Alzheimer's risk factors Archives - Amazing Health Advances

Homocysteine Imbalance Connected to HIGHER Risk of Alzheimer’s Disease

The AHA! Team — Fri, 20 Dec 2024 06:20:15 +0000

Lori Alton via NaturalHealth365 – Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia, currently affects about 60-70% of the nearly 55 million people diagnosed worldwide – while heart disease and stroke continue to claim too many lives, every year. As a possible way to help solve this health crisis, scientists are learning that high homocysteine levels can contribute to these life-threatening diseases. For instance, a recent study found that elevated homocysteine is associated with an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Homocysteine is an amino acid, and high levels in the body, often due to deficiencies in vitamin B12 and folate, can lead to cognitive decline. Another study at Temple University highlighted the vital role of B-complex vitamins in controlling homocysteine. With vitamin B deficiencies currently widespread in the United States – and Alzheimer’s disease on the rise – the need for maintaining healthy levels of these essential nutrients has never been more apparent. How vitamin deficiencies and other factors contribute to Alzheimer’s disease In a recent review published in Disease-a-Month, researchers examined how vitamin deficiencies and other factors could be linked to Alzheimer’s disease in humans. They found that low levels of vitamin B12 and folate, along with elevated homocysteine levels, are associated with an increased risk of developing Alzheimer’s. These imbalances can contribute to cognitive decline and neurodegeneration, similar to what’s seen in other studies on dementia. The review also highlighted how oral bacteria, specifically those linked to dental infections like periodontitis, may play a role in Alzheimer’s. These bacteria can trigger inflammation in the nervous system, adding to the damage in the brain. Another key finding is that Alzheimer’s might be related to insulin resistance in the brain, sometimes referred to as “type 3 diabetes,” which disrupts glucose metabolism and worsens brain function. Diet-induced elevations in homocysteine damage the brain Researchers have also uncovered more about how tau tangles form. They found that elevated homocysteine levels trigger an increase in 5-lipoxygenase (5LO), a pro-inflammatory chemical responsible for the formation of tau tangles. The next step is to determine whether blocking the production of 5LO can prevent – or even reverse – the brain damage caused by high homocysteine, which had already been linked to amyloid beta plaques, another hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease. Until now, however, the connection between homocysteine and tau tangles has been unclear. The statistics on elevated homocysteine are alarming Homocysteine, classified as a non-protein amino acid, exists naturally in the human body. It is produced as a byproduct of the metabolism of the amino acid methionine. High homocysteine levels, known as hyperhomocysteinemia, can have a genetic component. But they can also be caused by stress, improper diet – such as eating too many processed foods – and B vitamins and folic acid deficiencies. In addition, although coffee has received high marks lately from researchers for its association with lowered risk of degenerative disease, some experts believe that coffee consumption raises homocysteine levels. Research has shown that high homocysteine levels disrupt fragile arterial linings, promote inflammation and oxidative stress, and reduce blood flow to the heart and brain. All of these destructive processes can “prime the pump” for atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease – to such an extent that blood levels of homocysteine can accurately predict the risk of heart disease. Studies have shown that high homocysteine is associated with a 42 percent increase in the risk of narrowing of the carotid arteries. In addition, people with elevated homocysteine who have had a heart attack are at a 30 percent higher risk of experiencing another adverse event – for example, a second heart attack, stroke, or even death. Finally, high homocysteine doubles the odds of developing dementia (as compared to people with normal levels). Your doctor can check your homocysteine levels with a simple blood test. Levels under 10 umol/L are considered desirable, with 7 umol/L to 8 umol/L considered optimal. How do I avoid vitamin B deficiencies and fight high homocysteine? Unfortunately, vitamin B deficiencies are common, particularly in elderly people. One study showed that 40 percent of heart disease patients aged 80 and over are deficient in vitamin B12. As vitamin B12 is found only in animal products, vegans and vegetarians may be at risk, too. You can boost your intake of B-complex vitamins by eating healthy amounts of organic spinach, wheat germ, beets, and avocados. Wild-caught salmon, 100% grass-fed beef, and organic dairy products are particularly rich in vitamin B12. However, supplementation with B-complex vitamins may be the best approach – especially if you have hyperhomocysteinemia. Naturally, you should consult your holistic doctor before starting a supplement routine. For lowering high homocysteine, natural health experts often recommend taking 25 to 100 mg of vitamin B2 a day – along with 100 to 200 mg a day of vitamin B6, 1,000 to 10,000 mcg a day of vitamin B9 (folate), and 300 to 1,000 mcg of vitamin B12, or methylcobalamin. These B-complex vitamins, which all work together to detoxify homocysteine, should be taken along with the omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA found in fish oil. One more bit of encouraging news: In one study, combining B vitamins and omega-3s reduced brain shrinkage by 40 percent! High levels of homocysteine can put you at risk for potentially life-threatening diseases. However, a safe, inexpensive B-complex vitamin routine can help you lower your levels. When preserving the health of your heart and brain, these “B” vitamins are the “A” team. Sources for this article include: NIH.gov ALZ.org Medicalxpress.com Europepmc.org To read the original article click here.

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Alzheimer’s Doctor: Here’s How to Avoid Getting It or Reverse Symptoms if You Already Have It

AHA Publisher — Thu, 20 Aug 2020 07:00:45 +0000

Lorie Johnson via CBN News – Alzheimer’s is a scary disease because it means not remembering loved ones or how to do basic things like getting dressed. Until recently, doctors didn’t know what caused it and couldn’t offer much help. However, now that’s changed. Just like a roof with dozens of holes can only work if all of them are repaired, Alzheimer’s has dozens of causes that must all be addressed, according to Dr. Dale Bredesen who has researched the causes and treatments of Alzheimer’s Disease for more than thirty years. “Let’s make dementia a rare problem. Let’s make Alzheimer’s a rare disease, just as it should be,” Dr. Bredesen told CBN News His book, The End of Alzheimer’s Disease: The First Protocol to Enhance Cognition and Reverse Decline at Any Age lists the many different causes of Alzheimer’s and describes how his Bredesen Protocol can prevent the disease and has been shown to reverse symptoms in people with mild to severe cognitive decline. Sally Weinrich reversed her symptoms when she started the Bredesen Protocol after being diagnosed with the early stages of Alzheimer’s Disease. “You can get your cognition back, and that’s what counts,” she told CBN News. She has been on The Bredesen Protocol for four years and has remained mentally sharp the entire time. “I thank God for everything,” she said, “From helping me hear about Dr. Bredesen, from the chance to talk to you and share it with others, because that’s God’s wish, for others to have health, and to help me appreciate and treasure my loved ones even more, who’ve been very instrumental and critical in my reversing Alzheimer’s.” She says her husband Martin discovered The Bredesen Protocol through an internet search and helped his wife get started on it. The First Step The first step of the Bredesen Protocol involves getting what’s called a “cognoscopy.” “We recommend that everyone 45 years of age or older, consider getting a cognoscospy,” Dr. Bredesen said, “Especially for anyone who has any Alzheimer’s or dementia in their family. Get checked out early and get on prevention.” A cognoscopy tests for each of the dozens of Alzheimer’s risk factors. It’s a simple procedure that involves giving blood and taking a quick, online quiz that measures a person’s mental capacity compared with other people who are the same age. Since each person is different, the results will vary. The online test measures things like memory and reaction time. The blood tests measure levels for good things like Vitamin D, Magnesium and Zinc as well as bad, such as toxins and inflammation. DNA is Not Your Destiny The cognoscopy also tests your genetic risk. Approximately 75 million Americans, roughly one in four people, carry one copy of the ApoE4 gene, which equates to a thirty percent increase in the risk of Alzheimer’s. Approximately seven million Americans carry both copies of the gene, which means they have more than a fifty percent risk of developing Alzheimer’s Disease. Two-thirds of Americans with Alzheimer’s Disease carry one or both copies of the ApoE4 gene. Three-quarters of Americans carry two copies of the ApoE3 gene, which means they have a nine percent chance of developing Alzheimer’s during their lifetime. Dr. Rebecca Ryder is one of the more than 1,500 physicians who has trained under Dr. Bredesen and prescribes his protocol to her patients. “It is a complicated disease,” she said. “There is no one magic bullet.” Until now, too many people didn’t want to know whether they carried one or both copies of the ApoE4 gene because they felt there was nothing they could do about it. However now the opposite is true. People should know early whether they carry the gene because with early intervention science now tells us it’s possible to silence it, or “turn it off.” “There are some things we can not control. Our genes. The genes we were dealt with,” Dr. Ryder said, “But there’s a whole field called epigenetics which says how our genes are translated. So those lifestyle factors, your diet, your exercise, all that affects what genes are promoted or not promoted for your health.” Your Personal Program Patients can learn the nearest location of a health care professional who has trained in the Bredesen Protocol on the website. Patients can also work with their primary care physician to prescribe the blood work needed for a cognoscopy. Patients can also get a cognoscopy by working directly with practitioners at Apollo Health, the brain health community founded by Dr. Bredesen. Dr. Ryder says she reviews the results of a patient’s cognoscopy with them. “Most patients will have a combination of things,” she explained,” Like they’ll have a little bit of hormone, a little bit of blood sugar problems, maybe a little bit of toxin exposure.” Based on the results of the cognoscopy, the patient is prescribed a tailor-made program using diet, exercise, sleep, stress reduction, supplements, and more. “We’ve seen some good reversals of cognitive decline here,” Dr. Ryder said, “I mean, I have seen the patients get better here. Not all of them. As with anything, the earlier you catch it, the better.” Success Stories So far more than 5,000 people have started the protocol. Dr. Bredesen and his team have documented cases of patients who initially scored low on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, or MoCA, a screening that measures brain function, who improved after adopting the protocol. Likewise, patients who had poor EEGs, which measure brain-wave speed showed improvement and those with brain shrinkage detected on MRI scans later showed increased volume after being on the protocol. “Those 5,000 some of them MoCA scores of zero and late stage,” he explained, “Now, no surprise, the earlier you get started the easier it is to get positive outcomes. However, we have seen some people even in [the] late stages with improvement.” Dr. Bredesen published research studies documenting cases with before and after evidence of improved cognition, including Sally Weinrich’s. “Life’s good,” Sally said, “So no matter what stage you’re at, or if you have what society calls ‘aging problems,’ I’d encourage all your viewers to just do it. It’s worth it.” Meanwhile, Dr. Bredesen’s research continues. “We’re in the midst of the first trial in history in which, instead of predetermining a treatment, saying, ‘OK, we’re going to treat with this drug or that drug, we’re instead looking at all of the different contributors to the cognitive decline for each person, and then addressing those,” he continued, “And this is the way of the future. This is the way people will be treating cognitive decline for years to come.” So instead of using a single drug to treat Alzheimer’s Disease, it appears a customized, multi-pronged approach to treatment and prevention could be the best strategy to fight this scourge. To read the original article click here. For more articles from CBN News click here.

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