Today I think that I can speak for all of us when I say that we want to consider everything we can do to preserve our memory and our mind. So the question remains, what can we do to reduce the potential of developing dementia and Alzheimer's?
DOUBTFUL WONDER DRUGS
There is information coming at us almost every day about new drugs or natural remedies for dementia and Alzheimer’s. Unfortunately, we never know who to believe. All drugs released on the market today undergo final testing AFTER they are approved and prescribed to the public. Then the true testing phase occurs. That is why we often see drugs pulled from the market due to adverse events. We have seen this with drugs such as Vioxx, Baycol (a statin), Belviq, and Belviq XR, as well as Darvon and Darvocet. Those were pulled due to serious side effects... sometimes even death. Furthermore, there are also many claims about supplements and nutraceuticals that may not stand up to scrutiny.
While we may strive to take away the potential of progressive cognitive decline–or perhaps even reverse the incremental loss of memory–we cannot rely on a mere, single wonder supplement or drug.
PROVEN OPTIONS
My opinion is that our current state of knowledge on the subject of cognitive decline proves there are drug-free options, options that may not only reduce the potential for getting caught up in the progressively downward spiral of memory and reasoning loss but may perhaps even reverse early signs and symptoms.
However, every one of these options revolves around appropriate lifestyle choices.
As you may know, there are definite genetic predispositions for cognitive decline. However, just because you have the genes that point you down this path, that doesn’t mean you have to stand idly by and allow it to happen as if you have no choice.
Many of those reading this article have been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes or perhaps even “prediabetes.” Some of you have been prescribed drugs to “manage” your blood sugar levels. However, simply regulating your blood sugar artificially with these drugs arguably may not reduce your potential for the onset of dementia and Alzheimer’s. There are many other factors that come into play regarding the pathogenesis of Type 3 diabetes and the onset of dementia and Alzheimer’s.
We can qualify diabetes as Type 3 once it begins to affect the brain’s ability to utilize and metabolize blood glucose. Also, emerging evidence is pointing to the potential that oxidative stress in the brain, along with glucose metabolism and energy production, may be related to amyloid beta pathology, which is closely associated with tau protein pathology. These protein changes, along with the metabolism of both glucose and fat, play a part in the alteration of brain function. These metabolic changes may be one significant component in the process of increasing the potential for developing Alzheimer’s in diabetic patients.
Blood sugar regulation is also important relative to your overall immune function. Immune dysregulation has also been implicated in the process of cognitive decline by some researchers.
It appears that all of the current data is pointing to the fact that management of blood sugar levels–along with all of the other proper lifestyle-management tools–can apply to avoid cognitive decline.
The first one of these lifestyle management tools is a non-inflammatory diet. This means avoiding what we commonly refer to as “junk foods.” The doughnuts, Twinkies™, and DORITOS® will need to be kept out of the pantry. You will also need to restock with lots of vegetables. Limit your consumption of saturated fats and beef products that contain antibiotics and hormones. Consume “clean” fish and chicken. I say “clean” because there truly is value in eating antibiotic- and hormone-free chicken and wild-caught fish.
INDULGE IN REAL FLAVOR
Using plenty of herbs and seasonings is valuable in reducing your “inflammatory load” or the overall level of inflammation in your body. These should include curcumin and turmeric along with ginger and cinnamon. All of these herbs assist in reducing inflammation in your body, and some will help in balancing your blood sugar levels. In fact, the effect of cinnamon in the balancing of blood sugar levels has been documented recently in a research study done at the University of Iowa.
One specific component of cinnamon called “cinnamic acid” has been shown to influence an area in the brain called the hypothalamus and thereby cause a reduction of brain inflammation and assist the brain in assimilating and utilizing blood sugar or glucose more effectively.
So, proper nutritional intake, avoiding inflammatory and high glycemic foods, along with stress reduction and exercise all will help with reducing your potential for Type 3 Diabetes AND the potential to have a challenging cognitive future. This appears based on recent studies to aid in ultimately avoiding the potential of being diagnosed with dementia, or the most feared form of dementia, Alzheimer’s.