Alzheimer's & Heart Disease-An Ounce of Prevention Is Worth A Pound of Cure

There are some exciting results from recent clinical trials and research that shows that

you may be able to reduce the risks of Alzheimer's disease by following a heart healthy diet

regimen.

There is no cure for Alzheimer's but recent studies indicate that prevention of

Alzheimer's disease may be possible by including nutrient rich foods in the

diet.

The research results from several neurological studies and white papers presented to

prestigious medical journals report that diet may play a major role in the prevention of

Alzheimer's disease.

The research funded by the Alzheimer's Disease Research

Center at UCLA's David Geffen School of Medicine offers T a ray of hope in an otherwise

grim area of medical research.

The reality of advanced Alzheimer's is "once the gooey amyloid material accumulates

and the nerve endings are poisoned and the cells have died, it is very hard to think

seriously about repairing damage that severe" states Dr. Gandy, who conducts research

on Alzheimer's disease.

The simple solution for this complex diseases may be "eating healthy". Heart healthy foods

seem to reduce the risk for Alzheimer's.

"When patients reduce their risk for cardiovascular disease they also reduce their risk

factors for Alzheimer's". reports Dr. Nikolaos Scarmeas, an assistant professor of neurology

at Columbia University Medical Center in New York , "People who eat a diet rich in fruits,

vegetables, olive oil, legumes, cereals and fish have a lower risk of developing Alzheimer's

disease".

Dr. Scarmeas continued - "These nutrient rich foods could be helping avoid Alzheimer's

disease by providing protection from oxidative stress or by reducing inflammation in the brain".

Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplements Slow Decline

Another nutrient dense ingredient found in Omega-3 fatty acid supplements have been shown in

associative studies to slow the cognitive decline in some patients with very mild Alzheimer's

disease. However, these supplements do not appear to affect people with more advanced cases

of the disease, according to a team of Swedish researchers.

Foods Rich in Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Omega-3 fatty acids are found in foods like salmon, tuna and flaxseed. These fatty acids contain

heart healthy fats. In still another study from the University of Wisconsin, Omega -3 fatty acids

were shown to be "flammable" inside our bodies and burned off cholesterol raising types of fat thus

reducing the risk for high cholesterol and heart related problems.

How Does Omega-3 Prevent Alzheimer?

"The ways by which omega-3 fatty acids interferes in Alzheimer's disease

pathophysiologic features are not clear, but since anti-inflammatory effects are an

important part of the profile of fish oils, they are conceivable also for Alzheimer's

disease," writes Dr. Gandy.

Researchers write. "It is possible that when the disease is clinically apparent,

the neuropathologic involvement is too advanced to be substantially attenuated by anti-inflammatory

treatment." Dr. H. Gandy

In laymen's terms, starting a preventative healthy eating regimen including omega-3 supplements can be

beneficial in the prevention and the early stages of Alzheimer's disease. As a preventative measure, omega-3's should be part of a healthy diet. However, in the latter stages of Alzheimer's, there is little that can be done

to repair damaged brain tissue.

Abnormal changes takes place in the brain of a person suffering from Alzheimer's disease .

As these changes occur, a person with Alzheimer's disease will advance through the stages of

the Alzheimer's.

Over the course of the disease nerve cells, responsible for learning and memory functions

start to break down and eventually die. As a result, certain aspects of brain functioning

that control memory, behavior, personality, and other bodily functions, can be lost.

These recent papers reveal a consensus that focus on the concept that diet is a critical

component in controlling and perhaps preventing Alzheimer's disease. Several clinical

trials and the resulting reports point clearly to the idea that early intervention will

have the greatest effect on controlling symptoms.

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