Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Dr Grant Fourie.

The beauty of following a nutrition plan devised for you, is that it helps treat and prevent all chronic degenerative diseases, from the common ones like heart disease, diabetes, obesity and Alzheimer’s, to the ones you have never heard of or can’t even pronounce.

Some healthy lifestyle suggestions include:

Minimise sugar and fructose intake
Ideally, you’ll want to keep your sugar levels to a minimum and your total fructose below 25g per day or as low as 15g per day, if you have insulin resistance or any related disorders.

Improve magnesium levels
There is some exciting preliminary research strongly suggesting a decrease in Alzheimer’s symptoms with increased levels of magnesium in the brain. Unfortunately, most magnesium supplements do not pass the blood brain levels, but a new one, magnesium threonate, appears to and holds some promise for the future for treating this condition and may be superior to other forms.

Optimise your vitamin D levels with safe sun exposure
Strong links between low levels of vitamin D in Alzheimer’s patients and poor outcomes on cognitive tests have been revealed. Researchers believe that optimal vitamin D levels may enhance the amount of important chemicals in your brain and protect brain cells by increasing the effectiveness of the glial cells in nursing damaged neurons back to health. Vitamin D may also exert some of its beneficial effects on Alzheimer’s through its anti-inflammatory and immune-boosting properties. Sufficient vitamin D is imperative for proper functioning of your immune system to combat inflammation that is also associated with Alzheimer’s.

Keep your fasting insulin levels below 3
This is indirectly related to fructose, as it will clearly lead to insulin resistance. However, other sugars (sucrose is 50 percent fructose by weight), grains and lack of exercise are also important factors. Lowering insulin will also help lower leptin levels which is another factor for Alzheimer’s.

Increase vitamin B12 intake
In addition to the research presented above, a small Finnish study published in the journal Neurology13 also found that people who consume foods rich in B12 may reduce their risk of Alzheimer’s in their later years. For each unit increase in the marker of vitamin B12, the risk of developing Alzheimer’s was reduced by two percent. Remember, sublingual methylcobalamin may be your best bet here.

Eat a nutritious diet, rich in folate, such as the one described in your nutrition plan
Vegetables, without question, are your best form of folate and we should all eat plenty of fresh raw veggies every day. Avoid supplements with folic acid, which is the inferior synthetic version of folate.

Invest in high-quality, animal-based omega-3 fats, such as krill oil
I recommend avoiding most fish because, although fish is naturally high in omega-3, most fish are now severely contaminated with mercury. A high intake of the omega-3 fats EPA and DHA, help prevent cell damage caused by Alzheimer’s disease, thereby slowing down its progression and lowering your risk of developing the disorder.

Avoid and eliminate mercury from your body
Dental amalgam fillings, which are 50 percent mercury by weight, are one of the major sources of heavy metal toxicity. However, you should be healthy prior to having them removed. Once you have adjusted to following the diet described in your optimised nutrition plan, you can follow the mercury detox protocol and then find a biological dentist to have your amalgams removed.

Avoid aluminium
Aluminium can be found in products such as antiperspirants, non-stick cookware, vaccine adjuvants, etc.

Exercise regularly
It’s been suggested that exercise can trigger a change in the way the amyloid precursor protein is metabolised, thus slowing down the onset and progression of Alzheimer’s. Exercise also increases levels of the protein PGC-1alpha. Research has also shown that people with Alzheimer’s have less PGC-1alpha in their brains. Cells that contain more of the protein, produce less of the toxic amyloid protein associated with Alzheimer’s. I would strongly recommend reviewing the Peak Fitness Technique for my specific recommendations.

Avoid flu vaccinations
Most of these vaccinations contain both mercury and aluminium, well-known neurotoxic and immunotoxic agents.

Eat blueberries
Wild blueberries, which have high anthocyanin and antioxidant content, are known to guard against Alzheimer’s and other neurological diseases. Like any fruit though, avoid excesses.

Challenge your mind daily
Mental stimulation, especially learning something new, such as learning to play an instrument or learning a new language, is associated with a decreased risk of Alzheimer’s. Researchers suspect that mental challenge helps to build up your brain, making it less susceptible to the lesions associated with Alzheimer’s disease.

Avoid anticholinergic and statin drugs
Drugs that block acetylcholine, a nervous system neurotransmitter, have been shown to increase your risk of dementia. These drugs include certain night time pain relievers, antihistamines, sleep aids, certain antidepressants, medications to control incontinence and certain narcotic pain relievers. Statin drugs are particularly problematic because they suppress the synthesis of cholesterol, deplete your brain of co-enzyme Q10 and neurotransmitter precursors, and prevent adequate delivery of essential fatty acids and fat-soluble antioxidants to your brain, by inhibiting the production of the indispensable carrier biomolecule, known as low-density lipoprotein.

Other natural treatments for your anti-Alzheimer's arsenal

There are a few other nutritional recommendations worth noting for their specific benefits in preventing and treating dementia. So, although your fundamental strategy for preventing dementia should involve a comprehensive lifestyle approach, you may want to consider adding a few of these natural dietary agents to your anti-Alzheimer's arsenal.

These four natural foods/supplements have good science behind them, in terms of preventing age-related cognitive changes:

Coconut oil
The primary fuel your brain needs for energy is glucose. However, your brain is able to run on more than a single type of fuel, one being ketones (ketone bodies) or ketoacids. Ketones are what your body produces when it converts fat (as opposed to glucose) into energy. The medium-chain triglycerides (MCT) found in coconut oil are a great source of ketone bodies, because coconut oil is about 66 percent MCT’s. In fact, ketones appear to be the preferred source of brain food in patients affected by diabetes or Alzheimer's.

Astaxanthin
This is a natural pigment with unique properties and many clinical benefits, including some of the most potent antioxidant activity currently known. As a fat-soluble nutrient, astaxanthin readily crosses your blood-brain barrier. One study found it may help prevent neurodegeneration associated with oxidative stress, as well as make a potent natural "brain food." The molecules of astaxanthin neutralise free radicals and other oxidants without being destroyed or becoming pro-oxidants themselves in the process. It's a unique molecule whose shape allows it to precisely fit into a cell membrane and span its entire width. In this position, astaxanthin can intercept potentially damaging molecules before they can damage your cells. You can get some astaxanthin by taking krill oil, which is a fantastic omega-3 fat supplement. But you can boost your astaxanthin even more by adding a pure astaxanthin supplement to your nutritional regimen. For optimal absorption, make sure to take krill oil and/or astaxanthin with a fat-containing meal, since both are fat-soluble.

Gingko biloba
Many scientific studies have found that Gingko biloba has positive effects for dementia. Gingko, which is derived from a tree native to Asia, has long been used medicinally in China and other countries. A 1997 study from JAMA showed clear evidence that Gingko improves cognitive performance and social functioning for those suffering from dementia. Research since then has been equally promising. One study in 2006 found Gingko as effective as the dementia drug Aricept (donepezil) for treating mild to moderate Alzheimer's type dementia. A 2010 meta-analysis found Gingko biloba to be effective for a variety of types of dementia.

Alpha lipoic acid (ALA)
ALA can stabilise cognitive functions among Alzheimer's patients and may slow the progression of the disease.

Source: http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2013/06/13/alzheimers-dementia-treatment.aspx
 

Dr Joseph Mercola | Osteopathic physician
 
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dr Mercola is an osteopathic physician, also known as a DO. Osteopathic physicians practice a "whole person" approach, treating the entire person rather than just symptoms. Focusing on preventive health care, DO’s help patients develop attitudes and lifestyles that don't just fight illness, but help prevent it, too.

Dr Mercola is board-certified in family medicine and served as the chairman of the family medicine department at St. Alexius Medical Centre for five years. He is trained in both traditional and natural medicine.

In addition, he was granted fellowship status by the American College of Nutrition (ACN) in October 2012. He has been interviewed several times on national and local news, and has authored three New York Times Bestsellers. In 2009, he was named the top Ultimate Wellness Game Changer by the Huffington Post.