Alzheimer’s Causes and Prevention
Alzheimer’s disease is a condition of pre-senile dementia. Though, millions of people today have Alzheimer’s disease, its cure is yet to be discovered. The road to freedom from Alzheimer’s, as of now appears a long one, as scientists and doctors are yet to unearth the causes of this disease.
Though, Alzheimer’s was first described in 1906, many misconceptions are still attached to this disease. Even today, most people incorrectly perceive Alzheimer’s as a disease in which elderly people lose all control over their mental faculties and memory. A lot of blame for this misconception goes to media, which has repeatedly portrayed Alzheimer’s as this.
Generally, the first signs of Alzheimer’s appear when a person is in forties or fifties. Earliest symptoms include loss of short-term memory; the individual fails to recall recent events, such as whether he/she took the morning’s medicines. Memory impairment is then followed by noticeable deterioration in the thought and speech process, such as being unable to do simple calculations, or inability to find words to describe simple items. Alzheimer’s is a degenerative condition; as the disease progresses, the patients may become totally incapable of caring for themselves.
Correlation between Strokes and Dementia
Dementia is a serious health condition in which the patient gradually loses his/her cognitive abilities. Studies done on this disease show there are numerous conditions that can cause Dementia. While, some of these conditions are treatable and can be avoided by making certain changes in lifestyle, there are others conditions about which not much can be done.
What is Dementia?
Dementia is a condition in which a person gradually loses his/her mental ability. The condition degenerates with time and as the condition worsens, patients experience a complete loss of their cognitive abilities.
What causes Dementia?
The condition is a result of gradual degeneration of brain cells in cerebral cortex, part of the human brain responsible for higher brain processes, such as thinking, reasoning, sensation, and memory. When the brain cells in cerebral cortex – the ‘grey matter’ of our brain – dies, patient loses their cognitive abilities. When this happens, patients face extreme difficulty in doing everyday tasks or reasoning through simple problems.
Therapeutic Interventions can help Alzheimer’s Patients
Alzheimer’s is a fatal brain disorder, and as of now, there is no cure for this condition. The disease worsens with time and is recorded as the biggest contributor to dementia.
Different stages of Alzheimer’s
Alzheimer’s disease has three stages – mild, moderate, and severe. A person suffering from Alzheimer’s may show all or some of the symptoms mentioned below:
Mild
- Frequently getting lost
- Noticeably slow in completing everyday routine tasks
- Frequently placing common things in odd places or losing them
- Asking repetitive questions or making repetitive statements
- Poor judgment
- Problem in managing money
- Noticeable personality or mood changes
Can Natural Health Approaches help Alzheimer’s Patients?
Studies show that complementary health approaches, when used in conjunction with prescribed or traditional interventions, prove to be beneficial in the treatment of various diseases. Alzheimer’s disease, as we all know, has no cure as of now, and it is for this reason that a lot of research has been conducted to see if it is beneficial to use complementary health approaches for Alzheimer’s.
Natural Health Remedies are effective in Alzheimer’s disease: A myth or fact?
All studies done in regard say YES! Natural health remedies, when used along with traditional interventions, can help a great deal in curbing an Alzheimer’s patient’s pain and discomfort.
Some of the complementary health treatments that have helped Alzheimer’s patients are:
- Acupuncture
- Herbal Remedies
- Exercise
- Massage
Gingko Biloba Helps Dementia Patients
Dementia is a condition of progressive deterioration in cognitive function. As dementia is a progressive condition, the condition of the patients deteriorates with each passing day. As of now, there is no cure for this disease.
Gingko Biloba is a natural herb that helps dementia patients by improving their memory. However, various studies conducted so far to determine the efficacy of various herbs in controlling diseases like dementia have produced contradictory results.
Studies that support Gingko Biloba’s claim
Dr. Joe Mercola in 2002 reviewed 33 clinical trials that were conducted by the researchers at Cochrane Collaboration, and stated that Gingko Biloba, along with various dietary supplements, can help in bettering the memory of dementia patients.
Naturopaths Believe Dementia Is Reversible
Dementia is a health condition that is irreversible. Well, this is how most people view this disease, which is a progressive mental disorder. However, there are others who believe differently and know this condition can be reversed using natural remedies.
One of the most important aspects in managing dementia is diet management. However, the right diet cannot be created without an expert’s help, so seek the services of a reliable dietician to chart out the right diet plan.
Research shows that gas appliances expedite dementia. If someone in your family is a dementia patient, it will be best to replace gas appliances and remove all fossil fuel heating systems.
Dementia and Personality Changes Go Hand-in-Hand
Dementia is a progressive health condition that affects millions of people worldwide. It is one of those grim diseases that cause the personality of the patients to change dramatically.
The case of Kenny Sparks
Kenny Sparks, co-owner of a multimillion-dollar business, was a very successful person. However, things started to change for the worse when he was 49.
Kenny Spark’s wife Cheryl recalls that the first noticeable symptom of dementia in Kenny was his constant stumbling over words. Kenny was continuously forgetting what he was saying by the time he reached 50.
Link between Dementia and Belly Fat
Studies point that excessive fat around the waist puts you at a greater risk of developing dementia. A study recently published in a medical journal shows that women with big waistlines are two times more likely to contract dementia in old age.
The Research
The research was done on women who took part in the Prospective Population Study of Women in Gothenbury. In the 1960s, 1,500 women in the age group 38-60 were studied. The women were not only put through various examinations, but their lifestyle was also analyzed.
After a gap of 32 years, a follow-up study revealed that 161 of these women, with average age of 75 years, now had dementia. The findings also revealed something peculiar – that women who had more fat around the waist than the buttocks or hips were two times more likely to contract dementia in old age. However, this study didn’t find any correlation between BMI (Body Mass Index) and dementia.
Deborah Gustafson, a key researcher of this study, pointed that unlike other similar studies in which a relation between BMI and dementia was found, no direct link between the two were noted in this study. She added that a probable explanation for this could be that a majority of the women who participated in the Prospective Population Study were not overweight or obese.
Belly Fat – Why it is more dangerous
The answer to this riddle could lie in the fact that abdomen area in comparison to other body parts, such as hips or thigh contains more blood vessels and vital organs. The buildup of fat inside abdominal cavity can restrict the flow of blood to various organs, increasing the risk of cardiovascular diseases and dementia.
Lose belly fat naturally
By making positive changes in your lifestyle and eating habits, you can successfully shed excessive belly fat.
Here are some tips that help you shed the excess fat around the belly and other body parts:
- Exercise regularly – For best results, combine aerobic exercises with some strength training exercises.
- Sleep properly – Experts recommend seven hours of sleep each day.
- Eat healthy – Include wholesome foods such as fresh vegetables and fruits in your diet, and stay away from fatty or greasy foods.
Reducing excessive fat helps in normalizing the blood flow. Remember, the lack of blood flow to the brain leads to dementia and Alzheimer’s, so exercise daily to shed those extra pounds.
To reduce dementia risk naturally, benefit from the easy-to-do set of exercises developed by Christian Goodman, a natural health researcher. These exercises can be performed by anybody and increase the blood flow to your brain in just a few minutes. To kickstart your journey toward a life free from dementia, click the link above.
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Poor Oral Health: An Invitation to Dementia
Strong and healthy teeth not only keeps your dental’s bill to minimum, but they also significantly reduce the risk of Dementia.
A new study conducted by Columbia University shows that poor oral health may contribute to the development of Dementia.
The Study
The researchers at Columbia University tested the memory capabilities of nearly 2,300 individuals of 60 and above. Tests were also conducted on these volunteers to diagnose periodontitis – an inflammatory disease that affects the periodontium, which are tissues that support and surround the teeth. Some of the volunteers were found to have periodontitis.



April 21st, 2010