Alzheimer’s set to skyrocket

It is estimated that by 2060 there are going to be about double the number of people showing Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) that then goes on to become Alzheimer’s disease (AD).   Presently there are 47 million US residents with clinical AD or preclinical AD and it is estimated to rise to about 75 million in about 20 years.

Clearly this is a potential problem that is set to explode and cause the devastating effects that it brings both to families affected by it and the economy due to lost productivity.   There are currently no good drugs for reversing the effects of MCI or AD, but some of these drugs may help in management of the disease and in slowing it down.

AD starts with misprocessing of a normal protein in the brain. The misprocessing, due to genetics or other reasons (stress, inactivity, high blood pressure, high anxiety, poor diet, inflammatory diet, sedentary life styles repeated head trauma) results in a protein fragment called beta –amyloid which although normal, in some people starts to aggregate and deposit in the neuron and its body . These deposits start a degeneration in the brain that is continuous and hard to stop. Preclinical AD starts with these amyloid (and Tau)protein deposits leading to neurofibrillary tangles and amyloidosis.   These events (protein deposits) start the neuro-degeneration and the subtle cognitive declines that are the hallmark of MCI and or the more serious AD.

If we could initiate therapy sooner, before AD or even MCI symptoms start to be seen, then perhaps the condition can be both monitored (for efficacy of treatments used ) and slowed down or even reversed at an earlier stage.

Dr Brookmeyer, lead author of the study says “Understanding the process of disease progression can potentially enable us to work at all points along the continuum, along the transitions from one state to another”.

Prevention is the key, always. Since it takes decades for misprocessing of amyloid to lead to AD symptoms, both prevention and slowing down the disease once it has started are key to necessary changes as there are still no good drugs to reverse the condition.

Here are some Alzheimers prevention tips:

Eat a good healthy diet, Mediterranean diet is a good example

Stay mentally active…………learn all you can, new activities are great for new neurons

Stay physically active……….recent studies showed aerobics can reverse some of the plaques!!

Consume brain friendly fats (avocado, coconut, Omega-3’s from cold water fish and nuts………..your brain is a fatty organ, eat the right fats

Social engagement…………..keep laying down new neurons

Getting quality sleep (does insomnia contribute to Alzheimers or does Alzheimers precipitate insomnia. A loop that must be broken.            Acupuncture and herbal medicine can help with this                        Ask me how

Stress management.      Acupuncture and herbal medicine can help with this      Ask me how