Alzheimers Disease: Exciting Discoveries For Slowing and Preventing Alzheimers Disease

Although effective medical treatments for Alzheimers disease remain elusive, there are exciting new discoveries for improving symptoms and prevention.

• New interventions are being based on anti-inflammatory nutrition and antioxidant research.

Scientists such as Gregory Cole are "finding a safe and effective new approach to both prevention and treatment of Alzheimer's disease that is tremendously exciting." Dr. Cole is a professor of medicine and neurology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA.

At the center of this new approach are the following:

• Anti inflammatory and artery protective omega 3 fish oils.

• The body’s own protective “master antioxidant” glutathione, GSH for which you cannot take a pill -- just the dietary precursors.

• Curcumin, derived from the curry spice turmeric.

Scientists Find Which Proteins Protect the Brain

The exact mechanism by which the omega-3 fatty acid DHA deters Alzheimer's disease has been determined.

Fish oil has long been advocated as an affordable supplement to prevent or at least delay this disease. UCLA scientists have confirmed this claim and now know the details of the underlying mechanism.

Greg Cole, professor of medicine and neurology at UCLA (University of California in Los Angeles) and associate director of UCLA's Alzheimer Disease Research Center, and his colleagues have determined that:

• The presence of the omega-3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) near neurons increases production of a protein called LR11.

• This LR11 protein is LOW in Alzheimer's patients and this protein functions as a destroyer of the plagues in the brain believed to cause the disease.

These plaques are made of misfolded proteins called beta amyloid that are thought to be deadly to neurons.

Since the plagues are formed in the brain many years before symptoms of the disease are observed, DHA should be included as a preventative measure rather than as a treatment.

The Spice Curcumin and Alzheimers Disease

Elderly individuals living in Indian villages have the lowest incidence of Alzheimer's disease in the world, with just 1% of those aged 65 and older contracting the degenerative brain condition.

Researchers are indeed confirming the beneficial effect of curcumin, an ingredient of curry, in reducing the buildup of “plaques” within the brains of mice:

Alzheimer's disease is characterized by the buildup of amyloid protein "plaques" within the brain. Dr. Frautschy’s research showed in studies in rats, that curcumin. "not only reduces the amyloid, but also reduces the (brain's) response to the amyloid."

The rats fed curcumin performed much better in memory-dependent maze tests compared with rats on normal diets.

Curcumin also appeared to reduce Alzheimer's-related inflammation in neurologic tissue. (Dr. Sally Frautschy of the University of California, Los Angeles)

She concluded that "A combined anti-inflammatory and antioxidant approach will be useful for Alzheimer's prevention or treatment."

• Researchers demonstrated that inflammation in Alzheimer’s disease patients is characterized by increased CYTOKINES and activated MICROGLIA.

• They concluded that “in view of its efficacy and apparent low toxicity, this Indian spice component shows promise” for Alzheimers disease and prevention. (Lim GP, Chu T, Yang F, Beech W, Frautschy SA, Cole GM. Departments of Medicine and Neurology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles)

• Because increased inflammatory Cytokenes have been shown to be characteristic of Alzheimers, it is now possible to use nutritional supplements and nutraceuticals combat these Cytokines to fight the progression of Alzheimers disease.

Recommendation for Supplements Against "Inflammatory Cytokines"

Protective Proteins Reduce Oxidative Stress and Inflammation

• Scientists use glutathione depletion as an indicator – to alert to the fact that there is too much oxidative stress causing damage and cell death.

• Why does low glutathione alert to damage being caused? Glutathione or GSH is the body’s own Master Antioxidant. When GSH is depleted, oxidative stress gets out of hand, causing inflammation.

Reduce oxidative stress and you reduce Inflammation.

• Until recently, it was a mystery as to how to restore glutathione levels effectively – just taking it as a pill or as an injection is not effective.

• A safe, nutritional method of improving glutathione levels was discovered by Dr. Gustavo Bounous at McGill University. He discovered a protein with a good supply of cysteine that allows the body to improve its glutathione levels, and set the standard for nutraceuticals that fight degenerative diseases like Alzheimers and Parkinsons.

Recommendations for Disease Fighting Proteins

Glutathione (GSH) Alzheimers Disease and its Prevention

• Some researchers have identified low glutathione in the areas of the brain relating to short-term memory and intellectual function of people with Alzheimers disease. The Role of Glutathione & Alzheimers & Research Links

• High levels of glutathione (GSH) levels relate to health and longevity, while low glutathione levels correlate to disease and early death. ( Lang CA, Mills BJ, Lang HL, Liu MC, Usui WM, Richie J Jr, Mastropaolo W, Murrell SA. Department of Biochemistry, University of Louisville, KY 40292, USA)

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What Doctors say about enhancing Glutathione, GSH against Degenerative Neurological Diseases

Experts: GSH, Alzheimers Disease and Prevention

He is former Chief Resident in Emergency Medicine at Emory University in Atlanta, and Undergraduate Director and Residency Training Director of Emergency Medicine at McGill University in Montreal.

He says that "Glutathione is not yet a household word, but it soon will be, now that we know how important this substance is."

How and where does he say GSH relates to Alzheimers Disease and prevention?

If heavy metals are involved in the progression of Alzheimers, GSH can play a critical role in their elimination and detoxification.

Certain studies have demonstrated that when aluminum is ‘pulled’ out of the cells using chelators, the symptoms of Alzheimers disease can be reduced or delayed. One of our primary defenses against these toxins is an adequate GSH enzyme system.

And as researchers further define how free radicals contribute to brain cell destruction, the role of GSH as the primary intracellular antioxidant will come to the forefront.

Much research has been focused on the role of antioxidants in alleviating Alzheimers symptoms and its progression, especially vitamin E because of its availability and low price. But the interaction of these antioxidants is complex, and many are dependent on adequate GSH or glutathione levels for their proper functioning.

A large number of post-mortem studies have compared normal with diseased brain tissue. They reveal significant changes in GSH and GSH peroxidase levels as well as elevated levels of the powerful oxidant lipid peroxide, against which GSH is a primary defense. Adams and his research team found GSH levels diminished in the area of the brain involved in short-term memory (hippocampus). Jenner and his co-workers found a similar decrease in the areas of the brain involved in higher intellectual functioning (the cerebral cortex.

Although Alzheimers disease is certainly a multifactorial problem, certain aspects must be emphasized. It is unclear whether oxidative damage is the cause or just an effect of Alzheimer’s.

However, there is no doubt that diminished oxidative stress can retard or diminish disease progression. In addition, the part apparently played by toxins such as heavy metal needs to be addressed.

In either case, elevated GSH levels can be a critical strategy against both Alzheimers disease and its prevention.

Case Study

Previously a gregarious salesman who loved to tell a joke, in his present condition he was even unaware of who was in the room. His previous history of smoking one to two packs a day left him with chronic bronchitis, requiring frequent inhalation therapy. To treat his ever-thickening secretions, the respiratory therapist started using Mucomyst (N-acetylcysteine – a GSH-promoting drug.)

After several weeks on the Mucomyst, Max began to smile when his wife entered his room and was visibly pleased by her visits.

It has since been found that using cysteine rich protein promotes glutathione on a day to day basis, and is therefore both safe and effective for the longer term than using glutathione promoting drugs.

"I have my mother back from Alzheimers" Protecting against the Psychoactive and Toxic Side Effects of Alzheimers Drugs

Raising Glutathione Naturally

• Raising glutathione is done most effectively by providing the required precursors in the diet.

• Nutraceutical grade proteins have been shown to effectively raise the body's ability to manufacture it where needed, especially in the brain. (the cysteine crosses the blood-brain barrier)

How Glutathione's Protects for Alzheimers Disease

For Studies & Nutraceuticals for Alzheimers Disease and Prevention:

Best Nutrition and Diet For Alzheimers Disease and Prevention

• These suggestions are based on growing research into the effects of antioxidants on dementia.

• Studies also seem to suggest that vitamin-rich foods rather then vitamin supplements, have beneficial effects.

A population-based study of antioxidants, appearing in the June 26, 2002, Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), suggests that a diet rich in foods containing vitamin E may help protect some people against Alzheimer's disease.

• The study is also noteworthy for its finding that vitamin E in the form of supplements was not associated with a reduction in the risk of Alzheimers disease and prevention.

• Enhancing the body's own Master Antioxidant, glutathione, will go a long way to preventing degeneration -- and can slow the progression and improve symptoms for those with the disease.

Recent Health Discoveries for Alzheimers Disease and Stopping the Progression of Alzheimers

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