ALZHEIMER’S
Updated January, 2023

DISCLAIMER: I get $1 for every bottle of Mito-C that is sold.

INTRODUCTION: Thanks to the many people paying for subscriptions and contributing to my website, I have committed to adding occasional essays based on my website and newsletter.  Here is the first one on Alzheimer’s [AD].

SUMMARY: I have compiled all of the research posted on my website to try and organize what one can do to reduce their risk for Alzheimer’s, or slow its progression.  Below is a list of 16 choices one can make to reduce risk.  While there have been 2 FDA drugs approved recently, neither is particularly effective and both are extremely expensive.  After the background section, there are quotations from various studies about why those choices are worth using.

Choices important to discuss with your physician to reduce risk of AD, Parkinson’s and dementia that are justified by peer-reviewed publications:

Added 2/26/2023 – Bacopa, 150 mg daily, may be useful.1.. Green tea and blueberries (their active ingredients are in Mito-C)
2.. Vitamin K

3.. fish or fish oil

4.. coffee (six cups)

5.. Vitamins C twice a day and E (taken together, AREDsII and Mito-C meet this requirement)

6.. Vitamin D

7.. Aspirin

8.. Exercise

9.. Curry

10.. folate and vitamin B12

11.. moderate alcohol (1 to 4 drinks are healthful)

12.. Melatonin and curcumin

13.. Yogurt, Kefir, cole slaw

14.. vitamin B3, niacin

15.. SAMe

16.. Mito-C

I make all of these choices. Where I purchase the supplements are linked here.

17.. Do not use growth hormone

18.. Drugs are of questionable value

BACKGROUND: About a third of people 85 and older show signs of the Alzheimers.  many things that cause heart disease — tobacco use, diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol — also can lead to dementia. older adults who lived in areas with the highest yearly concentration of air pollution were 1.4 times more likely to get dementia than people who lived in places with cleaner air. people with diabetes get dementia more often [so see statement above to cure yourself of that condition]. Older people who have trouble identifying odors are more than twice as likely to have dementia as those with a sharp sense of smell [so wear a mask to avoid COVID]. high cholesterol in midlife could raise your chances of Alzheimer’s disease later in life. If you have depression, or have had it in the past, you may be more likely to get dementia. Scientists aren’t yet sure that it’s a cause. It may simply be an early symptom or a sign of other causes like Parkinson’s disease or Huntington’s disease. Talk to your doctor or a therapist if you feel down for more than 2 weeks, and right away if you think of harming yourself. Therapy and medication can help with depression.  Super-starchy and processed foods never make the “healthy” list. But did you know eating the two together can up your chances of having dementia? more severe or repeated hits or falls could double or quadruple your chances of dementia, even years after the first injury [so exercise to maintain good balance to avoid falls]. People under age 80 who reported feeling alone were twice as likely to have dementia as those who didn’t feel that way. If you have a lot of extra weight in middle age, you may be more likely to get dementia later in life.  if it happens often — you wake up a lot or don’t sleep enough — you could be more likely to get dementia.

WebMD – Only 1% of people over age 65 with normal age-related memory issues will get dementia each year, If memory loss makes it hard for you to handle your daily tasks, that’s a sign you shouldn’t ignore. Hard to Plan or Solve Problems? Struggle With Everyday Tasks,  It’s normal to forget where you parked now and again, people with Alzheimer’s disease sometimes forget where they are, It’s normal to have trouble finding the right word sometimes. Or you might use a word the wrong way, Withdraw From Friends and Family, If you aren’t sure if what you’re going through is just regular aging, a doctor can help you figure it out. They’ll know if the memory loss you have falls within the normal range or not.  People who spend time reading, solving puzzles, or otherwise staying engaged are less likely to get Alzheimer’s. It’s also a good idea to lower your stress, eat more fruits and vegetables and less red meat.

1.. A  blueberries and a cup of green tea may substantially reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s. There is also a great article in AJCN July 2014 supplement on how nuts and berries reduce and partially reverse cognitive decline.

1.. A cup of tea may delay onset of Alzheimer’s disease.  Effects of green tea last a week, while black tea works only a day.  Tea inhibits brain enzymes linked to the disease.  Newcastle Univ. Study, Phytotherapy Research Online, Oct. 2004

2.. A recent study found that patients with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease consumed less vitamin K than did cognitively intact control subjects. (J Am Diet Assoc. 2008 Dec;108(12):2095-9).

2.. The researchers discovered that the fully reduced form of vitamin K acts as an antioxidant efficiently inhibiting ferroptotic cell death. Ferroptosis is a natural form of cell death in which cellular iron plays an important role and which is characterized by the oxidative destruction of cellular membranes.   During the last years, ferroptosis has been implicated as a driver of Alzheimer’s disease and acute organ injuries among many other diseases.

3.. Presentation by Mark Smith on Alzheimer targets – oxidative stress precedes amyloid plaque by decades.  Amyloid appears to protect neurons and might not be cause of Alzheimers. Lipid levels change dramatically with age, so fish oil is really important with age.

3.. 2022 – People with higher levels of omega-3 DHA in their blood are 49% less likely to develop dementia than those with lower levels. Researchers say adding additional omega-3 DHA to the diet, especially in those with the Alzheimer’s associated Apoe4 gene, could slow the development and progress of dementia.

3.. Higher fish consumption is associated with better cognitive function in later life. (J Nutr Health Aging. 2009;13(3):198-202)

3.. Take fish oil capsules or eat fish –  A Diet Enriched with the Omega-3 Fatty Acid Reduces Amyloid Burden in an Aged Alzheimer Mouse Model

3.. Much has been learned in the past decade about nutritional steps that will reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s, and even slow the progression of Alzheimer’s once it is detected. Take 1,000 mg fish oil daily (more may be even better). – It reduces risk and progression.  Based on study of 900 elderly men and women over 9 years of study.  DHA in fish oil is main component of brain cell membranes. Schaefer, EJ, Arch Neurol, vol 63, Nov 2006:1545-50

3.. Fish oil capsules are extremely important to take every day for brain health.

4.. Coffee drinking at midlife is associated with a decreased risk of dementia/AD later in life. After an average follow-up of 21 years, 1409 individuals (71%) aged 65 to 79 completed the re-examination in 1998. A total of 61 cases were identified as demented (48 with AD). Coffee drinkers at midlife had lower risk of dementia and AD later in life compared with those drinking no or only a little coffee. The lowest risk (65% decreased) was found in people who drank 3-5 cups per day. (J Alzheimers Dis. 2009 Jan;16(1):85-91)

5.. Taking an optimal dose of vitamin C could be extremely beneficial to health. Free radical diseases include atherosclerosis, cancer, hypertension, osteoarthritis, cataract, Parkinson’s disease, diabetes mellitus type 1, Alzheimer’s, and others. Harman, D., “Free Radical Theory of Aging: Current Status”, in Lipofuscin-1987: State of the Art, edited by Zs.-Nagy, I., New York, Elsevier, 1988, pg. 3-21.

5.. The latest AARP Bulletin [2021] reported there is nothing one can do to reduce risk of Alzheimer’s, as it pleaded for more Federal funding for research.  But in the same article, it revealed that exercise does reduce the risk. And several more actions that will reduce the risk: cocoa, vitamin C, vitamin E, and coffee.

5.. Combined use of vitamins C and E protects against Alzheimer’s. Ref: Spring/Summer 2005 Oregon State Univ. Linus Pauling Institute Research Report *Recent Research on Vitamins C and E, S. Lawson

5.. Archives of Neurology in 2004 reported that the combined use of vitamin E and vitamin C – but neither vitamin alone – protects against Alzheimer’s disease…”

5.. Vitamin E – A controlled trial of selegiline, alpha-tocopherol, or both as treatment for Alzheimer’s disease. Sano, M. et al N Engl J Med 1997:336: 1216-22. The Alzheimer’s Disease Cooperative Study (ADCS), 341 moderate Alzheimer’s patients for two years, showed that treatment with the antioxidant vitamin E [2,000iu/day] could delay the time to important milesones in patients with moderately severe Alzheimer’s disease. [Vitamin E was more effective than Selegiline, the most effective drug available then]. “In patients with moderately severe impairment from Alzheimer’s disease, treatment with …alpha-tocopherol slows the progression of disease.”

5.. There are conflicting studies on vitamin E and Alzheimer’s.  The overall effect seems to be a small improvement on quality of life, but  no effect on survival. Zaman, Z., Roche, S., Fielden, P., Frost, P.G., Niriella, D.C., and Cayley, A.C.D., “Plasma concentrations of vitamins A and E and Carotenoids in Alzheimer’s Disease”, Age and Ageing 21: 91-94 (1992)

5.. In a study of 20 patients over 80 and 20 controls, “both Alzheimer’s and multi-infarct dementia patients had significantly lower levels of vitamin E… than controls”

5.. 2,000IU of vitamin E per day was the best treatment to slow the progression of Alzheimer’s as of 1997, though many expensive drugs were compared and none were as effective or safe.

6.. Vitamin D -Higher serum vitamin D3 levels are associated with better cognitive test performance in patients with Alzheimer’s disease. Recent studies suggest that vitamin D metabolites may be important for preserving cognitive function via specific neuroprotective effects. In test scores of 225 older outpatients diagnosed with probable Alzheimer’s, those with highest blood levels of vitamin D had highest cognitive function. From Alzheimer’s Disease, Cognitive Decline and Nutrition Newsletter – February 2009

6.. Lower concentrations of vitamin D were associated with a higher risk for all-cause mortality, Alzheimer’s disease, hypertension, schizophrenia, and type 2 diabetes. Vitamin D and Multiple Health Outcomes: An Umbrella Review of Observational Studies, Randomized Controlled Trials, and Mendelian Randomization Studies.

7..  Aspirin reduces Alzheimer’s risk. Neurodegeneration, an interview with Joseph Beckman, Ph.D. – People who have arthritis and take an NSAID or other anti-inflammatory drug have a much lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease… From Linus Pauling Institute Newsletter Summer 2006

8.. Exercise Prevents Alzheimer’s with exercise and anti-oxidants- A new study on beagles finds that regular physical activity, mental stimulation, and a diet rich in antioxidants can help keep aging canine — and perhaps human — brains in tip-top shape. The research supported by the National Institute on Aging (NIA), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), is among the first to examine the combined effects of these interventions and suggests that diet and mental exercise may work more effectively in combination than by themselves

8.. Exercise, thinking efforts, and antioxidants are the best way to maintain brain function, based on a study by the National Institutes of Aging.

8.. At the 2006 Linus Pauling meeting, it was also reported that aging upregulates inflammation in adipose tissue.  So if you are thin, you have less adipose tissue, less inflammation, lower risk for cancer, heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and Alzheimer’s.  There is a 14-fold increase in diabetes from age 44 to age 65.

9.. Curry – This is a huge field, rapidly changing. Currently there is debate over ability of vitamin C and E to prevent Alzheimer’s, but cost benefit indicates it is better to be safe. Fish oil also may be relevant here. SAMe  is also worth considering for retaining mental function. There is an explosion of information about what to eat to preserve your memory function. Look at the notes on Memory Food.  Another useful food/nutraceutical likely to prevent Alzheimer’s is curry.

10.. Folate and vitamin B12 -: These findings suggest that relative folate deficiency may precede vascular dementia and Alzheimer disease onset. Hyperhomocysteinemia might also be an early risk factor for cognitive decline in the elderly, but its role in dementia development must be addressed in future longitudinal studies. Ugo Lucca et al, Homocysteine, folate, and vitamin B-12 in mild cognitive impairment, Alzheimer disease, and vascular dementia. Am J Clin Nutr 2004 80: 114-12.

11.. Moderate alcohol – Drink alcohol in moderation. A study of 1,074 people age 60 to 90 yrs in the Netherlands. Conclusion: Light-to-moderate alcohol intake (1 to 4 drinks per day) is associated with a lower prevalence of vascular brain findings and, in APOE 4 carriers, hippocampal and amygdalar atrophy on MRI.

12.. Melatonin and curcumin decrease risk of Alzheimer’s, he reported.  At the American Aging Association meeting I attended in 2006, I learned that oxidative stress precedes amyloid plaque by decades.  Amyloid appears to protect neurons and might not be cause of Alzheimer’s. Dr. Mark Smith also reported that lipid levels change dramatically with age, so fish oil is really important with age.

13.. Sci 13 Jan pg 142-Harmful gut microbes cause brain neurodegeneration.  Microbial metabolites activate peripheral immune cells, which produce cytokines that cross the blood brain barrier causing neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration.  Mice lacking these bacteria do not have this condition.  So keep your microbiome healthy.  Have fermented foods like yogurt and cole slaw daily, eat fiber daily to feed a healthy microbiome, avoid antibiotics.

13.. Science 9 July 2021 pg 172 – Faulty microbiome bacteria deplete nicotinamide (vitamin B3) which causes ALS (amylotropic muscular dystrophy). Deficiency also causes other dementias like Alzheimers and Parkinsons.

14.. This is clear evidence of the value of B3 supplementation. Dec 2021: Best way to deal with Alzheimers is to prevent it. A diet with a relatively high amount of vitamin B3 from regular foods such as chicken, peanuts and tuna protects against Alzheimer’s disease.

15.. SAMe – I take 200mg of SAMe each morning. There is research indicating its value in treating depression, Alzheimer’s, arthritis, and cirrhosis of the liver.

15.. SAMe – Depression, Alzheimers: pg 1158S-9S “is involved in the synthesis of various neurotransmitters in the brain” [SAMe required to synthesize serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine.] “…at doses of 200-1,600 mg/d, SAMe…is as effective as tricyclic antidepressants in alleviating depression…. SAMe may have a faster onset of action than to conventional antidepressants…may also protect against the deleterious effects of Alzheimer disease. SAMe is well tolerated and relatively free of adverse side effects

16.. Mito-C –  Protein misfolding is a precursor to Alzheimer’s and can be detected at least 14 years prior to symptoms [4]. This leads to mitochondria unable to produce energy, senescent cells that persist and produce harmful signals, and plaque consisting of dysfunctional proteins.   Mito-C is designed to reduce protein misfolding.

17.. Growth hormone use may promote Alzheimers. Many experimental protocols advocated by some on GRG may be hazardous.  Lots of support recently for use of growth hormone seems like treacherous advice based on this article that GH use may accelerate Alzheimers disease.

18.. Drugs – Sci 13 Jan 2023 pg 126 – Alzheimers drug gets mixed review: Like many medications that are approved, it leaves much to be desired, will cost tens of thousands of dollars a year, and will only delay dementia slightly if given very early with symptoms.

Here’s a nice link from a kind reader: The Caretaker’s Guide to Driving and Alzheimer’s