL SUPPORT
Take any or all of these proven neuro-protective substances:
-
CoQ10:
50-300mg per day. This powerful antioxidant, produced by the body,
diminishes with age. It is especially valuable for all types of heart
disease. CHOLESTEROL-LOWERING DRUGS deplete CoQ10.
-
Turmeric: 1 capsule, 3 times per day (target dose: 900mg). Potent
antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrin herb, turmeric acts by
three different mechanisms to help protect the brain from the presumed
causes of Alzheimer's.
-
Ginkgo biloba: 1 cap, 2 times per day. [target dose: 240mg of a
24% flavoneglycoside formula]. Ginkgo is a potent antioxidant that
also improves cerebral circulation. This herb is mentioned in The
Merck Manual of (conventional) Medicine as being helpful for
Alzheimer's!
-
Phosphatidyl Serine: 1 cap
(100mgPS), 3 times per day. PS increases brain cell communication by
improving membrane fluidity.
-
Acetyl-L-Carnitine: 1 cap (500mg),
3 times per day between meals. A-LC acts as a powerful antioxidant in
the brain.
-
Alpha-Lipoic Acid: 1 cap, 2-3 times
per day. This neurological antioxidant chelates free iron from the
forebrain, thereby protecting against free-radical induced brain
aging.
-
Melatonin: this hormone decreases with age. It is a potent
antioxidant and one of the only ones to cross the blood-brain barrier.
It should be used in almost all cases of any neurological disease and
is an important part of longevity and anti-aging programs.
Alzheimer's disease and Senile Dementia are not an inevitable part
of aging even though they are common in our country. Don't let these
memory-robbing diseases deprive you of YOUR Golden Years!
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
- A
hair analysis
should be done to rule out heavy metal and aluminum toxicity. Most
conventional medical doctors do not perform this test, even though it
is reliable for detecting heavy metals.
- Women and men of menopausal age (40-55) should have
hormone
levels evaluated. A shift in the amount of sex hormones can
cause memory changes.
- Women of menstrual age should avoid taking ginkgo regularly. This
herb has a blood-thinning effect and can cause heavier-than-normal
menstrual bleeding. Consider
Hypericum (St. John’s Wort) herb instead.
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