Alzheimer’s disease (AD), a type of dementia affects approximately 5.4 million Americans, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It ranks fifth in the list of leading causes of death among individuals aged 65 or older.

AD not only impairs memory and decision-making skills but also negatively impacts an individual’s ability to carry out daily functions. Even worse, it can cause death due to related complications like infections and blood clots.

Unfortunately, the available treatments that aim at curbing the disease progression have not yielded satisfactory results. While we wait for a cure, maybe after a few years, let’s look at some natural remedies that help to lower the risk and improve the symptoms of AD.

Like any other chronic illnesse, Alzheimer’s also seems to develop due to a complex combination of dietary, genetic, lifestyle and environmental factors. Luckily, many of the risk factors such as poor nutrition and bad lifestyle habits are modifiable.

Here, we look at how proper nutrition and healthy lifestyle habits can help to prevent Alzheimer’s and improve its symptoms.

1. Watch your diet.

You become what you eat and every disease directly or indirectly has some links to what you eat. For this reason, a careful nutritional approach forms the cornerstone of natural Alzheimer’s treatment. Make sure to avoid unhealthful foods and drinks like processed items, high-sugar beverages, refined grains and alcoholic drinks. Meanwhile, improve your health by taking more fresh fruits and vegetables, organic foods, fish, and zinc-rich foods. I will talk about the role of specific nutrients in the upcoming points.

2. Go yellow.

Taking curcumin has been shown to halt the disease progression and improve memory in numerous studies. Curcumin is an active chemical present in turmeric powder. It has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and metal-chelating properties. Moreover, curcumin slows the death of brain cells by decreasing beta-amyloid plaques. Because curcumin from diet is absorbed only in trace amounts, taking a curcumin supplement is a highly effective way to prevent and improve Alzheimer’s.

3. Heal your gut.

Having an imbalance in the gut microbiota can increase inflammation and metabolic disorders such as high blood glucose levels. For this reason, if you work to heal the gut with probiotic-rich foods and high-quality supplements, you can cut down the risk of Alzheimer’s by a huge margin.

4. Keep your hormones in balance.

Hormone balance is key to a healthy life. Women, due to their physiology are more prone to hormone balance problems. Studies have found that women who have reached menopause are at a higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s. Once women reach the end of their menstrual cycles, there is a sudden drop in estrogen levels. Lower estrogen levels significantly increase the risk.  

5. Take B-vitamins.

Alzheimer’s patients have high blood levels of an amino acid called homocysteine. B-vitamins work to lower the levels of homocysteine in both normal and Alzheimer’s patients. Most notably, older adults who are naturally at a greater risk of cognitive decline also tend to have a deficiency of B-vitamins. Thus, it makes a perfect sense to supplement an older adult with B-vitamins whether or not they have Alzheimer’s.

6. Get enough sunshine vitamin.

Vitamin D has more to do with your health than just making your bones strong. According to a 2014 study published in Neurology, very low vitamin D levels tend to increase the risk of Alzheimer’s by almost two folds. While scientists are yet to discover the exact role of sunshine vitamin in the brain, it is a wise move to make sure you get enough of this vitamin.

7. Mediterranean diet.

Increasing evidence suggests Mediterranean diet could help to prevent as well as reduce symptoms of Alzheimer’s. A Mediterranean diet primarily focuses on plant-based foods and uses healthy fats such as olive oil. Moreover, it limits the use of salt and replaces it with herbs and spices. You should consider taking an expert consultation on designing a diet that best meets your unique individual needs. 

8. Stay active.

Staying active is another natural and convenient way to promote health. Exercise, specifically aerobic exercise has shown a promising effect in reducing cognitive decline and promoting mental well-being. In addition, a regular exercise also improves blood circulation in the brain and this might just enhance the benefits. Make sure to consult a doctor before starting any exercise regimen.

9. Talk to your doctor about the role of certain medications on dementia risk.

A class of medications called “anticholinergics” can worsen memory problems, especially if you take them for longer durations. These include common OTC and prescription medications like Benadryl, Dramamine, Xanax, Valium, and Claritin.

Want to Know More?

To know more about the natural ways to improve Alzheimer’s. Also, know how an individually customized nutrition helps to reduce the risk of chronic diseases. Click here to set an appointment today.

References

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3. Alkasir, R., et al. “Human gut microbiota: the links with dementia development”. Protein and Cell. 2017 Feb; 8(2): 90–102.
4. Robusto-Leitao, O and Ferreira, H. “Hormones and dementia – a comparative study of hormonal impairment in post-menopausal women, with and without dementia”. Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment. 2006 Jun; 2(2): 199–206.
5. Smith, AD. “Prevention of dementia: a role for B vitamins?”. Nutrition and Health. 2006;18(3):225-6.
6. Safouris, A. “Mediterranean Diet and Risk of Dementia”. Current Alzheimer Research. 2015;12(8):736-44.
7. Ahlskog, JE. “Physical Exercise as a Preventive or Disease-Modifying Treatment of Dementia and Brain Aging”. Mayo Clinic Proceedings. 2011 Sep; 86(9): 876–884.