Understanding The Complexities of Alzheimer’s Disease Might Unlock the Doors to a Cure?

There is no single cause for Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and no single pill will cure it. Instead, multiple causes appear to cascade on each other as the disease progresses. Cut off the source early, and the disease may be stopped or slowed down significantly.

This past week, I wrote about AD in detail regarding causes and options that address each cause https://wp.me/p4ztmz-1pD, https://wp.me/p4ztmz-1pG, https://wp.me/p4ztmz-1pK. I have written 32 articles on AD over the years.

Life Extension Magazine – Alzheimer’s Disease

https://www.lifeextension.com/magazine/2013/3/nutritional-strategies-to-combat-alzheimers. Today is another article on AD, this time focusing on several nutrient options that offer options to consider seriously. The link above is one of the better sources of nutrient options offered for AD. There are over 200 sources quoted.

Curcumin is an antioxidant that protects brain cells and mitochondria against the buildup of abnormal proteins. This biomolecule is unique in another way that many antioxidants are not – it can prevent the aggregation of amyloid-beta from forming and disable the amyloid-beta protein plaques that have already formed. Additionally, curcumin stimulates the production of macrophages that clean up the residual bits and pieces of damaged proteins.

Curcumin is enhanced in the presence of piperine (black pepper extract). Add black pepper when you cook with turmeric and look for piperine on the label when you buy curcumin as a supplement. Curcumin has many more potent properties in the brain and body.

Grape Seed Extract is a polyphenol with super high levels of proanthocyanidins that are unique pharmacological molecules that provide both offense and defense capabilities to protect and enhance health. In addition, they are both anti-inflammatory and antioxidant and easily cross the blood-brain barrier to aid the brain.

Amyloid-beta formation is reduced in the presence of grape seed extract by several mechanisms—additionally, this phytochemical aid in the removal of residual debris like macrophages.

Green Tea is one of my favorite nutrients. I rarely miss a day without drinking tea. My daily liter or two of tea includes green tea, oolong tea, Pu-erh tea, gyna-stemma, pouchong, and white tea. All have excellent health and anti-aging properties.

The primary polyphenol that many people know about is epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). This catechin physically prevents the amyloid-beta proteins from clumping together and forming a plaque. When plaque is present, it destabilizes the plaque formation. There are many more paragraphs that can be written about EGCG and health.

Vinpocetine comes from the Vinca plant (periwinkle). It is an alkaloid that improves blood flow in the brain and inhibits the enzyme PDE1 (phosphodiesterase 1). Phosphodiesterase research is a parallel study of how to control amyloid-beta plaque formation.

PDE4 restored animal memory in studies. PDE5 worked as well. PDEs selectively inhibit the enhancers of amyloid-beta from keeping plaque from forming.

Vinpocetine is an antioxidant that prevents neuronal damage and reduces mitochondrial dysfunction.
Coffee has been studied extensively over time. Three to five cups of caffeinated coffee daily has been shown to reduce the risk of AD. High blood-caffeine levels appear to slow down or prevent the rapid development of AD. Laboratory studies show that caffeine can reduce amyloid-beta toxicity in animals and, in some cases, reverse the cognitive impairment from AD in animals.

Magnesium is critical for hundreds of functions within the human body, especially the brain. For example, the brain uses magnesium-L-threonate to restore neuronal connectivity. Unfortunately, magnesium levels are significantly lower in AD patients and correlate with the severity of the disease.

Vitamin E is made up of eight different chemicals – four tocotrienols and four tocopherols. Like magnesium, AD patients have exceptionally lower levels of vitamin E compared to the healthy population of the same age.

Conclusion

Oxidative stress and inflammation are two primary causes of disease. Allow them to control the brain, and various forms of dementia can develop. Conversely, control chronic low-level cellular inflammation, and you should have a happy, healthy, long life.

We know that amyloid-beta plaques buildup increases oxidative stress, triggers inflammation, and can lead to neuron death. In addition, neurofibrillary tangles from tau proteins eventually destroy neurons and cause cellular death.

Acetylcholine is a neurotransmitter that must be kept within a normal range to function properly. Likewise, the amino acid homocysteine must be kept within the normal range to minimize the buildup of both amyloid-beta and tau tangles.

Excitotoxicity happens when the brain is excited beyond healthy levels for long periods of time. In addition, normal wear and tear on brain cells and other factors, such as high levels of glutamate, can increase excitotoxicity.

Nutrients can exercise control over the primary causes associated with AD. It is always better to protect early in a defense posture than to wait until the heathens have broken down the gate and are pillaging brain neurons.

Talk to your physician before venturing forth and buying a dozen or more nutrient supplements to bolster your future brain health, especially if you are on any prescription regimen currently.

Live Longer & Enjoy Life! – Red O’Laughlin – RedOLaughlin.com