Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's disease is a brain disorder which gradually destroys the ability to reason, remember, imagine, and learn. It's different from the mild forgetfulness normally observed in older people. Over the course of the disease, people with Alzheimer's no longer recognize themselves or much about the world around them. Depression, anxiety, and paranoia often accompany these symptoms. Although there is no cure, new treatments help lessen Alzheimer's symptoms and slow its progression.

Currently, doctors can't diagnose Alzheimer's disease with 100% certainty until a brain autopsy after the person's death reveals the disease's markers: abnormal clumps and irregular knots of brain cells. So diagnosis of Alzheimer's rests largely on the judgment of physicians experienced in dealing with dementing illnesses. But that judgment has become quite sophisticated.

There are many diseases or other problems that can cause dementia - Low levels of Vitamin E have been seen in neuromuscular diseases, and dementias such as Alzheimer?s disease. Studies show that vitamin E or another drug, selegiline, slowed the progression of Alzheimer's. Brain tissue is highly susceptible to free radical damage because, unlike many other tissues, it does not contain significant amounts of protective antioxidant compounds. Certain nutrients, antioxidants, can prevent the oxidative damage free radicals cause. Antioxidant nutrients include:

Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, selenium, the carotenoids, among them beta-carotene. These have been used along with Lecithin or choline supplements in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

Aluminum is unusually abundant in the brain tissue of people with Alzheimer's disease. Antacids, especially those containing aluminum, are best avoided because of their interference with calcium absorption and the possibility of aluminum toxicity, which has been implicated in Alzheimer's disease and other types of senility.

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