Alzheimer's Disease Part VIII - Cause, Symptom, Prevention and Treatment

I. What is dementia ?

About 5-8% of all people over the age of 65 have some form of dementia, and this number doubles every five years above that age. Dementia is the loss of mental ability that is severe enough to interfere with people's every life and Alzheimer's disease is the most common type of dementia in aging people.

II. Types of dementia

1. Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease is a brain disorder named for German physician Alois Alzheimer. Alzheimer's destroys brain cells, causing problems with memory, thinking and behavior severe enough to affect language communication, memory, lifelong hobbies or social life. Alzheimer's gets worse over time, and it is fatal. Over 1 million people in US alone are currently afflicted by Alzheimer's disease because of degeneration of hippocampus and cerebral cortex of the brain where memory, language and cognition are located. With this mental disorder, brain cells gradually die and generate fewer and fewer chemical signals day by day resulting in diminished of functions. Overtime memory thinking as well as behavior deteriorates. Today, there is no know cure.

2. Absence of acetylcholine
If the nerves located in front of the brain perish, causing diminished quality of acetylcholine resulting in language difficulty, memory loss, concentration problem and reduced moblile skills because of lacking reaction in muscular activity and refection.

3. Dementia due to long-term alcohol abuse.
Dementia is common in patients with alcoholism. Most classic is the Korsakoff's dementia resulting in extremely poor short term memory and often associated with the memory losses are confabulations.

4. Multi-infarct dementia
Also known asvascular dementia , is the second most common form of dementia after Alzheimer's disease in older adults. It is caused by different mechanisms all resulting in vascular lesions in the brain.

5. Dementia associated with Parkinson's disease
Parkinson disease (PD) is a disabling, progressive condition. It is a cognitive deficits due to the interruption of frontal-subcortical loops that facilitate cognition and that parallel the motor loop.

6. Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD)
People who have eaten contaminated beef many years may be infected without even knowing it. Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease is a quickly progressing and fatal disease that consists of dementia, muscle twitching and spasm.

7. Subdural hematoma
It is the accumulation of blood beneath the outer covering of the brain that result from the rupture of blood vessel. Subdural hemorrhages may cause an increase in tracranial pressure, which can cause compression of and damage to delicate brain tissue. Acute subdural hematoma has a high mortality rate.

There are many types of dementia such as metabolic disorders, dementia due to long-term substance abuse, hypothyroidism, and hyperethyroidism.

III. Symptoms of Alzheimer's disease
1. Increasing forgetfulness
2. Communication difficulty
3. Depression
4. Anxiety
5. Mood and personal change
6. Difficulty making decision
7. repeat question
8. memory loss
9. Poor judgment

IV. Prevent and Treatment
A. With foods
1. Curry

Curry is the Indian favor which is daily eaten and contains curcumin that helps to trigger the production of enzymes protecting against any oxidative disease. It also is filled with phenols, the natural inflammation fighter.

2. Garlic

Garlic is one of nature's superfood that contains allicin that help to strengthen the immune system fighting against any harmful toxins and micro organism naturally. It also contains iron that help in producing of red blood cells and improving circulation of blood to brain cells.

3. Dark green leaf juice

Dark green leaf juice contains hundreds of phytochemicals that help to detoxify our body from free radical build-up, removing heavy metals from our brain and have an anti-virus, anti-bacteria, immune boosting resulting in anti-inflammation. It also helps to strengthen the liver, the vital organ for our body's detoxification. Dark green leaf juice is best for detoxification against any plague and tangle in our body.

4. Cold water fish

Cold water fish contains high amounts of fatty acids Omega 3 and 6 that help to lower the levels of bad cholesterol and triglyceride resulting in healthy heart and improved blood circulation.

5. Cinnamon powder

One the most powerful natural superfood. Contains essential oil that helps to strengthen immune system caused by virus and bacteria and infection caused by wound. Study shows that cinnamon also will help to regulate levels of glucose in the bloodstream which aids blood circulation.

6. Tomato

Tomato contains high amounts of beta carotene, the powerful antioxidant that helps to remove toxins from our body and fight against free radical building up in our brain. Beta carotene in tomato is tough to digest. Be sure intake with vitamin C to increase the absorption.

7. Grape juice

Grape juice contains high amounts of iron that helps the production of red blood cells resulting in increase of oxygen levels in the blood stream for brain cells.

8. Broccoli

Broccoli contains high amounts of vitamin C and fiber that helps to strengthen the immune system and reduce cholesterol building up in the arteries, increasing the blood circulation to brain vessels.

In fact, any foods that contain high amounts of antioxidants resulting in winning the battle of free radical build up in our body including our brain will help to prevent and treat Alzheimer's disease.

B. With vitamins and Minerals
1.Vitamin complex

Vitamin complex is supportive for people with Alzheimer's disease, a disorder that is also associated with low levels of pyridoxine and cobalamin. Vitamins b5, B6, B12 is vital for strengthening the immune system fighting against free radical building up in certain brain areas.

2. Iron

The right amount of iron will help the production of red blood cells and improve circulation of blood as well as oxygen levels in the blood stream, that is vital for brain cells need for better function.

3. Vitamin C

Vitamin C is an antioxidant vitamin. It helps to strengthen our immune system in fighting of the early forming of free radicals and DNA mutation. Our body can not produce vitamin C, Fruits and vegetables contain high vitamin C such as kiwi, broccoli, lemon, and apple.

4. Vitamin E

Vitamin E helps to strengthen the immune system and restore the balance of hormone.

5. Zinc

Zinc not only helps prostate gland increase production of fluid and semen, but also help to promote the production of testosterone by stopping the production of procalin and reduce the binding of sex hormone binding globulin. Increasing the testosterone levels in men will help in preventing and treating Alzheimer's disease.

6. Magnesium

Magnesium and potassium helps to strengthen and prevent calcium forming the arterial wall. Right amounts of magnesium, potassium and calcium not only help in increasing of blood circulation but also lower high blood pressure. Calcium deficiency may cause the loss of memory and senility.

C. With Herbs
1.Ginko biloba

Ginko biloba enhances the circulation to the central nerves system and has a tendency to stabilize abnormal nerve communication in the brain. It also is a powerful antioxidant that helps to protect the brain cells from free radical damage.

2. Korean ginseng

Korean ginseng contains ginsenosides which is an anti-stress remedy. It also helps to increase protein synthesis and improves the performance of neurotransmitters in the brain resulting in curbing the onset of psychological deterioration and aiding mental condition.

3. Huperzine A

Huperzia, as it is now called, contains a wide variety of alkaloids, including lycodoline, lycoclavine, and serratinine that help to increase the acetylcholine activity in the brain resulting in improved memory and behavior problems.

4. Kut

The mixture of herbal formula in Japan, also help in increasing the activity of acetycholine in the cortex and hippocampus section of the brain and stimulating the growth of nerve cells.

5. Garlic Extract

Garlic extract helps to improve the immune system and blood circulation in our body as well as preventing the forming of free radicals.

6. Pumpkin seed

Pumpkin seed contains high amounts of zinc and iron. Zinc is a vital mineral for a healthy prostate gland which helps to trigger the production of free testosterone. Iron helps the reproduction of red blood cells and increases the oxygen levels in blood stream that is essential for brain cells.

7. Chlorella

Chlorella contains the antioxidant chlorophyll that helps to protect against the forming of free radicals and improve circulation of blood in our body. Study shows that chlorella also helps to protect brain cells caused by high level of stress hormones. The nucleic acid in chlorella also helps to improve memory.

D. With conventional approach

1. Inflammation
Strengthening immune system will help to fight off foreign substances, molecules as well as forming of free radicals that help to decrease or prevent any degree of inflammation in joints, skin, and the brain resulting in skin wrinkle, arthritis and memory problems. Cinnamon powder contain high amounts of antioxidant beta carotene that can help to strengthen your immune system and fight against any inflammation.

2. Mini-Stroke
Mini stoke may not have any impact in brain cells but hundreds or thousands of mini strokes may cause the blockage of brain vessels resulting in accumulation of plagues and tangles. Therefore taking life style changes to protect overall health may help to to prevent or delay any other memory loss and symptoms of Alzheimer's disease. Garlic contains high amounts of iron that help to reproduce blood cells as well improve oxygen levels resulting in better circulation of blood to brain cells.

3. Control high blood pressure
High blood pressure causes the heart to work harder to provide oxygen to brain cells resulting in plague building up in the arterial wall and hardening of arteries. Chlorella contains chlorophyll that help not only to remove plague from the arterial wall but also heavy metals accumulated in our brain.

4. Control levels of cholesterol
Cholesterol causes the clogging up of brain vessels. Fish contains high amounts of fatty acid Omega 3 and 6 that helps to inhibit blood clotting causing a serious blockage in the vessels of the brain.

5. Eating more vegetable and fruits
Vegetable and fruits contain antioxidant vitamins and other photochemicals that can help to protect brain cells from damage from free radicals and stop the progressing of brain cells dying off due to Alzheimer's disease.
Others such as reducing intake of alcohol, stop smoking, get regular exercise and staying mentally active also help as well.

E. With supplements
1. Melatonin

As aging, the production of melatonin in the pineal gland diminishes. The intake of melatonin supplement may exert a powerful antioxidant activity that easily helps to prevent the formation of cell radicals in our body including the brain.

2. Carnosine

Carnosine helps to block the formation of glycosylation, caused by sugar aldehydes reacting with the amino acid on the protein molecule. It also helps to remove toxic chemicals such as copper and zinc from the brain.

3. DHEA

DHEA is a hormone produced by the adrenal gland that helps to regulate the balance of our body hormones. Deficiency of DHEA causes hormone imbalance in men as well as women. Study show that intake of DHEA is necessary for aging men for improving mental ability and alleviating stress.

4. Coenezyme Q 10

Coenezyme Q 10 helps to increase the circulation and oxygen levels of the blood stream. As we know that lack of oxygen in the blood can exacerbate cognitive deterioration.

5. Lecithin

Choline and inositol in the lecithin helps to increase production of acetylcholine in our body helping the communication and signal-transmission between brain cells. An increase in lecithin will prompt brain cells to produce more acetylcholine, thus improving memory.

6. Taurine

Besides helping to protect the formation of free radicals in brain cells and enhance nervous cell function, taurine is essential in protecting the supply of magnesium and calcium in the brain.
I hope this information will help. If you want to more information of the above subject, you can follow my series of articles and visit my home page at:

Kyle J. Norton
http://medicaladvisorjournals.blogspot.com
or http://Alzheimersdisease02.blogspot.com