The Prevention of Alzheimers Edges Ever Closer The 4 Pillars of Alzheimers Prevention by

Dharma Singh Khalsa, M.D.

President/Medical Director, Alzheimers Research and Prevention Foundation

Moreover, while Alzheimers is often considered a disease of aging with 10% of the population over age 65 having the disease and 50% over 85 having it as well, there is a very disturbing trend: According to Ronald Peterson of The Mayo Clinic, Alzheimers disease is now appearing in younger people as well, sometimes even as early as in their twenties. How is it that someone so young can get Alzheimers disease and beyond that, why is it that some people get it and some escape? While there is no clear answer to that question, there are a number of scientifically proven risk factors for developing Alzheimers disease: 1. Age. As mentioned above, the older you get, the risk increases. 2. Genetics. The Apo E -4 gene has been shown to be associated with a fifty percent chance of developing Alzheimers. What this should tell you is that having this gene does not necessarily mean youre going to get it. Clearly, recent research reveals, genes arent everything. And, as well soon see, there are a number of reasonable ways to blunt the effects of genes and other risk factors. 3. A family history of Alzheimers. Having a relative such as a grandparent, parent, aunt, uncle, or sibling with the disease dramatically increases your risk. 4. Lifestyle. There are a number of particular environmental factors that modify your risk of

Alzheimers disease slowly robs a person of their mind, memory, and personality. As the dreaded illness inches on, the patient no longer recognizes his or her family, loved ones, or himself. According to recent reports, it is our most feared disease; even more so than cancer. When I first began my research and writing on this subject over fifteen years ago and created the Alzheimers Prevention Foundation, there were approximately four million Americans with Alzheimers. Today, there are over five million people in the USA diagnosed with the disease and perhaps as many as five hundred thousand undiagnosed people living in society with Alzheimers. Beyond that, the numbers continue to rise, with estimates reaching as high as sixteen million Americans with the disease in our life-time. Worldwide, these numbers are predicted to skyrocket to around eighty million people by 2050.

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developing memory loss across your life span. These include modifications in your daily activities that you can make right now. 5. Other risk factors. These include head trauma, depression, heart disease, high cholesterol, thyroid disease, elevation of the amino acid homocysteine in your blood, and low levels of vitamin B 12 and folic acid in your blood. But there is good news to report. Due to recent discoveries, mainstream medical scientists now agree with my own previous work that Alzheimers disease may be able to be prevented or its onset delayed. And, very importantly, if we can delay the onset of Alzheimers by five years, then the number of cases will be halved. Additionally, if we can delay its onset by ten years, which I believe is very possible, a person may outlive the development of the disease and thus Alzheimers disease may be eliminated. The reason that it is possible to prevent Alzheimers disease is primarily because of what I call the first law of brain longevity. That law is: your brain is flesh and blood just like the rest of your body. Because your brain is flesh and blood, there are things you can do for it to keep it healthy and working well, regardless of your age or stage of life. Now, most excitedly, we know that you can even grow new brain cells, a process called neurogenesis, build new connections between brain cells, a process called neuroplasticity, and enhance your cognitive reserve or the strength of your brain to resist

damage. Where do all these new exciting facts lead? You can enjoy a lifetime of peak mental performance. So how can you build a better brain reserve, empower cognitive reserve and even prevent Alzheimers disease? According to the latest research presented at the Second International Prevention of Dementia Conference hosted by the Chicago-based Alzheimers Association in Washington D.C., the way to develop a better, stronger brain is to make life-style choices similar to those of The 4 Pillars of Alzheimers Prevention. Here they are: 1. Diet and Memory Specific Nutrient Supplementation 2. Stress Management 3. Physical, Mental and Mind/Body Exercise 4. Pharmaceutical Medication and Hormone Replacement Therapy. As discussed at the conference, its exceedingly clear that what you put in your mouth over time may influence the development of many diseases including heart disease, arthritis, cancer, and Alzheimers disease. According to nutritional research, the enemies of brain longevity are a diet high in saturated and trans-fats as well as eating foods that are too high in sugar. In countries where the intake of fat is high, the incidence of Alzheimers is elevated as well. Moreover, new

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research by medical scientists has clearly indicated that Alzheimers may be a form of insulin resistance. In other words, Alzheimers may be a type of diabetes in the brain. For that reason, the up-to-the-minute recommendations are to eat a diet limited to 20 per-cent fat rich in Omega-3 from sources such as salmon and tuna. Protein should be from lean sources, and you need to make sure you get your six to nine servings of fresh, preferably organic, fruit and vegetables each and every day.

neuroplasticity, neurogenesis, and cognitive reserve. The keys to generating new brain cells (neurogenesis) and forging new connections (neuroplasticity) in animals as well as humans, appears to be in creating whats known as enriched environment. Research in mice by Dr. Carl Cotmans laboratory at the University of California in Irvine, reveals that when the little animals are given nice cages with treadmills and mice toys and other mice for company as opposed to simply having the mouse put in a cage with a bowl of water and food, they do better on memory tests and have less Alzheimers pathology in their brains when examined at autopsy. Dr. Rusty Cage in San Diego has also shown that exercising mice actually grows new brain cells.

As that is still quite difficult for most Americans, a multiple vitamin and mineral tablet is recommended. Although there has been some controversy as of late regarding supplementation with anti-oxidant vitamins such as Vitamin C, and Vitamin E, the consensus is that they are beneficial to long-term brain health. Other supplement research receiving positive reviews include ginkgo, Phosphatidylserine (PS), the omega 3 fatty acid DHA, turmeric, and green tea. Resveratrol, pomegranate, and blueberries are also being recognized for their healing properties. The newest and most exciting research work from the bastions of academic medicine, however, was concerning the three concepts I mentioned above:

Numerous studies in humans support the benefits of exercise for your heart and cardiovascular system. It helps prevent osteoporosis and boosts your immune system. Studies have also shown that people who exercise lower their risk of memory loss. Moreover, new work by investigator Scott Small, M.D., Columbia University, has conclusively shown that physical exercise creates new brain cells in humans. In his work, Scott has been able to explain specifically what happens in the brain following exercise. Exercise, they found, targets a part of the brain in the hippocampus or memory center of the brain called the dentate gyrus, which is the area associated with memory loss. Dr. Small is now looking to describe the exact type of exercise that may be

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most effective at growing new brain cells. In addition, as you will soon see, there is ongoing breakthrough research on mind/body medicine which is very promising for the health of our brains. Why? Because in a recent study sponsored by the Alzheimers Research and Prevention Foundation, brain function and memory were improved in people who were suffering from memory loss after 8 weeks of practicing an easy mind/body exercise. This exercise is called Kirtan Kriya. The research project was performed in collaboration with The University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and the Institute for Spirituality and the Mind. We performed SPECT scans at the beginning of the research and again after the eight week period, which showed a myriad of positive changes. The scans revealed, for example, that the posterior cingulated gyrus, the first area of the brain to diminish in activity in Alzheimers, is activated by this Kirtan Kriya. All of this new and exciting research tells us that it is now possible to enhance your cognitive reserve and perhaps prevent Alzheimers disease. Described by psychologist, Yaakov Stern, Ph.D., Columbia University, Cognitive Reserve simply means that by continually working on your brain, and making it strong through the various life-style measures Ive discussed in this article, you may be able to avoid the terrible tragedy of Alzheimers disease. And thats worthwhile.

For further information on the work of the Alzheimers Research and Prevention Foundation, including The 4 Pillars of Alzheimers Prevention, please visit: www.AlzheimersPrevention.org

Alzheimers Research and Prevention Foundation 6300 E. El Dorado Plaza, Ste 400 Tucson, AZ 85715 Phone: (520) 749-8374 Fax: (520) 296-6640 Email: info@alzheimersprevention.org

www.alzheimersprevention.com
2009 ARPF. All rights reserved. Reproduction without written permission is prohibited by law.