8 surprising ways to avoid Alzheimer’s disease
One out of every 10 people over the age of 65 has Alzheimer’s disease. If you want to avoid becoming an Alzheimer’s statistic, consider some of these promising and inexpensive ways to pre-vent or slow down this devastating disease.
Aspirin
If trying to remember your grocery list gives you a headache, you might reach for some aspirin. According to some studies, if you took aspirin every day, you might remember that list more easily. Some doctors think inflamed brain tissue con- tributes to Alzheimer’s. They say a daily dose of aspirin or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), like ibuprofen, could help prevent or treat the condition by reducing swelling.
One study of 50 elderly twins found that the twin who used NSAIDs was less likely to get Alzheimer’s, or developed it later in life, than the twin who didn’t use NSAIDs.
If you are interested in this treatment, talk with your doctor. Don’t start taking NSAIDs without his advice. They can cause serious side effects, like stomach irritation and bleeding.
Hormones
New research suggests some hormones may improve your memory. In a recent study, women who took estrogen were one-third less likely to develop Alzheimer’s than women who did- n’t take the hormone. But women aren’t the only ones to benefit
from a memory-improving hormone. Older men who were given testosterone supplements improved their memories as well.
Vitamin E
Inexpensive and widely available, vitamin E sup- plements show great promise for slowing down the progress of Alzheimer’s disease. In a recent study, people with moderate cases of Alzheimer’s were given 2,000 international units (IU) of vitamin E a day. As a result, they were able to care for themselves an aver- age of seven months longer than those who didn’t take the vitamin.
A 2,000-IU dose of vitamin E is much larger than the RDA and could cause bleeding problems. Talk with your doctor before taking such large doses.
If you want to get more vitamin E naturally, eat soybeans, green leafy vegetables, wheat germ, whole-grain cereals, peanut butter, nuts, and eggs
Sugar
A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down, according to Mary Poppins. But according to scientific research, a spoonful of sugar may help you remember to take your medi- cine. In one study, participants fasted overnight. Then, in the morning, they drank lemonade that had been sweetened either with sugar or a sugar substitute. Those who got the lemonade with sugar performed much better at a memory test than those who got the artificial sweetener.
Beta carotene
Keeping your memories may be as simple as crunching some carrots. A recent study found that beta carotene, a substance found in carrots and other brightly colored fruits and vegetables, may help protect you from memory loss and other forms of mental impairment.
Researchers studied more than 5,000 people ages 55 to 95. They found that those whose diets included the most beta carotene were the least likely to have problems with memory, attention span, and other mental abilities.
But if you despise carrots, don’t despair. You can also get beta carotene in dark green vegetables, like spinach and broc- coli, and in yellow or orange fruits and vegetables, like apricots and sweet potatoes.
Ginkgo
You may be able to leave your memory problems behind with the help of the ginkgo or maidenhair tree, the oldest living species of tree.
Researchers say ginkgo widens your blood vessels, which increases blood flow throughout your body. More blood flowing to your brain means clearer thinking and better memory. Ginkgo has been shown to improve lack of concentration and energy, confusion, absent-mindedness, anxiety, dizziness, and headache.
Although it’s still a controversial treatment, several studies show that ginkgo has a positive effect when given to people with Alzheimer’s. While it can’t reverse the ravages of the disease, tak- ing it may improve thinking, emotional well-being, behavior, and sleeping habits. The studies showed few, if any, side effects.
If you want to try this natural supplement, it’s important to choose a good quality extract of ginkgo biloba. Look for the words “50:1 concentrate” and “tannin free” on the label. The 50:1 means that 50 pounds of leaves were used to make one pound of extract, which is the most effective ratio. Tannin free means that tannin, a potentially toxic substance found in the leaves, has been removed during processing.
Amounts used in the studies varied from 120 to 160 mil-ligrams (mg) of ginkgo a day up to 240 mg. For people with Alzheimer’s, these large doses seem more effective than the small- doses you might take to boost memory power.
B vitamins
These vitamins are particularly vital to your brain’s health and keeping your memory sharp.
Vitamin B12 (cobalamin) helps your body manufacture neu- rotransmitters, chemicals that help carry messages between nerves and your brain. If you are a vegetarian, you may need to take sup- plements, since B12 is only found in foods from animals. Although the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for B12 is only 2.4 mcg, some memory experts recommend 100 even 1,000 mcg daily. Good food sources of vitamin B12 include red meat, salmon, and dairy products.
Vitamin B1 (thiamin) helps nerve signals travel from your brain to different parts of your body. You can get thiamin from wheat germ, nuts, beans, and rice.