{"id":793,"date":"2015-03-11T03:21:23","date_gmt":"2015-03-10T15:21:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/4abettermemory.com\/memory\/?p=793"},"modified":"2017-06-23T08:28:06","modified_gmt":"2017-06-23T14:28:06","slug":"study-confirms-dementia-prevention-possible-with-improved-vascular-health","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/4abettermemory.com\/memory\/study-confirms-dementia-prevention-possible-with-improved-vascular-health\/","title":{"rendered":"Study Confirms Dementia Prevention Possible with Improved Vascular Health"},"content":{"rendered":"

In my January article \u201cNew Hope Rising\u201d I reviewed studies in Finland, Korea, and the US suggesting that age related cognitive decline could be reversed and dementia, even Alzheimer\u2019s delayed, if not prevented, with simple yet powerful lifestyle modifications.<\/p>\n

Two weeks ago, however, I had an interesting conversation with the PR directors for a national Alzheimer\u2019s research advocacy group, who chided me for suggesting as much. Unfortunately, they noted that they are bound by the standards and restrictions of the FDA.\u00a0 Which, are well known to be drug centric, and not always in the public\u2019s best interest.<\/p>\n

US officials seem stuck with their heads in the sand, on this issue, holding staunchly to the claim that Alzheimer\u2019s \u201ccannot be prevented, mitigated, or even slowed.\u201d While the rest of the world is busy proving that claim to be not only disempowering, but na\u00efve nonsense, that just doesn\u2019t square with the current scientific evidence.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you would like to know <\/span>why<\/b> we stay so stuck watch the video \u2013 <\/span>Bought<\/b>. \u00a0This link was sent to me by one of your fellow students. \u00a0Just sign up to get free access to the full video – you\u2019ll get an email with a link to watch it at your leisure until March 15<\/span>th<\/sup>. \u00a0<\/span>http:\/\/www.boughtmovie.net\/free-viewing?AFFID=197982<\/a><\/p>\n

Other Nations Are Overcoming Alzheimer\u2019s<\/b><\/p>\n

The Finland\/Sweden FINGER study reported in January provides powerful support for the belief that Alzheimer\u2019s can be mitigated, slowed, even prevented. \u00a0But another less-publicized study, I found recently, may provide even more compelling evidence. \u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As I noted, in the FINGER study they took 1260 seniors 60-77 with MCI (mild cognitive impairment), the highest known risk factor of Alzheimer\u2019s.\u00a0 They divided them evenly into two groups. They told the control group to go to their doctor, and pursue treatment as usual.\u00a0 While the experimental group was taught what to eat and not eat, encouraged to greater physical and mental activity, and provided social support.<\/span><\/p>\n

After two years they were able to see \u201ca clear difference\u201d<\/span><\/strong> in the performance of these two group on tests of memory, speed of thought, and cognitive function.\u00a0 In other words, while most of those in the control group continued their decline, those in the experimental group performed significantly better.<\/span><\/p>\n

The naysayers pessimists, or they would say \u201crealists,\u201d however,\u00a0 are quick to point out this has only been going on for 2 years, suggesting these lifestyle measure may only be masking the disease, which may still bloom and overtake them at the same rate as others. \u00a0So we won\u2019t know, they say, for another 5 to 7 years if this has truly delayed, slowed or prevented the disease, or merely masked it for a season.<\/span><\/p>\n

Enter the Caerphilly Study<\/b><\/p>\n

This included 2,235 men ages 45-59 in a rather typical city in Wales. \u00a0Again they looked at the impact of lifestyle: \u00a0diet (consumption of vegetables and fruit), exercise, weight, smoking and drinking<\/strong> in moderation, on various health disorders particularly diabetes, heart disease, strokes and dementia. \u00a0What was so impressive about this study, however, was the fact that they followed these men for 35 years!<\/b><\/span> \u2013 basically the rest of their lives.\u00a0 And what they found was that those who maintained the healthiest lifestyles, especially long walks, not only had 70% fewer cases of diabetes, vascular disease and strokes<\/strong>, they also had 60% fewer cases of dementia<\/b><\/span>. \u00a0Does this not demonstrate disease prevention??\u00a0 It would be a stretch of the imagination and statistical norm to argue otherwise. \u00a0But I\u2019m quite sure some will try.<\/p>\n

However, just imagine, if we could persuade our population to follow suite. What if 60% of Alzheimer\u2019s cases could\u00a0 be delayed for 30 years, what an impact that would make!!\u00a0 Much of our crisis could be averted, and billions saved in health care costs, not to mention the devastation from AD families could be spared. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The <\/b>Vascular Connection\u00a0 \u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

If you think the Caerphilly study suggests a significant connection between heart or vascular disease and dementia, you would be right.\u00a0 Another recent study out of Australia even suggests, dementia may be <\/span>more <\/b>a matter of blood flow, than genetics, metabolism, amyloid plaque or tangles.\u00a0 According to\u00a0 Jonathan Stone, Professor of Neurobiology at the University of Sydney.\u00a0 \u201cAged-related dementia is the result of undetected bleeding into the brain caused by the lifelong destructive effects of the heart\u2019s pulse on tiny blood vessels in the brain.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Over the course of a lifetime, the aorta gradually hardens as the elastin in the wall of the aorta starts to fail. \u201cAs this hardening happens, the aorta causes higher peaks and troughs resulting in higher blood pressure as a person ages,\u201d says Stone. \u201cWith blood spurting into them with increasing intensity, the brain\u2019s blood vessels become damaged.\u201d This stiffening, therefore, may be the factor which links age to dementia. Cardiovascular disease, they note, shares a set of well defined risk factors with the Caerphilly study including high blood pressure, low HDL with high LDL cholesterol , smoking and obesity.<\/p>\n

So what\u2019s to be done? <\/b><\/p>\n

The vascular explanation suggests several possibilities for prevention and for the outcomes seen in the Caerphilly study. \u00a0This would suggest that anything in our diet or lifestyle that protects our cardiovascular system and reduces blood pressure, should protect against dementia. Therefore, preventing diabetes and obesity by exercising<\/span><\/strong> and eating more veggies<\/strong><\/span> and fruit<\/span><\/strong>, and fewer carbs<\/strong> (as suggested in Dr. Suzanne Craft\u2019s research noted in class), and reducing smokin<\/span>g, should reduce one\u2019s risk for dementia, because these have all been shown to improve or help to maintain vascular health,<\/p>\n

One other factor few are aware of, but many are susceptible to, that contributes to hardening of the arteries and high blood pressure is the over consumption of calcium\u00a0<\/strong> supplements without adequate vitamin K2, boron, magnesium and Vitamin D3<\/span><\/strong>.\u00a0 Without these co factors to steer calcium into the bones, several major studies have shown that much of this will end up in one\u2019s arteries and heart instead.<\/p>\n

This happened to a good friend of mine, intent on keeping his body alkaline with calcium.\u00a0 He thought he was doing everything right, but almost died from a heart attack due to the over accumulation of calcium deposits in his aorta. \u00a0It you want supplemental calcium to make it to your bones you need the vitamin K2, boron and magnesium that are found in vegetables.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

If this link to vascular health has your attention you may also want to check out our April 2014 report<\/a> again, to identify other contributors to vascular health.<\/p>\n

Bottom line<\/strong><\/span>.\u00a0 Yes, it appears dementia and even Alzheimer\u2019s can indeed be prevented, by following a brain healthy lifestyle<\/strong><\/span>. \u00a0(Next month we hope to finally have our new book available on that topic.) Thousands of people are already doing it, with great results. \u00a0What is there to lose, besides some belly fat, brain plaque, \u00a0and some unwarranted faith in a few American institutions that should be doing a better job of advising the American public. At least that’s my opinion.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In my January article \u201cNew Hope Rising\u201d I reviewed studies in Finland, Korea, and the US suggesting that age related cognitive decline could be reversed and dementia, even Alzheimer\u2019s delayed, if not prevented, with simple yet powerful lifestyle modifications.<\/p>\n

Two weeks ago, however, I had an interesting conversation with the PR directors for a national […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9,4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-793","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-prevention-strategies-integrated-topics","category-prevention-strategies"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/4abettermemory.com\/memory\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/793","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/4abettermemory.com\/memory\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/4abettermemory.com\/memory\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/4abettermemory.com\/memory\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/4abettermemory.com\/memory\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=793"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/4abettermemory.com\/memory\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/793\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1035,"href":"https:\/\/4abettermemory.com\/memory\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/793\/revisions\/1035"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/4abettermemory.com\/memory\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=793"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/4abettermemory.com\/memory\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=793"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/4abettermemory.com\/memory\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=793"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}