Alzheimer's Disease or Elderly Dementia

• Scientists believe that genetic factors may be involved.
• A protein called apolipoprotein E (ApoE) may be important. Everyone has ApoE, but the function of ApoE in the brain is not well understood. One form of the protein seems to protect a person from AD, and another form seems to make a person more likely to develop the disease.
• Scientists have found aluminum, zinc, and other metals in the brain tissue of people with Alzheimers.
• Some scientists think that a virus may cause the disease.
• Alzheimers is most likely to be caused several factors that act differently in each person.

Note: certain vitamin deficiencies and other conditions can mimic alzheimer's disease symptoms including:

• Vitamin B12 deficiency, which causes short-term memory loss and is sometimes accompanied by fatigue, low-back pain, sore tongue, or burning feet. Blood tests may be normal, even though a person has pernicious anemia, or B12 deficiency
• Vitamin B1 deficiency can result in memory problems and mental disturbances. Diuretics (water pills) can cause B1 deficiencies.
• Low folic acid (vitamin B9) levels are associated with declining mood.
• A decline in estrogen production among menopausal females can result in depression and may be linked to the development of dementia.
• A stroke can mimic Alzheimer's disease.
• Parkinson's is a disorder that features resting tremor, slowed movement, and gait disorder, and sometimes first manifests as amnesia.
• Thyroid disorder is also a condition that can cause brain dysfunction.

Although conventional treatments do not stop or slow progression of Alzheimer's, medications such as tacrine (Cognex), donepezil (Aricept), and rivastigmine (Exelon) are designed to relieve some memory impairment by slowing down the breakdown of acetylcholine (a neurotransmitter in the brain). Some doctors may also recommend a low daily dose of aspirin.

Prevention

According to a 2011 article in Lancet, the best prevention for alzheimer's is both physical and mental exercise.

• Exercise your mind daily with puzzles and learning new things
• Get daily exercise, at least a long walk every day. Getting enough exercise is essential because it influences other conditions such as your weight and blood pressure.
• It has also been found that some nutritional deficiencies may contribute to or mimic Alzheimer's

Nutritional Discussion

Clinical trials and double-blind research have indicated that there may be connections between nutritional deficiencies and alzheimers. In some cases, nutritional supplementation may reduce the risk of Alzheimer's and/or delay its progression. Read more about alzheimer's and nutritional factors.

• Acetyl-L-carnitine
• Antioxidant Supplements
  • Vitamin C or
  • Vitamin E
• B Vitamins
  • Vitamin B12
  • Vitamin B1
  • Folic Acid
• Phosphatidylserine
• Lecithin
• DMAE (2-dimethylaminoethanol)
• CoEnzyme Q10
• Zinc
• NADH
• DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone)

Botanical Treatment Options

In addition, there are a variety of botanical treatment options.

• Ginkgo Biloba
• Huperzine A
• Vincamine

See research on which the above discussion is based.

See additional research.