Originally published November 24 2009
How to Slow Aging and Prevent Alzheimer's
by Paul Fassa
(NaturalNews) Dementia is associated with aging, and the most common form of dementia is Alzheimer's. According to the Alzheimer's Association, 26 million are afflicted with Alzheimer's world wide. With all the toxins in our environment and food, it's vital that we obtain dietary information to minimize all forms of dementia.
Brain Tangles and Amyloid Plaque
Northwestern University researchers discovered that the amyloid plaque in the brains of two cadaver study groups, those who had unusually keen minds and others who were "normal" for their age, was virtually the same.
But the extremely keen minded oldsters had significantly fewer tau protein brain tangles. Tau protein are thread like strands. Different stressors and exciters can cause them to tangle and swell up the brain cells.
Conversely, amyloid plaque, commonly considered the sole source of Alzheimer's, tends to form outside the brain cells, thus impeding communication between cells.
Specific Dietary Supplements to Help Prevent Both Conditions
Certified Clinical Nutritionist Byron Richards says, "Carnosine levels decline with age partly due to general increased antioxidant demand in an effort to try and protect the aging brain." This increased antioxidant demand depletes carnosine, especially in regions of the brain associated with memory problems (Alzheimer's) and tremors (Parkinson's). So he recommends supplementing with Carnosine as one ages.
Regarding brain tangles, an animal study concluded that Acetyl-L-Carnitine was the choice for preventing those protein strands from tangling after stress. The researchers injected chemicals into the nerves that overly excite tau proteins and cause brain tangles to mimic the key aspect of Alzheimer's.
They found that by giving acetyl-l-carnitine to animals for two weeks prior to injecting those nerve damaging chemicals, the essential tau protein cells remained untangled. Thus the consequences of Alzheimer's in humans could be averted with acetyl-l-carnitine supplementation.
L-Carnitine has been used by athletes and body builders to increase energy production and burn body fat successfully for sometime. It has also demonstrated a resurgence in muscle strength, testosterone, and endurance for the elderly.
More significantly, taken in the form of acetyl-l-carnitine it appears to stave off Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia. Don't confuse this with the closely related l-carnitine. Byron Richards and Dietitian Gale Malesky highly recommend both canosine and acetyl-l-carnitine supplementation for preventing many forms of dementia.
Some Other Dietary Approaches
As always, begin by avoiding the poisons. Excitotoxins MSG and aspartame added to processed foods do just that - excite both brain and nerve cells to the point of destruction and probable brain tangles. Fluoride, aluminum, and heavy metals contribute to amyloid plaque formations.
Learn all the names used to disguise MSG and other food additives. Even better, simply consume whole organic foods while avoiding all processed foods, including the ones in health food stores!
It appears that meats and dairy products are the best sources of both carnosine and acetyl-l-carnitine. A vegetarian's body is capable of manufacturing these. But that ability declines with age. So to avoid meat or dairy, the aforementioned supplements could be added.
Other Foods and Supplements
Heavy green tea drinking helps alleviate the mental stress that contributes to mental deterioration.
Gingo assists mental clarity. Curcumin minimizes or eliminates plaque and inflammation. Vitamin B12 with folic acid and B6 are good for brain health too.
Hosphatidyl serine supplements with inositol, choline and the DHA from fish oil combined are especially useful for those already experiencing age related memory problems, according to Gayle Malesky.
Sources for this article include:
http://www.wellnessresources.com/health/arti...
http://www.stopagingnow.com/news/special_rep...
http://www.wellnessresources.com/health/arti...
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-10...
About the author
Paul Fassa is dedicated to warning others about the current corruption of food and medicine and guiding others toward a direction for better health with no restrictions on health freedom. You can visit his blog at http://healthmaven.blogspot.com
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