Mind Matters

By Bonnie Jenkins, Advanced Natural Medicine Bulletin

Being a baby boomer, I was anything but thrilled to hear that there are now more than 5 million people in the United States living with Alzheimer’s disease. That’s a 10 percent increase since 2002. And it isn’t just folks over 65 who should worry about this increasingly common disease. Between 200,000 and 500,000 people under age 65 are struck by early onset Alzheimer’s.

Currently, conventional medicine is helpless in the face of Alzheimer’s – there is no effective cure for the disease. People afflicted with Alzheimer’s gradually lose cognitive ability as their neurons (brain cells) are attacked and destroyed. In the end stages of the disease, patients become completely disoriented and must rely on caregivers for even their most basic functions.

More frightening – Alzheimer’s is on the rise. Scientists predict the number will grow to 7.7 million by 2030 and 16 million by 2050. Fortunately, there are ways to avoid this fate – and you can start with two familiar supplements.

Your co-pilot

CoEnzyme Q-10, already well-known for heart health, may also help prevent Alzheimer’s disease, according to a study recently published in the medical journal Behavioural Brain Research. Earlier studies show that CoQ10 levels are altered in people with Alzheimer’s disease and that brain energy levels are dramatically reduced in people suffering from dementia-related diseases. But this new study investigated the effects of CoQ-10’s antioxidant properties on brain impairment and found that CoQ-10 protected the regions of the brain normally affected by Alzheimer’s disease.

Taking CoQ10 may improve mitochondrial function in Alzheimer’s disease and counteracts amyloid plaques. Amyloid plaques are a sticky buildup that accumulates outside nerve cells – and it’s a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease.

If you’re looking for Alzheimer’s protection, most naturopaths recommend taking 100 mg. of Co-Q10 twice a day. And make sure you take it with food for maximum absorption.

Go fish

Fish oil supplements rich in the omega-3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) can also protect against a decline in mental function as we age – which makes sense since a lack of sufficient DHA has been linked to cognitive decline. In one 10-year study that tracked the DHA levels in 1,188 elderly subjects, Alzheimer's disease was 67 percent more likely to develop in those with low DHA levels.

How important is this omega-3? Lab studies show that DHA reduces beta-amyloid secretion, the substance that contributes to plaque in the brain. It also increases phosphatidylserine (PS), a naturally occurring phospholipid that is essential to the functioning of every cell in the body. But the highest concentration of PS can be found in the brain.

New research in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition suggests that DHA may also improve cognitive function and memory by suppressing inflammation and oxidative damage in the brain. In one study, ivestigators gathered childhood IQ data for seniors who were tested in 1947 and tested them again in 2000 and 2001. They also looked at the participants diet, supplement use and current plasma levels of omega-3s. Amazingly, the researchers found that those who took fish oil supplements had better cognitive function than those who did not. According to the researchers, the omega-3s in fish oil help to preserve cognitive thinking and mental processing by reducing inflammation in the brain.

Another study showed that DHA protects against damage to the areas of the brain where cells communicate and boosts performance in memory tests. The researchers believe that DHA not only works as an antioxidant, it also protects nerve cells.

While food sources of omega-3 fatty acids include cold-water fish like salmon, halibut, mackerel, sardines, as well as almonds, walnuts and DHA-enriched eggs, you can make sure you are getting enough of this brain-friendly fat by taking 1,000 mg. of a high-quality fish oil supplement three times a day.

One last thing . . .

Staying active socially may help prevent Alzheimer's disease, say researchers from Chicago’s Rush University Medical Center, who studied 823 seniors who were mentally sharp when the study began. Over a four-year period, the researchers asked the participants about their social life, their friends and whether they felt abandoned or lonely.  Answers were given a score from one to five. The higher they scored, the greater the risk. In fact, those with a score of 3.2 or more had twice the risk of those scoring below 1.4.

So, what’s the take-home message? Get involved. Join a club or church group. Try a class or a group sports activity. Volunteer. Following up on whatever peaks your interest may just be the easiest and most enjoyable way to beat the growing Alzheimer’s epidemic.

This just in . . .

For years, naturopaths have been recommending hawthorn to their patients with congestive heart failure. Rich in antioxidants, this herb significantly reduces LDL oxidation, boosts exercise capacity and strengthen weak blood vessels. Studies also show that it dramatically improves the quality of life for people with CHF. But now, German researchers say that hawthorn can also improve the quantity of life.

The randomized, double-blind trial, known as the SPICE study, was conducted at 156 centers in Europe and involved more than 2,500 patients with advanced CHF. Most of the patients were men and nearly half the group was significantly impaired by their heart condition.

The participants, who were already taking medication for their CHF, were randomly given either a hawthorn extract or a placebo for two years. Over the course of the study, the German researchers saw a 20 percent reduction in cardiac-related deaths among the patients taking the hawthorn extract. In fact, the extract extended their lives by four months during the first 18 months of the study. And the hawthorn extract was also extremely safe. In fact, the folks taking the extract had fewer adverse effects than those taking the placebo!

If you’re suffering form CHF, try taking one to three teaspoons of a liquid hawthorn berry extract per day. But don’t expect instant results. Hawthorn is slow acting and should be considered a long-term therapy. It may take a month or two before you experience improvement.

References:

“Crateagus Extract WS 1442 Postpones Cardiac Death in Patients With Congestive Heart Failure Class NYHA II-III: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind Trial in 2,681 Patients.” Presented at the American College of Cardiology’s 56th Annual Scientific Session.

Kyle DJ, Schaefer E, Patton G, et al. “Low serum docosahexaenoic acid is a significant risk factor for Alzheimer's dementia.” Lipids. 1999;34:S245.

Ono K, Hasegawa K, Naiki H, et al. “Preformed beta-amyloid fibrils are destabilized by coenzyme Q10 in vitro.” Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications. 2005;330:111-116.

Wilson RS, Krueger KR, Arnold SE, et al. “Loneliness and risk of Alzheimer disease.” Archives of General Psychiatry. 2007;64:234-240.