There are many different causes of memory loss or decline. In this article I will talk about some of the most common causes, and how you can tell whether or not you are at risk.
By memory loss, I am not talking about normal forgetting, we all forget things once in a while. It’s when this forgetfulness becomes more frequent, and disruptive to our normal lives, that we need to be concerned. If, for example, you find you are forgetting things now that you once could easily remember, or you are losing your interest in learning new things, or you can’t remember procedures that were once easy for you to follow, then you may be experiencing mild cognitive impairment, or the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease or some other type of dementia.
Dementia is basically defined as a loss in cognitive function or ability, usually accompanied by short-term memory loss, like the inability to remember names of people you were just introduced to, or numbers you were just given. There can be other losses in ability as well, such as the ability to multiply or subtract numbers in your head, or to remember what you have just read or been told. Other signs may include disorientation, getting easily lost, frequently losing items, or difficulty getting organized or planning for the future. All of these can be signs of dementia or cognitive decline. For a more complete listing and explanation of each go to www.alz.org/10_signs
Alzheimer’s disease is one of the most common and most devastating types of dementia, often associated with old age. It is characterized by a loss of brain cells, accompanied by a build-up of amyloid plaque in the brain and tangled clumps of neurons.
What Causes Alzheimer’s
Scientists are not yet in full agreement as to the ultimate causes or Alzheimer’s, but there appear to be many. Genetics can be a factor, and may double a person’s chances of developing Alzheimer’s. But genetics are not destiny and most people with the APOe4 genetic predisposition do not develop Alzheimer’s, and most who do develop it do not have this gene combination. There are clearly other factors at work here. Systemic inflammation and oxidation (rusting) in the brain each appear to play a significant role.
Whatever the initial cause, the loss of ability to metabolize glucose and to create the energy needed to function and survive, appears to be at the heart of the problem, resulting in cell death. Ultimately these damaged cells lose their ability to create acetylcholine – the neuro-messenger of memory, or they lose the ability to send or receive these chemical messengers.
We know that if “heavy metals”such as lead, mercury or aluminum make it into the brain they can cause serious damage and dementia. The aluminum theory has been around for many years, we know it is a neuro toxin, and can cause brain damage, but why some exposed to aluminum develop AD while others clearly do not, has been a mystery.
There is a Canadian doctor by the name of Harold Foster who believes the critical factor here is the body’s pH, whether or not our body and brain more acidic or alkaline. Dr. Foster’s research suggests that when the body is more alkaline, which is the more natural and healthy state of the body (nearly all babies are alkaline) a state in which the body is more impervious to disease, the blood brain barrier is able to keep these “heavy metals” out of the brain. However, if we become over acid, and as the average American diet, high in sugars, hamburgers, salt, acidic soft drinks, over processed foods, etc., as well as stress, tends to make us, our bodies become more susceptible to disease. When this occurs the blood brain barrier becomes more porous or open to heavy metals and other substances that can damage the delicate enzymes and structures of the brain, leading to cell death. And aging bodies generally tend to be more acidic. So in summary, four of the primary causes of AD appear to be:
- Homocysteine and other inflammatory cytokines in the body and brain
- Uncontrolled oxidation in the brain
- Insulin resistance and/or the loss of glucose metabolism
- The inability to make or transmit acetylcholine
- Heavy metals – aluminum, mercury, lead etc, in our environment
- An over acid diet, and acidic pH.
Other Causes
But there are many other types of dementia and causes as well. For example, another very common type of dementia is vascular dementia. This occurs when blood flow and oxygen are somehow restricted from parts of the brain, as when a person has a stroke, or mini-strokes called a TIA (trans-ischemic-attacks), or when arteries or blood vessels become damaged, blocked or constricted, or blood flow to the brain is otherwise reduced.
So one of the empirical generalizations, or good rules of thumb, from the research is that, “If something is good for the heart and vascular system, it’s good for the brain. But anything that is bad for the heart, or anything that could obstruct or damage the cardio vascular system, is likely to be bad for the brain as well, and may contribute to dementia.
Additionally, there are a variety of other toxic fumes and alcohols, from carbon monoxide, to heated plastics, paint thinners, solvents, and just plain alcohol from liquor and other “hard” or mixed drinks, that can cause significant cell damage as well. In fact there is a dementia category just for this. It’s called Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome.
Then too, some drugs or combinations of drugs can also cause dementia. Statin drugs for example, can be helpful in reducing inflammation, and so some feel they may reduce the risk for dementia. However, Dr. David Perlmutter a board certified neurologist and author the The Better Brain Book, notes that statin can also deplete the body of CoQ-10 and very important nutrient needed to supply oxygen to the brain, and therefore may lead to dementia. Other drugs such as antidepressants and pain killers, may over time deplete the body of important B-vitamins needed to protect the brain as well.
Finally, there is a hormone produced by the body itself, which in sufficient amounts over time, has been shown to cause cell death in the delicate hippocampus – the brain’s manufacturing center for memories. This chemical is cortisol, also known as the “stress hormone.” In this regard prolonged stress or worry, a chronic lack of sleep, or extended bouts of depression can lead to brain damage as well.
In review additional contributors to AD and dementia appear to be:
- Insufficient blood flow and nourishment to the brain
- Insufficient oxygen to the brain
- Environmental toxins
- Prescription and nonprescription drug effects coupled with
- Malnutrition
- Prolonged high levels of cortisol in the hippocampus
Medical and Other Contributors to Poor Health
So now that you know some of the chief contributing causes of dementia, let’s review some of the various medical and others conditions, including lifestyle which researchers have found contribute to this cellular damage and death, and appear to be correlated with increased risk for Alzheimer’s or other dementias.
Chief among these is uncontrolled sugar diabetes or insulin resistance. The brain needs a constant supply of blood sugar or glucose. However, too much sugar too fast, or too little for too long can cause insults to the brain that lead to damage. Some believe for this reason that AD should be called type 3 diabetes. Obesity and/or metabolic syndrome are related factors.
Hypertension and high blood pressure, as well as high serum cholesterol that results in arterial or focal plaque are known risk factors as well.
All of these, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, hypertension, high cholesterol, etc and other cardio-vascular problems appear to be caused, in major part, by our modern diet. Our bodies simply were not made to consume the refined high sugar, high fat or empty calorie diets that most Americans consume. As a result, over time these systems become damaged, and stop working and deterioration in the brain is accelerated.
This, coupled with a lack of exercise needed to keep the blood circulating to our brain, is believed to be a primary reason why Americans tend to have much higher rates of most chronic diseases including Alzheimer’s than people living in less developed countries of the world. For example, people living in rural China, parts of Africa, South America and India tend to have only about 1/3 the incidents of diabetes, heart disease, and Alzheimer’s as North Americans.
Finally, boredom or a lack of healthy social interaction and mental stimulation also appear to increase our risk for Alzheimer’s. Our brain was designed to be used, to solve problems, work out solutions, remember important facts. It is very much a use it or lose it organ. And the more we use it, the more new things we learn and recall, the better it seems to work. But inactivity, lack of sunshine and social isolation can actually result in inflammation and deterioration in the brain.
The good news is that all of these risk factors, even the genetics, can be controlled. Other articles provided on this site will go into greater depth on most of these issues, particularly emphasizing the practical things you can do now to better maintain your brain and mental faculties, especially your memory.
If there is one thing this research reveals it is that the earlier we get started doing those things that the brain needs to succeed, the greater the likelihood that we will be able to avoid the damaging effects of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia, as well as the mental, emotional and financial devastations that usually follow.
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