Insights from ICAD 2009

Note: This is not an official Alzheimer’s Association publication. It was compiled for information purposes only. If you have a concern regarding your health, or what to take or do for any mental or physical ailment you should consult with a licensed physician.

The Alzheimer’s Associations International Conference on Alzheimer’s and related dementias was held July 26-31 in Chicago drawing nearly 5,000 researchers from around the world, who shared results from more than 200 studies. For a more in-depth review of their news go to http://www.alz.org and click on Research News in the left column.

In summary William Thies, PhD, Alzheimer’s Association vice president for Medical and Scientific Relations noted: “At the same time, we know that Alzheimer’s is a complex disease and that better treatments and preventions will likely also be complex, so we must investigate every promising drug target looking eventually towards the possibility of a multi-strategy approach.”

At the conference results were presented on several drugs under investigation that show real promise in arresting the progression of AD. You can read more about those in the news reviews on our site. However, those will likely not be available to the public for several years. So here we will focus on what is available and can be applied now.

Confirmation of previous findings

In reviewing the abstracts of the conference (and you can do this yourself on our website) we find there were many confirmations and extensions of what we have been sharing in this Review of Research in recent months. Below we will note a few of these related to DHA, Exercise and Mental stimulation. Next month we will focus more on other areas of nutrition showing promise, a growing area of major interest.

Physical Fitness

We have previously reported the importance of exercise in reducing the risk for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. At least half a dozen studies at ICAD 2008 confirmed the importance of exercise, not only as a preventive measure but they also showed it may be of significant benefit for those in the early stages of decline.

One Australian study found seniors with memory complaints or Mild Cognitive Impairment, who did at least moderately intensive exercised 110-150 min per week (20 minutes a day, or 30 min a day 5 days a week) showed a significant improvement in cognition, generally within 6 months. Another combined Canadian and Michigan State review of research found that in those with more advanced dementia, while 6 months of exercise had little effect, 12 months did have some effect on activities of daily living.

Another British study found that for those in the early stages of AD, cardiorespiratory fitness, as measured by a treadmill test, was positively associated with brain volume (health) in the hippocampus, temporal and parietal cortices, suggesting that “maintaining cardiorespiratory fitness may positively modify AD related brain atrophy.” In other words exercise may prevent deterioration in the brain. However, another study with mice suggested that ideally this exercise should be voluntary and less stressful. Mice forced to exercise did not do as well as those who did it voluntarily.

DHA and Fish Oil

Studies with fish oil, and particularly DHA the most neurologically active ingredient in fish oil continue to show the importance of this essential fat in our diet. In one study in the Netherlands with mice they found that those fed a Typical Western Diet (TWD) had reduced blood volume to the brain, while those on a diet high in DHA for more than 1 year had higher blood volume, decreased plaque, and improved spatial memory.

One study by Dr. Fotui a past neurological research advisor for the Alzheimer’s Association, and now director of research at Johns Hopkins, found that “DHA is most helpful for patients with age-associated memory impairment and MCI, but not those with Alzheimer’s.” Perhaps taking it longer would help, but for now the earlier the better.

Another study found that “a DHA enrich diet can diminish AD like pathology” in a mice sample, if continued over a longer period of time.

One Netherland’s study of a combined multinutrient approach involving fish oil plus nucleotides, protein and minerals, was effective in reducing Abeta plaque burden in Alzeheimer’s mice with an associated reduction in neurodegeneration.

Another Netherland’s study conducted in conjunction with the Yale School of Medicine, found that “combined supplementation of PUFA’s (fish oil), B vitamins and phospholipids may be more effective than fish oil supple­mentation alone in reducing depression relevant for AD.”

Dr. Osguthorpe, N.D. is conducting s free screening for the purpose of early intervention of cognitive impairment. The screening will be accomplished using the Asyra EDS system. This is an amazingly effective non invasive, painless testing conducted in his clinic. If you are interested, you may call 801-264-8561 for an appointment.

Vienna, July 13, 2009 Many well educated people are not aware of the risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease.

In a U of Connecticut study of well educated adults awareness of risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease, they found more than 500 respondents from the US, England, Canada and Ireland, generally showed a lack of awareness of the importance of obesity, high blood pressure, and stress as risk factors for Alzheimer’s and a less than expected awareness of the value of exercise as a protective factor, to reduce the risk for AD.

David R. Larsen, MFHD Master Trainer for Maintain Your Brain Alzheimer’s Association Utah Chapter