What Do We Know About Diet And Prevention Of Alzheimer’s Disease
Introduction
A healthy diet is a key to a sharper mind and a longer life. Many studies have shown that eating nutrient-rich foods in a balanced way can maintain a healthy weight, reduce the risk of diabetes and heart disease, lower blood pressure, and reduce the severity of arthritis. Emerging research suggests that what we eat may even protect against neurodegenerative diseases such as dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
This article is going to explore what we know so far about diet and Alzheimer’s prevention from animal studies, epidemiological data from humans around the world, clinical trials in volunteers with or without cognitive impairment or dementia. It is a very complicated issue and no one food can prevent dementia, but there are certain foods that can reduce the risk.
About Alzheimer’s Disease
Alzheimer’s disease is characterized by progressive difficulty with memory, thinking, and behavior. In the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease, people may have difficulty learning new information or performing familiar tasks. In the moderate stages of Alzheimer’s disease, language difficulties and other problems with thinking become apparent as well as problems with judgment, abstract thinking, and planning. In the later stages of Alzheimer’s disease, problems swallowing and walking often develop as well as increased behavioral issues. Ultimately a person will not be able to care for him/herself without assistance from a caregiver. The last stage of Alzheimer’s disease is classified as severe dementia.
Alzheimer’s disease currently affects an estimated 5 million Americans, with that number expected to nearly double every 20 years. The cost of caring for people with Alzheimer’s disease is estimated at $200 billion this year alone in the US.
The cause of Alzheimer’s Disease remains unknown and there is no cure. That said, the sooner we can identify the root causes and risk factors, and intervene and mitigate them at pre-symptomatic stages, the better we will be able to care for ourselves and our loved ones in society. It is a very complicated issue and no one food can prevent dementia, but there are certain foods that can reduce the risk.
Who Is At Risk For Alzheimer’s Disease?
It is estimated that Alzheimer’s affects 1 in 10 people over 60 years old, and 5% of people age 65 and above. The risk factors vary from person to person. In general, the risk increases with age and with a family history of Alzheimer’s disease. Usually when a person reaches their mid-50s, when the chance that they will get Alzheimer’s disease is the same as someone in their mid-30s, 80% of people who have gotten it already did not know that they carried the gene that predisposes them to the disease.
Genetics do play a role in this disease though—it can be inherited if both parents carry it. Even if your parents carried it, that doesn’t mean that you will necessarily get it—50% of the time the gene will be passed down but you won’t actually get the disease. On the other hand, for people who do carry the gene, there is at least a 60% chance they’ll develop Alzheimer’s disease if they live long enough.
Even if genetics load the gun, the environment pulls the trigger. People who are socially isolated or who have depression or diabetes are more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease earlier than those without those risk factors. Other epidemiological data shows that people with low blood levels of vitamin D are at higher risk for developing dementia and Alzheimer’s even when age and genetics are accounted for.
Studies have shown that depression, anxiety, alcohol abuse, smoking, hypertension, obesity, and heart disease are all linked with an increased risk of dementia. Low vitamin D levels have also been implicated in the dementia process.
What Are The Factors Associated With Alzheimer’s Disease?
1. Diabetes
The relationship between diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease is complex. Diabetes can lead to vascular problems which may damage the brain. Studies have shown that low levels of estrogen are linked with an increased risk for both Alzheimer’s disease and dementia as well as diabetes. Low testosterone levels may also raise the risk for both disorders as well as lower blood sugar levels (hypoglycemia). Low testosterone can lead to insulin resistance (another risk factor for developing diabetes), which in turn causes lower testosterone production as well as higher estrogen production.
Some studies have shown that women who take estrogen supplements are at lower risk for both Alzheimer’s disease and dementia than women who don’t. Many people with diabetes also take hormone replacement therapy, but whether the hormones in the HRT increase risk for Alzheimer’s is unknown.
2. Social Isolation
Researchers have looked at social isolation as a risk factor for developing dementia. People who feel lonely or isolated after 65 years of age are more likely to develop cognitive impairment and dementia two to four years earlier than those who have a low level of loneliness. However, it is not clear if feeling lonely causes early development of dementia or if being elderly causes loneliness as the cause of the later stages of cognitive decline.
3. Irregular Eating
Other studies have shown that irregularly eating or skipping meals, or having low blood glucose levels may be more common in people with Alzheimer’s disease. Even if they do not have diabetes, people who are living alone and who skip meals are at greater risk for developing the disease than those who do not. There is research showing that hyperglycemia (high blood glucose) may play a role in the development of Alzheimer’s disease, however, it remains unclear whether high serum glucose is a risk factor for Alzheimer’s since diabetics tend to have more than average amounts of glucose in their bodies.
4. Smoking
Although there is no evidence that smoking increases the risk for Alzheimer’s disease, those who smoke and also have Alzheimer’s disease are twice as likely to develop dementia than those who do not smoke and do not have Alzheimer’s. Women who smoke and also take estrogen supplements are less likely to develop dementia than women who do not smoke and take estrogen supplements.
Is There A Specific Diet For Seniors With Alzheimer’s Disease?
It is unclear. Some diets have been shown to be helpful for those showing early signs of Alzheimer’s disease. However, a healthy diet alone has not been shown to reverse the disease.
The MIND diet takes the top spot as the best diet for seniors with Alzheimer’s. Researchers at Rush University in Chicago developed a dietary pattern that helps protect against Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia by focusing on brain-healthy foods, such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, and limiting the intake of unhealthy foods, such as red meats and sweets. The MIND diet emphasizes green leafy vegetables, beans, berries—foods that are high in antioxidants associated with a reduced risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
How To Prevent Developing Of Alzheimer’s Disease On Seniors?
There is no known way to prevent Alzheimer’s disease. However, if you are already diagnosed with the disease, there are therapies available to improve your cognitive abilities in the early stages of the disease. The most common neuroprotective therapies used in Alzheimer’s disease include acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (for example donepezil or galantamine) and beta-amyloid-lowering drugs (for example memantine). These therapies can help reduce signs of confusion and improve memory. There are other types of medications that may be used in combination with these types of drugs too. Doctors often use these drugs during the early stages because there is less damage to brain function at this stage.
Conclusion
With the current development of new drugs, it is possible to delay dementia, if not prevent it.
It is recommended that if you are over 50 years old and have any risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease, you should be tested for genetic markers that are linked with this disease. Knowing your genetic markers can increase the chances of being diagnosed early enough for effective treatments to be administered.
In addition to the risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease that I have listed above, many other factors may increase the risk for this disease. In fact, it has been found that as little as a single genetic marker can increase your chances of developing Alzheimer’s from 1% to as high as 50%. It is important to note that although some studies have shown depression and anxiety increase the risk of Alzheimer’s disease, there is no evidence that any cause of depression or anxiety causes dementia.