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8 Ways You May Be Able To Reverse, Delay, Or Prevent Alzheimer’s Disease
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Alzheimer’s disease is a serious and fast-growing disease that has risen to the point of being the sixth main cause of death in America. There are currently around 5.4 million people suffering from this debilitating disease and up to now, there is no known cure. Clinical trials are constantly being held in order to find a cure for Alzheimer’s, but at this time nothing has been shown to have proven positive results.
The good news is that there are proven ways that have been documented on people who have been diagnosed with the disease and have been able to turn their symptoms around. The Mary S. Easton Center for Alzheimer’s’ Disease Research, which is located at UCLA, documented their results from a roster of tests that were part of a comprehensive program to reverse or control the symptoms of Alzheimer’s.
1. Aerobic Exercise
During one of the studies, people who used exercise in dealing with Alzheimer’s disease were broken down into two groups – those who participated in aerobic exercise and those who used resistance training. A third group combined both types of exercise to see if they each worked together. The group that participated included people who had Alzheimer’s and those who were at risk of getting the disease. It was found that aerobic exercise helped to improve the cognitive condition of both. More studies have to be conducted to see how long the exercise results stay in effect, but the main thing was there was definitely the improvement.
2. B Vitamins
A major breakthrough in the use of B vitamins and Alzheimer’s disease was discovered in the United Kingdom. Researchers there found that giving recipients higher amounts of specific B vitamins cut down on the level of atrophy that the gray matter suffered from the disease. The B vitamins involved were B6, B12 and folic acid, and the results showed a sevenfold improvement!
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3. Vitamin E
It has been proven that vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant because it is made up of eight isomers that work together. The Journal of Internal Medicine recently documented a study that showed that those who have Alzheimer’s, as well as those with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), did not have as high levels of vitamin E as those who did not have issues with their brain function. Certain isomers, including gamma tocotrienol, alpha tocotrienol; and gamma tocopherol – were the most effective in determining which cases consisted of Alzheimer’s patients and those with MCI. Foods that can provide you with a good amount of vitamin E include seeds, nuts, tomatoes, avocadoes, spinach, papayas, mangos, and red bell peppers.
4. Vitamin D
A 30-year study that was conducted in Denmark kept track of the importance of vitamin D and the risk of ending up with dementia. After checking the levels of vitamin D in plasma from over 10,000 people, it was determined that the levels of vitamin D were lower in those who ended up with vascular dementia and Alzheimer’s. Make sure you have your vitamin D levels checked regularly to ensure they are at least at 50 to 70 nanograms per milliliter. If you’d rather get your vitamin D naturally, then just sit outdoors around 15 minutes a day – this should provide you with a sufficient amount of the vitamin.
5. Coconut Oil
When a doctor found out a link between coconut oil and Alzheimer’s she decided to test it out on her husband who suffered from the condition. In 2013, a clinical trial was held at the University of South Florida. In this clinical trial, the first testing was with coconut oil. It was found that the oil was effective in getting extra energy to the brain cells.
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6. Revised Diet
A very small clinical trial was conducted at the Buck Institute for Research on Ageing in California. While the trial only consisted of 10 people, what makes this study so important is that all 10 people were able to reverse some of the signs of Alzheimer’s. All 10 participants were given their own treatment plan that was personalized specifically for them. The plan was referred to as the metabolic enhancement for neurodegeneration, or MEND. The diet used in the MEND program consisted of starting out with a 12 hour fast – meaning nothing was consumed after a certain time each night. In addition, the diet was anti-inflammatory, low grain, and low-glycemic. It included probiotics and prebiotics as well as, in particular, blueberries, coconut oil, and vitamins.
7. Make sure that if you have type 2 diabetes it is controlled
The New England Journal of Medicine published the results of a study that was conducted in August of 2013. It showed that even when a person’s blood sugar levels were mildly increased – from 105 to 119 – the people were at an increased chance of developing Alzheimer’s. While safe blood sugar levels are from 70 to 85, the highest level at which you should maintain your blood sugar is 95.
8. Make the appropriate dietary changes
Researchers have found that high levels of saturated fats, as well as elevated levels of carbohydrates both play a large part in your chances of developing Alzheimer’s. It was proven that diets that were high in carbohydrates and sugar begin to destroy your brain but switching to healthy fats helps reduce your risk of Alzheimer’s by 44 percent.
READ ALSO: Alzheimer’s Disease: What You Can Do To Prevent It Infographic
If you or anyone you know suffers from Alzheimer’s, keep checking the latest clinical trials to see what success they are having. Studies are constantly pinpointing the way our diet affects our chances of getting this disease as well as which medications that are new on the market that are able to keep this condition from progressing.
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