Boomer Health Discoveries

Alzheimer's Disease Risk Decreased by 55% With Folate

According to a study published by the Journal of the Alzheimer's Association, older adults could cut their risk of developing Alzheimer's disease by more than half by keeping their folate intake at 400 micrograms a day. The study, reported in the inaugural issue of the journal Alzheimer's & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association, is the largest to date to show that the B vitamin folate could prevent Alzheimer's. Investigators also noted that most people in the study who reached the recommended intake level did so by taking folate supplements, which are in the form of folic acid supplements. The findings, if confirmed by other studies, could lead to a relatively simple way to avoid Alzheimer's, an incurable brain disease that afflicts 4.5 million Americans. Folate is a B-vitamin nutrient found in foods such as leafy green vegetables, asparagus, broccoli, liver, oranges, and many types of beans and peas. Only 13% of study participants reached the recommended dietary allowance of folate from food alone. Most reached it through folic acid suppliments available at most drug stores. Make sure that your aging parent is taking folic acid supplements as an Alzheimer's prevention strategy.

Avoiding Alzheimer's With a Brain-Healthy Lifestyle

Avoiding Alzheimer’s disease can be as easy as drinking fruit juices and flossing your teeth daily — according to a new study by the New York School of Medicine. What they found was:

1. Drinking fruit or vegetable juice at least three times a week makes you four times less likely to develop Alzheimer’s. So mom was right. Carrot juice and orange juice really IS good for you.

2. Keep your teeth healthy. Fight gum disease, which can lead to brain inflamation, which can lead to Alzheimer’s. Apparently clean teeth lead to a clean brain.

3. Keep socially active. A new risk factor was decreasing social activity in old age. So even though it may become a hassle, think of socializing as a brain exercise. Force yourself or your aging parent away from the television and into social settings. In doing so you'll help to avoid Alzheimers!

So if you have an aging parent who is, or has, suffered from dementia or Alzheimer’s, you probably already know that your chances of developing dementia or Alzheimer’s are higher than the baseline population. However, if you develop a “brain-healthy” lifestyle you can counter the genetic code you may have inherited. And besides, drinking fruit juice and flossing daily aren’t really that bad. And maybe even socializing can have hidden benefits. These are not hard tasks to undertake — especially if they help you to avoid Alzheimer’s.

An Apple a Day May Keep Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Away

A group of chemicals in apples could protect the brain from the type of damage that triggers such neurodegenerative diseases as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, according to two new studies from Cornell University food scientists. The studies show that the chemical quercetin, a so-called phytonutrient, appears to be largely responsible for protecting brain cells when assaulted by oxidative stress in laboratory tests. Phytonutrients, such as phenolic acids and flavanoids, work to protect apples against bacteria, viruses and fungi. They also provide the fruit’s anti-oxidant and anti-cancer benefits. “The studies show that additional apple consumption not only may help reduce the risk of cancer, as previous studies have shown, but also that an apple a day may supply major bioactive compounds, which may play an important role in reducing the risk of neurodegenerative disorders,” says Chang Y. “Cy” Lee, Cornell professor of food science at the university’s New York State Agricultural Experiment Station in Geneva, N.Y. Studies have found that phytochemicals are associated with a reduced risk of cancer, heart disease and diabetes, and that they fight not only cancer but also bacterial and viral infections. In addition, they are anti-allergenic and anti-inflammatory. The type of apples used in the study were Red Delicious, though all types of apple contain the key phytochemicals — they key is to eat them at least once a day. Or feed them to an aging parent who may be at risk for Alzheimers or Parkinson’s.

Can Marijuana Keep Alzheimer's Away?

A recent study demonstrating the preventive effects of cannabinoids on Alzheimer’s disease, was conducted by researchers at the Cajal Institute and Complutense University in Madrid. Believe it or not, researchers showed that cannabinoids prevented cognitive decline through experiments with rats. In these experiments, they injected either amyloid (which leads to cognitive decline), or control proteins into the brains of rats for one week. Other rats were injected with a cannabinoid and either amyloid or a control protein. After two months, the researchers trained the rats over five days to find a platform hidden underwater. Rats treated with the control protein – with or without cannabinoids – and those treated with the amyloid protein and cannabinoid were able to find the platform. The “unstoned” Rats treated with amyloid protein alone, did not learn how to find the platform. Rats that received the control protein alone or cannabinoid and a control protein did not show activation of microglia. “Microglia” collect near plaques in the brain and, when active, cause inflammation which can lead to Alzheimer’s. Using cell cultures, the investigators confirmed that cannabinoids counteracted the activation of microglia and thus reduced inflammation in the brains of rats. According to scientists, these findings that cannabinoids work to both prevent inflammation and to protect the brain, may set the stage for their use as a therapeutic approach for Alzheimer’s disease. The scientists will now begin to focus their efforts on targeting one of the two main cannabinoid receptors that is not involved in producing the psychotropic effects, or high, from marijuana so that they can develop cannabinoids in a pill someday to give to baby boomers to help them prevent brain inflammation and Alzheimer's.

DHEA Treats Mild to Moderate Mid-Life Depression according to a report by the National Institute of Mental Health.

In a small study of 46 men and women, ages 45 years old to 65 years old, suffering from minor to major mid-life depression, 50% showed a reduction in depression after taking DHEA -- a vitamin supplement available in most health food and drug stores. It’s not that expensive, you don’t need a prescription to buy it, and health plans won’t blacklist you for taking it – like they will other prescription anti-depression pills. So if you are getting down in the dumps about that old person staring back at you from the mirror, or if you have an aging parent that is too stubborn to admit they’re depressed. Get some for them and tell them it’ll help give them back “vigor". DHEA is often marketed as a “fountain of youth", so it may not be too hard to convince your aging parents that it’ll be beneficial, Reports show that amounts ranging from 50 to 100 mg. were used in the study.

Walking 1-1/2 Hours a Week Can Delay Mental Decline

Two large studies have shown that walking as little as 90 minutes a week has shown to have benefits to the brain. Women in the study who walked 90 minutes per week had a 20% lower risk of mental impairment than those who walked less than 40 minutes per week. A second study showed that men who walked less than a quarter of a mile per day had an 80% higher risk of developing dementia then those who walked at least two miles a day. So far, researchers are not completely clear on why long frequent walks help protect against dementia, but studies with mice have shown that physical activity reduces levels of amyloid in the brain. Amyloid is a sticky protein that builds up with mental disorders --eventually killing brain cells.

Exercising Your Brain Can Reduce Alzheimer's Risk

A recent study by Case and University Hospitals of Cleveland, Ohio has examined the employment history of over 357 people, over four decades. Of those in the study, 122 eventually developed Alzheimer's disease. The study found that only 31 percent of the people who had developed Alzheimer's disease held managerial and professional jobs. The majority of the people who developed Alzheimer's held routine jobs that tended to be less complex, and with less variety. Many in the study who did not develop Alzheimer's had an average 33 percent increase in mentally demanding work from their 20's to their 50's while those who developed Alzheimer's did not. Does this mean that we should all apply for complex management positions? Not necessarily. But you may want to keep learning new things, like playing a musical instrument, writing, or using a computer to keep your mind challenged and exercised.

Diabetes Linked to Alzheimer's

Researchers from Chicago's Rush University Medical Center have just finished a five-year study involving 824 Catholic nuns. The study concluded that diabetics had a 65% increased risk of developing Alzheimer's or vascular dementia compared to non-diabetics. The study showed that poorly controlled diabetes also affects brain functioning and mental cognition. Diabetes can be controlled by insulin, exercise, and good eating habits. The study was not conclusive, as other factors such as strokes may have affected the outcome.

Stress Can Be Related to Alzheimer's

A study of 800 older Catholic clergy found that the older people most prone to negative feelings -- such as anxiety and helplessness, were twice as likely to develop Alzheimer's as those who were happy in their lives. The volunteers in this study had an average age of 75. They were rated at the beginning of the study on their apparent ability to deal with stress or negative emotions in their daily lives. A follow-up study determined that those prone to stress or negative emotions were twice as likely to have experienced a decline in memory. Studies have shown that stress and negative emotions can be prevented or maintained by antidepressants. If you notice your older parent suffering from depression or negative emotions, you may want to seriously consider having their doctor recommend antidepressants -- especially if it's your mom, as older women seem to be at higher risk of getting Alzheimer's-related dementia than men.

Supplements of Vitamins C and E cut Alzheimer's Risk in Study

A five-year study of 4,740 participants was aged 65 or older was conducted on the value of taking over-the-counter vitamins C and E. The study determined that participants taking 1000 iu of vitamin E, and 500 milligrams of vitamin C a day as supplemental vitamins, had a 78% lower risk of getting Alzheimer's disease. The study was created by the John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Silent Strokes can Increase Your Chances of Developing Alzheimer's

A large study in Holland has determined that suffering from symptom less strokes can greatly increase your chances of developing Alzheimer's. The study indicated that middle-aged people should get plenty of exercise, and eat a balanced diet to keep their weight, blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar level low. Diet and exercise are important for vascular health and to avoid silent strokes in aging. Silent strokes are fairly common in the elderly, according to the study. Unfortunately, most elderly never know that they have had a silent stroke, as the tiny infarcts can only be found by an MRI scan. A stroke occurs when the flow of blood and oxygen to part of the brain is interrupted. Most often, it is caused a blood clot or a hardening of arteries in the brain. Silent strokes, or infarcts, are gaining a reputation as one of the leading causes of dementia and Alzheimer's disease.

Certain Types of Fats May Effect Your Chances of Getting Alzheimer's

A study from Chicago's Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center has determined that people who reported consuming large quantities of saturated fats, like those found in red meat and dairy products, faced double the risk of having Alzheimer's compared to those who consumed smaller amounts. Large quantities of fat in this study was determined to be around 25 grams of fat daily (equal to around 4 tablespoons of butter.) Those people in the study who consumed large amounts of polyunsaturated fats (fats found in nuts and vegetables) reduced their chance of getting Alzheimer's by 70%.

Fish in Diet May Help Prevent Alzheimer's

A study on older people found that those who had fish in their diet were less likely to develop Alzheimer's disease. Scientist are not quite sure why eating fish would help to prevent Alzheimer's, but they suspect that the oil in the fish may help to prevent inflammation within the brain.


Drug "Memantine" Found to Slow Alzheimer's Effects

A drug that suppresses the activity of glutamate, a key brain chemical, may be one of the first effective treatments for for patients in the later stages of Alzheimer's disease, according to a new study. The drug, memantine, is manufactured by Merz Pharmaceuticals of Frankfurt, Germany. It has been used for more than a decade in Germany for brain disorders, but only recently tested for slowing the symptoms of Alzheimer's. Memantine is currently under review by the Food and Drug Administration for use in the United States.

Lineoleic Acid -- a Stroke Reducer?

Around 600,000 Americans will suffer strokes this year. But new research at Loyola Medical center in Maywood, IL may have found a way to reduce the damage produced by strokes. In laboratory tests on rats it was found that lineoleic acid produced by sunflowers and other plants can actually lower stroke causing high blood pressure. Lineoleic acid can also lower the incidence of brain damage after a stroke. If your parent has high blood pressure, or joint pain, you may want to look into sources of Lineoleic acid as it is thought to relieve both of these. You can buy Lineoleic acid through health stores as supplements or find it in sunflower oil, or even emu oil (yes, emu oil). So here's an excuse to invite your parent over for an emu steak fried in sunflower oil.

Study Suggests Coenzyme Q10 Slows Decline in Parkinson's Disease

A controlled study suggests that taking 1200 mg of Coenzyme Q10 can slow down the rate of deterioration Parkinson's disease. Coenzyme Q10 is an antioxidant, but it also helps by improving the function the powerhouses that produce energy in cells. You can buy Coenzyme Q10 over the counter in most drugstores throughout the US. Unfortunately, 1200 mg a day can become an expensive remedy -- especially if you exist on a fixed income.

New Study finds Aspirin Capable of New Cures

A new study has found that women who take aspirin on a "regular basis" cut the risk of developing the most common type of lung cancer by more than half. A "regular basis" was determined to be three or more times a week for a period of six months or more. While aspirin cannot counter the effects of smoking, it can offer some resistance to lung cancer. More studies are looking into whether aspirin can reduce the risk of bowel and esophageal cancer.

Another study found that people over 65 who took aspirin for more than two years were half as likely to develop Alzheimer's than those who did not take the pills regularly. Their studies showed that those who benefited from the aspirin had taken it over long periods of time. Apparently, aspirin had little effect on those who had already developed symptoms of dementia. Aspirin is not right for everyone. Make sure your parent's doctor gives it the "OK" before encouraging them to start aspirin therapy.

Black Cohosh Found to Relieve to Ease Menopause Symptoms

Researchers at Columbia University and George Washington University have discovered that ingesting the herb black cohosh can actually help to relieve the symptoms of menopause. These results were taken from 29 independent studies of the effects of herbs on menopause. Losers in the studies were ginseng, red clover, dong quai and oil of evening primrose which were found to have no discernible effect on relieving the symptoms.