World Alzheimer’s Month

Did you know yesterday (September 21st) was World Alzheimer’s Day and September is World Alzheimer’s Month? Alzheimer’s disease is growing with 2 out of 3 people diagnosed with dementia have Alzheimer’s Disease.

• The number of cases are increasing every year
• More women than men are affected
• As you age your risk increases
• For more information and how you can help go to ALZHEIMERS NEW ZEALAND
• Read our previous post that was published in Avena Magazine (professional magazine of the New Zealand Association of Medical Herbalists)

10 Warning signs of dementia from Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI)

1. Memory loss
2. Difficulty performing tasks
3. Problems with language
4. Disorientation with time and space
5. Poor or decreased judgement
6. Problems with abstract thinking
7. Misplacing things
8. Changes in mood and behaviour
9. Changes in personality
10. Loss of initiative

Everyone with dementia / Alzheimer’s will experience it in their own way but as the disease progresses everyone with require full time care and support.

Dementia is NOT a part of normal aging

Prevention is the best way to ensure that you are keeping your brain healthy. Scientists agree that degeneration begins as early as 20 years before any of the above warning signs present themselves so how you live today is of benefit.

Healthy brain habits include:

• Diet – what you eat plays such an important role in all disease prevention. “You are what you eat”, ensure that you have a good diet, limit sugar, alcohol, smoking and other brain toxic substances found in food such as heavy metals, moulds, preservative and pesticides¹
• Exercise – Although at present there are no studies that can specifically prove that exercise can reduce risk there is evidence that physical activity throughout the life-course is associated with better cognitive function and studies have shown that regular aerobic exercise has improved those with mild congitive impairment (MCI)²
• Being Social – Jobs which require complex thinking are better protected against dementia and those that are more social, particularly teachers, doctors and others who work with people – are at a lower risk for developing Alzheimer’s disease

Natural Treatment Supplements for Brain Health

• Fish Oil, omega 3 DHA has been shown to be protective to brain cells ³
• Gingko Biloba, a herb that has been proven to improve circulation and enhance memory function⁴
• Cacao – cacao flavonoids are able to increase cerebral blood flow in healthy young subjects. Increased blood flow to gray matter has been shown to account for angiogenesis (formation of new blood vessels) as well as neuronal growth in the brain areas involved in memory processing⁵
• CoQ10 – Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), a component of the mitochondrial electron transport chain, is a natural antioxidant and protects the cell from oxidative stress. CoQ10 has been shown to reduce plaque buildup in areas in the brain involved in memory⁶

Come and see us today if you are wanting more information and a tailor made plan to invest in your future health.
Your Naturopath
Denise

References

1. Sofi, F., Abbate, R., Gensini, G.F., & Casini, A. (2010). Accruing evidence on benefits of adherence to the Mediterranean diet on health: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis. Am J Clin Nutr, 92(5)1189-96
2. Barnes, D. E., & Yaffe, K. (2011). The Projected Impact of Risk Factor Reduction on Alzheimer’s Disease Prevalence. Lancet Neurology, 10(9), 819–828. http://doi.org/10.1016/S1474-4422(11)70072-2
3. Daiello, L. A., Gongvatana, A., Dunsiger, S., Cohen, R. A., & Ott, B. R. (2015). Association of fish oil supplement use with preservation of brain volume and cognitive function. Alzheimer’s & Dementia : The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association, 11(2), 226–235. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.jalz.2014.02.005
4. Wightman, E. (2017). Potential benefits of phytochemicals against Alzheimer’s disease. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society,76(2), 106-112. doi:10.1017/S0029665116002962
5. Magrone, T., Russo, M. A., & Jirillo, E. (2017). Cocoa and Dark Chocolate Polyphenols: From Biology to Clinical Applications. Frontiers in Immunology, 8, 677. http://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2017.00677
6. Daiello, L. A., Gongvatana, A., Dunsiger, S., Cohen, R. A., & Ott, B. R. (2015). Association of fish oil supplement use with preservation of brain volume and cognitive function. Alzheimer’s & Dementia : The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association, 11(2), 226–235. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.jalz.2014.02.005