Is it Alzheimer's disease or something else?

Deficiencies and conditions that can mimic Alzheimer's Disease

Simple vitamin deficiencies can cause symptoms similar to Alzheimer's Disease. Below are nutritional deficiencies and conditions that can mimic the symptoms of Alzheimer's Disease, and should be checked for anyone showing signs of dementia:

• Vitamin B12 deficiency - which causes short-term memory loss, 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.
• 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.

Source: www.knowledgeofhealth.com/report.asp?story=Is%20it%20Alzheimers%20or%20something%20else

Studies Showing Supplements May Help Alzheimer's Disease

Controlling oxidative stress (free radical damage) is a pivotal factor for chronic degenerative diseases of the eye and brain. Current science suggests that neurotoxic peptide amyloid-beta (Abeta) can accumulate in the brain and vascular system of those who inherit a specific set of genes. Amyloid-beta contributes to increased oxidative damage by inducing lipid peroxidation, which in turn generates additional free radicals and dangerous reactive oxygen species (ROS). This vicious chain of events is suggested to increase the risk of developing both macular degeneration and Alzheimer's disease. The prestigious journal, Brain Research, recently published a piece on the synergistic protection of folate, vitamin E, and acetyl-L-carnitine against oxidative stress resulting from exposure of human neuroblastoma cells to amyloid-beta proteins.

Supplementing with CoQ10, lipoic acid and grape seed extract may help as well as they help ameliorate neurotoxicity in the brain, according to a recent study published in the Annals of the New York Academy of Science.

Source: www.biosyntrx.com/pearl.htm