Category: Blog Posts

Heart Health

The brain is fed by nutrient-rich blood, which means anyone interested in staving off dementia must work on the blood delivery system – which is the heart. The lymphatic system does not have its own pump; it depends on physical movement to get the lymph moving, which is often motivation enough for people to exercise. But because many people think the heart is a pump and therefore does all the work in moving blood throughout the body, some people are guilty of becoming lazy and letting the heart do all the work.

The heart needs help. It is a muscle, just like any other muscle in the body, except it works extremely hard all the time. People may wish for leaner arm or leg muscle, but for the most part they are okay with not working on them constantly by doing arm lifts or leg squats. Any intense exercise regimen will include periods of rest – but the heart can’t rest, it must keep working.

Since rest is not an option for maintaining heart health, exercise and nutrition deserve the spotlight. Lazing about all day every day weakens the heart, which means it cannot pump blood as effectively or efficiently as it is meant to do. Eating foods that clog arteries and veins means even if the heart is doing its job and oxygenating blood, the blood itself is not moving towards the brain and away from the brain without having to go through an obstacle course that shouldn’t be there. Depriving the cardiovascular system of proper exercise and nutrition may just as well mean depriving the brain of its building blocks.

‘I get by with a little help from my friends’ — PHE Dementia Friends advert

The advert features Gina Shaw, a former nurse who has been diagnosed with dementia, singing the iconic Beatles track ‘I get by with a little help from my friends’. In the advert, Gina is joined by her friends, and celebrities including Chris Martin, Lily Allen, Lesley Manville, Ray Winstone, Amanda Holden, Jim Sturgess, Simon Pegg, Pixie Lott, Hugh Dennis, Alesha Dixon, Paul O’Grady, Fiona Phillips, Ruth Langsford & Eamonn Holmes, Michael Vaughn, Ruth Jones, Huey Morgan, Tim Wheeler, Leighton Baines, Antonia Thomas, Sir Terry Pratchett, Meera Syal and Angela Rippon who help her to sing the song.

If you’d like to get involved in Dementia Friends, please visit www.dementiafriends.org.uk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfrnWrpPq54

Collagen

 

An important word for anyone older than age 25 is collagen. The body has an extraordinary ability to heal itself, but the process becomes strained as the body becomes older, especially when it comes to connective tissue. The symptoms are what people associate with aging: weaker bones, easily torn tendons and ligaments, brittle hair and nails, and less-elastic skin. Collagen is pure protein that builds cells, which leads to synovial fluid production, and finally to strengthening tissue.

The best way to get collagen into the body is through eating it. As in, nutrition is key. All the creams and lotions that contain the word “collagen” on their labels is not really the magical cure they claim to be. Yes, after topically applying some, skin and nails may seem to enjoy a reprieve, but this is simply a temporary relief and not really a solution. Foods high in collagen are soup stock made from animal bones – which is why many vegetarians may be unknowingly suffering from alarming rates of decreased collagen.

Why is this important in dementia prevention? Preserving the mind is arguably easily assured by preserving the brain, and the brain is made of nervous tissue, which is surrounded by connective tissue. Neglecting to maintain collagen levels is essentially the same as destroying the brain. Not taking care of the physical brain is like damaging the computer hardware – and then expecting the software to work perfectly. It won’t.

Ethnicity and Alzheimer’s Disease

It is worth discussing the higher or lower risks of developing certain forms of dementia as part of a larger conversation involving genetically inherited diseases. The accepted conclusion is that the earliest origins of AD can be traced back to Volga German ancestry. However, AD has been found in every ethnic group that has been systematically studied, which has included West Europeans (not just Germans), Japanese, Mexicans, Hispanics (especially with stronger continental Spanish/West European blood ties), and Ashkenazic Jews (about 80% of Jews are Ashkenazic, the rest of Sephardic, which is more Iberian peninsula-origin).

Current studies are examining which genes are more likely responsible by ethnic group. In other words, even though every ethnic group can be susceptible to Alzheimer’s disease, the reason may not be the same across all groups. For most, it is the apoE-4 gene. In this case, Caucasians had a stronger apoE-4 gene-related reason for developing AD than those of African descent. Japanese-descent subjects had an even stronger association than Caucasians. This doesn’t mean all other ethnic groups are off the hook because there are variations of this apoE-4 gene (such as E2 and E3) that could be equivalent (or greater) culprits for specific groups, such as African- or Hispanic-descent.

What does this all mean? It means that for those interested in genetic testing to predict the likelihood of developing AD, it may not be worth the money for incomplete or possibly misleading results. So far, the most understood gene is the apoE-4 gene, but even that isn’t without its mysteries. That means for someone to test “clear” on the apoE-4 gene doesn’t mean there is no risk for AD because perhaps one of those mysterious parts of E4 were not yet understood or it was another E-variation that hasn’t been discovered at all. Better safe than sorry and focus on the preventable factors in the meantime.

Is It Really Alzheimer’s?

There was a time when heart disease was such an unknown concept that perfectly preventable deaths were part of a growing body count. Then the medical community launched such successful awareness campaigns that the newly well-educated public were flooding emergency rooms at any sign of chest pain. Many of these chest-pain cases were actually instances of indigestion or strained muscles (Although some really were cardiovascular issues and many lives were saved).

Alzheimer’s disease is the new heart disease. There was a time when people just thought forgetfulness was due to old age, and they were not receiving the medical attention they needed and deserved. But now the smallest example of forgetfulness is attributed to Alzheimer’s disease – and that’s just as bad. It’s bad because people are taking on a fatalistic mentality: Alzheimer’s is a fact of life, and it’s only a matter of time. It’s bad because people are giving up far too quickly and easily; they’re not differentiating normal moments of forgetting vs. actual dementia.

Dementia (and especially Alzheimer’s disease) follows clinical diagnostic criteria, which means there are classifications and qualifications for a person’s forgetfulness. For Alzheimer’s, there are three general levels of concern: 1) possible AD, 2) probable AD, and 3) confirmed AD. If there is any worry about which of these is applicable (either to yourself or a loved one), consult a neurologist and decide on a course of action.

A somewhat over-simplified distinction is: It’s perfectly normal to forget where the car/house keys last were, in fact, forgetting where the keys are has been a lifetime occurrence. Being 80 years old and forgetting once again is not a sign of dementia. However, if at an advanced age, someone begins to put the iron in the refrigerator – that’s cause for medical concern.

Chiropractic

Many people are guilty of the misconception that chiropractic is about bones (and the snapping or cracking of bones). Certainly bones and joints are manipulated and adjusted, but the true value of chiropractic is in strengthening roadways for nerves (it’s just that the skeletal system is what carries those nerves). The spinal column is the main highway for nerves, which is why the network is called the central nervous system (CNS), which is basically the brain and spinal cord. It’s like the tree trunk, and all the branches and roots are the nerves that literally “branch out” to the tips of our fingers and toes.

When years of bad posture or unnatural strain or acute injury damage this spinal column, it interferes with the nervous system’s ability to communicate with itself. This means the brain is disconnected from the rest of the body in its efforts to identify and correct problems. This also means the brain is not operating at its full capacity because it cannot gather all the details from the rest of the body the way it was meant to collect and process information. When the brain is cut off like this, it’s only a matter of time before operating at less-than-full capacity leads to dementia (which is also a form of operating at incomplete capabilities).

Choosing a chiropractor can be a tricky situation. Certainly the idea of having the neck snapped is a scary thought. There are also different schools of chiropractic with different training techniques and emphasis. If choosing a chiropractor to prevent dementia, ask a lot of questions up front about their specialty and health focus. Look for someone with a gentle approach; someone with an aggressive approach may do more harm than good.

Caregiver Care

Caring for loved ones who have Alzheimer’s disease can take its heavy toll. Not only are there physical considerations to consider, such as being physically present and reorganising life schedules to maintain supervision, psychological and emotional problems tend to become a huge burden to bear. Prior to diagnosis, it is common for the family members to experience frustration and anger because it seems this person is forgetting “on purpose” or not listening in the first place. As the disease progresses, caregivers’ identities are often forgotten or confused with someone else, which can lead to feelings of hurt and being unappreciated.

It’s important to remember that people with Alzheimer’s disease, no matter how “difficult” they become, are not changing themselves to intentionally become crueller versions of their former selves. Aside from that, it’s very important for caregivers to find therapies for themselves in order to relieve the stress that could eventually lead to depression and exhaustion.

Many alternative therapies have had wonderful results in caring for the caregiver: aromatherapy, chiropractic, massage, reflexology, therapeutic music, yoga. There may be the one method that replaces the stress with healing, or it could be a combination of many therapies. It may take awhile to grow accustomed to such methods; it could be worth exploring the different therapies long before any experience with Alzheimer’s disease so that in times of great stress, finding the right care won’t be an additional stressor.

Trisomy 21 (aka Down Syndrome)

In human DNA, cells are supposed to have chromosomal pairs, but when there are too many or too few (and therefore incomplete pairs), a great number of abnormalities can take place. Perhaps the most famous of these is Trisomy 21, when there is an extra number 21 chromosome, otherwise known as Down syndrome.

When Down syndrome was first beginning to be understood, people with Trisomy 21 usually didn’t live to their teens. They usually died from an array of complications involving the heart, gastrointestinal system, and thyroid, as well as many other organs. Throughout the 20th century, life expectancy increased to almost 30 in the 1980s, and now the norm is well past 50.  A curious development is that Alzheimer’s disease onset is almost always around 40 years of age (which is why many of the early genetic studies on AD started with examining chromosome 21).

For better or worse, because medical advances now allow almost all people with Down syndrome to have a much longer life expectancy, an inevitable consequence is the expectation of caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease. It used to be that parents would outlive their children if the children had Down syndrome, but it is entirely more likely now to be the other way around, which means siblings will become the primary caregivers.

Parents of children with Down syndrome should prepare for this by educating those siblings and/or by pre-arranging and selecting a care facility that specialises in adult Down syndrome care with attention to Alzheimer’s disease. It may also be worth contributing to Alzheimer’s research, specifically within Down syndrome contexts.

Depression Leads to Dementia

Whatever the reason for depression (whether it’s hereditary, trauma-induced, seasonal, etc.), it’s becoming clear that homocysteine levels (an amino acid) are elevated in the blood during depression.  People suffering from depression often score significantly lower on mental tests (and slower to learn new mental tasks) than their non-depressive counterparts. Homocysteine is regarded as the culprit; it either damages blood vessels in the brain or destroys brain cells, or both. It could also interfere with the successful delivery of another nutrient which builds brain cells, starving the brain of necessary building components.

Even without depression, homocysteine can be lurking around in the brain, especially if there is a lack of B vitamins in diet. In other words, depression can cause homocysteine levels to go up, but being nutritionally deficient (especially for B vitamins) can also cause homocysteine levels to increase (and lead to other depression-like symptoms). It’s a case of chicken-or-the-egg; but faithfully stocking up on B vitamins can prevent dementia from a nutritional standpoint, which makes sense because they are also the vitamin group that’s responsible for a healthy nervous system.

B vitamins are actually a family of vitamins, which is why there are different bottles for B6 and B12 or totally different names like folic acid on health food stores. There are even bottles that say B-complex, which is supposed to include the whole group. Rather than isolating B-vitamin components, or depending on pill forms, eating whole foods like chicken, fish, eggs, whole-wheat cereals, and nuts can ensure a more balanced consumption of homocysteine-correcting options.

A Hydrated Brain Is a Healthy Brain

Ever feel woozy in the head when thirsty? That’s because the dehydration causes brain fatigue. The brain is easily about 75% water, and it’s not just sloshing around in the skull for no reason. If the body (and brain) doesn’t get enough water, acid levels become higher and inflammation develops, which leads to a host of diseases. The brain is, therefore, not immune to such a hostile environment and begins to deteriorate (leading to dementia).

Forget the adage that drinking eight glasses of water on a daily basis is all it ever takes. The actual (American) calculation that led to this oversimplified statement is that however many pounds someone weighs is to be multiplied by 67% to produce the total fluid ounces of water intake per day. It just so happens that for most people, it comes out to about 8 cups (of 8 ounces, about 250ml) per day. Instead of the formula being circulated (which would mean that everyone would have a slightly different result because their body weight is different), the answer was circulated instead and most people are consuming too much or not enough water – and their brains are suffering. Add to this confusion the fact that a person’s activity level should also be factored in: add 12 fluid ounces (about 375ml) for every 30 minutes of exercise.

Calculations aside, it should be common sense and experience that minor headaches and dizziness can often be alleviated by drinking water. The same goes for certain pangs of hunger (which is often dehydration in disguise), which also goes away after drinking water. It’s the brain crying out for hydration the way wilting plants are signalling for attention. These instances of dehydration accumulate over a lifetime, and it is often after six, seven, or eight decades of life that the consequences (in the form of dementia) can be truly visible.