Alzheimer’s

A post by Blanche Scharf http://www.yourhealthupdates.com I have been studying natural healing modalities for the last 25 years. In that time I have had the privilege of working with some of the greatest minds in Natural Healing including Naturopaths, Scientists, and Energy Healers. I have seen people miraculously heal from all kinds of dis-ease thru non-invasive methods. Personally, I have experienced all kinds of diets from Macrobiotics to Raw Foods. Now is a very important time to start sharing this health information with as many people as possible, so people can make well informed decisions about their health and not fall victim to a sickcare system based on profit, rather than one of supporting wholeness, compassion and love To see more posts by Blanche Scharf, click here

Alzheimer’s is a mystery; no one seems to know what causes it, and how to treat the condition. The name alone brings on both fear, and resignation. The medical community draws a blank;  in both what causes the condition, and how to effectively treat it. There are no wonder drugs, and anything in the pipeline is years away.

One of the problems is that we are so use to the decline in cognitive function as we age; we think it is entirely natural. It is considered an inevitable part of aging. Senior moments are a running joke among retirees. These lapses occur in middle age, and are accepted as part of aging. We can contribute this in part to busy and stressful lives. However, it is not a part of healthy aging. Senility is a health condition brought about by our way of life.

The rates of Alzheimer’s disease are climbing at an alarming rate. This is a condition that is rare in primitive society. There are all kinds of scientific studies going on, and they are going to spend vast amounts of money to conquer this. It will look something like the war on cancer, started decades ago, and still going. There is concrete evidence emerging that brain disorders of aging are dietary in nature. Alzheimer’s is tied, like most diseases to metabolic syndrome, diabetes, or increased insulin resistance.

There is a problem with the theory that this is a disease of aging. Alzheimer’s disease is increasing in younger people. We know that it can start in middle age, and has occurred in people 30 and older. They now diagnosis pre-Alzheimer’s, without a clue as to what is going on. Blame it on the genes, we been this route time and time again. Genes change and their strands can be broken by external factors. The emerging field of epigenetic studies shows how the food we eat, and our behavior can change our genes behavior.

There was a study that showed that better nutrition, stress reduction, walking and social support, changed the expression of over 500 genes in men with early-stage prostrate cancer. This was published by Dr. Dean Ornish, and his colleagues. The study was conducted at the non-profit Preventive Medicine Research at the University of California, San Francisco in collaboration with Dr. Peter Carroll, Dr Mark Magbanua, and Dr. Chris Haqq.

After three months of lifestyle changes it was found that many disease-promoting genes (including those associated with cancer, heart disease, and inflammation) were down-regulated or “turned off,”  the disease preventing genes were up-regulated or “turned on.” Change your lifestyle, change your genes.

The number of people with Alzheimer’s disease has more than doubled since 1980, which says it is due to environmental causes. Diabetics have two to three times’ higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s. Insulin taking diabetics have even a higher risk. In the medical journal, Lancer, Dr. Mark Strachan reviewed research that showed; a normal level of insulin improves memory, while low levels show a significant decline in memory.

Another factor tied to Alzheimer’s is low cholesterol, as we age the level of cholesterol in our brains diminishes. This theory make sense, since the doctors hand out statin drugs like candy.  They keep lowering the optimal readings, so what was once normal cholesterol readings are borderline to high. As we age cholesterol is protective, and our brains need it to function.

The Framingham study examined the relationship of total cholesterol to cognitive performance. It was found that lower cholesterol levels brought moderately lower levels of cognitive function. The Framingham Heart Study was a study done over a long period of time to identify the common factors that contribute to cardiovascular disease. This is an ongoing study that began in 1948, with a study of 5,209 men and women from the age of 30 to 62 who lived in the town of Framingham, Massachusetts.

Its known that people who supplement with omega-3 fatty acids have improved brain function. People who have a diet that includes fatty fish have a lower rate of Alzheimer’s. Since glucose is a factor in chronic degenerative conditions, our over consumption of processed carbohydrates, plays a part in these conditions. Alzheimer’s is a condition that nutrition plays an important role in both prevention, and treatment. Alzheimer’s and diabetes are both increasing, alzheimer’s affects one in 10 Americans over 65, and nearly 50 percent of those over 85 years old.

Diabetics have a higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, that alone tells a story. When Japanese Americans  make the United States their home, their likelihood of developing Alcheminer’s increases. We see that happening with immigrates from other nations. Alzheimer’s is a product of our lifestyle, and all the research in the world can’t change that fact.

Related posts:

• Alzheimer’s
• Type 2 Diabetes Epidemic
• Whey More than Weight Control
• Genetic Expression
• Genes