Alzheimer’s Disease
How It Affects The Brain & The Body (The SCARY Facts)
Cognitive Impairment is an irreversible condition that causes a large amount of physical and mental deterioration that can strain relationships and damage the memories we have of our loved ones. Dementia is most common in elderly patients though it can actually occur at nearly any age – in which case it might be referred to as ‘early-onset dementia’. Dementia is not a normal part of aging and should not be confused with age-related cognitive decline. More specifically though, dementia is not actually a disease but rather a collection of symptoms, however, sometimes it can be an undiagnosed case of severe depression and anxiety. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2769828/
Unfortunately, the vague and broad nature of dementia makes it difficult to diagnose in many cases. What’s more, is that dementia can affect different people in very different ways and this depends on the part of the brain that is affected, as well as the health and even the personality of the individual to begin with. In this post, we’ll look at 15 most common symptoms that cause dementia and how you can spot them. It is estimated that there are over 5 million people in the US suffering from dementia right now. Quite simply though al least one-third of those cases maybe severe depression and the anxiety and without the acceptance of growing older.
Inside the Brain: Unraveling the Mystery of Alzheimer’s Disease [HQ]
Breath of life: Best ways to tackle stress by breathing correctly.
1. Short Term Memory Lost
One of the most common signs of dementia is short term memory issues. This can cause people to struggle to remember what they were doing, or perhaps what they did recently. A common example might be that they struggle to remember what they had for dinner last night, or where they put something. These can also be symptoms of a range of other conditions and might also just point to regular age-related cognitive decline. But it is one symptom to be aware of at least.
2. Boundary Effect This forgetfulness
Might manifest itself in a very specific manner, known as the boundary effect. In the boundary effect, an individual is prone to forgetting things as soon as they pass through a door (the boundary in question). For example, they might enter a room to retrieve an item and then forget why they came in. The boundary effect is actually a psychological phenomenon that is noticed in healthy patients too. The difficulty is recognizing the point at which it has developed beyond its normal limits and become a serious problem.
3. Finding the Right Word
Another specific example of memory loss in action, is when a person struggles to find a word or a name. Often they’ll be trying to describe something or someone but they’ll be unable to find the suitable word and will be left with it on the tip of their tongue. Once again, this is something that all of us have experienced to some extent and likely you will have experienced it recently! What makes this more difficult is that it generally becomes more common as you get older. But if the change seems rapid and it occurs alongside more of these symptoms, then you might consider it a cause for concern.
4. Mood Swings
Dementia can cause mood swings and irritability. This might cause short bouts of depression, during which a patient can struggle to find motivation or may become disinterested in activity. At the same time though, it can also result in a short temper, bouts of anger and frustration. But this needn’t always mean a ‘negative’ personality change. In some cases, the change might seem positive even – perhaps if a normally shy individual suddenly becomes very outgoing and cheerful. The warning sign here, as ever, is change.
5. Slow Movement
A common symptom of dementia and a range of other mental health complaints is slow movement. Here, an individual might simply begin to move a lot more slowly than they normally would and to become very seemingly deliberate in their motions. They might also appear slower in terms of their speech and their thought. Maybe they get in the car to drive and take a long time to turn the ignition, for instance.
6. Lethargy
Dementia is likely to cause feelings of lethargy – extreme tiredness which may render the individual disinterested in their usual activities, might cause them to sleep in a lot, or might cause them to fall asleep. Lethargy can also be a symptom of a wide range of other conditions though, so be sure to look for it in conjunction with other problems and to consider other likely causes. For example, lethargy can be a result of medication, and especially sleeping tablets or antihistamines. It can also be caused by depression, or by illness.
7. Difficult With Forward Planning
Someone struggling with dementia may see impairments in their working memory. This is the part of the brain that stores information that we are currently using and it is through here that short term memories are stored. This part of the brain is responsible for a great many different tasks, from playing chess to solving math. This is also what we use to hold a plan of action in mind and follow it through, and so someone with dementia might struggle to do that. They may even have difficulty following the plot in a film.
8. Getting Lost
One of the common signs of dementia that families are likely to notice early on in their loved ones, is a new tendency to get lost. They might start to go out for walks and then not come home, or they might struggle to get to the shops to pick up food. This is due to damage to their spatial awareness, as well as their general ability to remember routes and tasks. While forgetfulness and memory issues might be easily put down to old age, tiredness or general ‘absent mindedness’, an inability to follow routes that should be easy is more of a worrying sign that is likely to be described by dementia.
9. Difficulty Completing Usual Tasks.
Life is usually surrounded around ordinary daily tasks that are repeated day after day and usually these tasks seem mindless. However, in the case of dementia, a warning sign to look out for is if you can no longer remember to do a familiar, simple task. Also, having issues with even starting the task and the steps involved may be an issue, which can be an early sign that something is not right. It is difficult to come to grips with dementia, but as the mind ages, the risk increases. If you feel that you are at risk for dementia, you should talk with your doctor and be evaluated for the condition.
Struggling to complete ordinary tasks can point to dementia and may be the result of a number of different factors. Of course the lack of short term memory, slow movements, poor coordination and forgetfulness can simply make a task difficult to pursue. At the same time though, those with dementia might lack the motivation to such a degree that they struggle putting on their socks or feeding themselves. This might be noticeable if they suddenly exhibit signs of poor hygiene for instance.
10. Problems With Writing
Just as someone with dementia might struggle to find words when they are speaking, they can also struggle to find words when they are writing. When you combine this with impaired motor control, slowness and lethargy, the act of writing can become a laborious chore – especially if they also forget the train of thought they were following. For these reasons, issues with writing may point to dementia.
11. Being Repetitive
Those with dementia may become ‘repetitive’ in that they go around and around in conversation and repeat things that they’ve already said. They might also repeat other actions such as brushing their teeth repeatedly, shaving overly regularly or generally just performing the same routine task multiple times. This is likely at least in part down to the individual simply forgetting that those tasks have already been carried out. In a slightly different manner, those with dementia might also try to avoid change to an extreme degree. This is normal to some extent for people who are getting older but it can become especially extreme if dementia is involved and the patient might then find themselves not wanting to break from their set routine. This is at least partly owing to just how frightening and difficult new tasks can become for someone struggling with these other symptoms.
12. Change in Behavior
All of this basically comes down to a change in behavior. If the person you know is acting very differently, then dementia becomes a relatively likely explanation. Even if the condition is not caused by dementia, then it is still very important that you get them medical attention and try to ascertain just what is causing the problem. That’s because changes in behavior such as slowness, tiredness or difficulty reading and writing could also be signs of other mental health issues, including a tumor or something that requires urgent attention.
13. Sundowning Syndrome
People with dementia often experience a condition known as “sun downing syndrome.” Patients affected by this condition, experience symptoms of restlessness, aggression, and panic during the twilight hours of the evening. Medical science is still unclear about what causes the disorder, but it’s thought that the changes in light trigger changes in brain chemistry that make affected individuals exhibit behavior related to anxiety and confusion. Seniors with sun downing syndrome may begin to exhibit symptoms of pacing in their room, talking out loud to themselves, or shouting at their caregivers of loved ones. As the light starts to fade, seniors with sundowning syndrome may leave their room and begin to wander. If they aren’t receiving managed care, they may walk for blocks in a restless state, and be unaware of their new surroundings, forgetting their address, or how they ended up at the location. Seniors suffering from Sundowning syndrome need managed care during the twilight hours.
14. Apathy and Depression
Seniors who develop dementia have a clear understanding of their condition after receiving their diagnosis. Most of them understand that they face a continued decline of their cognitive functions affecting memory and thinking processes. Unfortunately, this realization may lead to feelings of apathy and despair, as they realize there nothing they can do to stop the progression of the disease. As a result, the affected individual may enter an apathetic state, and refuse any treatment for their condition. These individuals lose their passion for life and find that their mental health deteriorates at a far faster rate than usual. Turning to apathy as a means of dealing with the condition is relatively common in those seniors who do not have support from extended family members or managed care programs. Another common effect of dementia, and the resulting apathetic approach to managing the situation by the senior – is the development of anxiety and depression as they struggle to cope with what’s happening to them.
15. Improved Outlook on Life
Identify negative thinking. You may be sabotaging yourself with negative thoughts and not even realize it. Begin by simply becoming aware of negative thoughts, and how they may be affecting you. Some common forms of negative thinking include:
Filtering, or minimizing positive aspects while magnifying the negative.
Polarizing, or seeing things as only good or bad with no middle-ground.
Catastrophizing, or only imagining the worst-case scenario.
Focus on positive thinking. With a little practice, you can learn to transform your thoughts. Start by following one simple rule: Don’t say anything about yourself that you wouldn’t say about a friend. Be gentle with yourself. Encourage yourself the way you would encourage
a close friend.
Practice being optimistic. It is a misconception that some people are naturally positive, while others are inherently negative. In reality, optimism takes practice. Try to intentionally
see the silver lining. Instead of thinking, “I’ve never done this before,” tell yourself,
“This is an opportunity to learn something new.”
Make an effort to silence your “inner critic.” We all have that inner voice that tends to critique or question us. This voice may tell us that we are not good enough, not talented enough, or not worthy of someone’s love. These thoughts are meant to protect you from failure or heartbreak, but in truth, they do nothing but hold you back.
When your inner critic speaks up, ask yourself these questions.
Are these thoughts really true?
Is it possible that these thoughts are not true? Can I admit that they might not be true?
Can I imagine the possibility that really I am good enough, talented enough, and worth of love?
Don’t live in the past. If guilt, pain, or regret over past circumstances are bringing you down, you can work to release those emotions. Make the active choice to let something go. Write it down and/or speak it out loud.
Express your pain and/or take responsibility. If there is something you need to say to someone, say it, even if what you need to say is “I’m sorry.”
Forgive yourself and others. Try to remember that everyone makes mistakes. Nobody is perfect, and everyone deserves another chance (even you.)
Give yourself permission to laugh and play. When you don’t take everything so seriously, you are better able to handle all sorts of situations. Humor can make enjoyable moments even better, or make sad, stressful moments just a little more bearable. Crack a joke.
Run around.
Find humor in everyday life.
Focus on the good things in your life. Often times, we spend our lives searching for things that are right in front of us. We chase dreams of money or prestige, when all we really need are comfort and acceptance. Rather than constantly focusing on what you think you want, actively take a moment to appreciate what you already have. Focus on your good health, a recent accomplishment, or simply the fact that you woke up this morning.
Surround yourself with positive people. Make sure the people in your life are positive and supportive. Surround yourself with people you can depend on. If the people around you are frequently gossiping, complaining, or creating conflict, you may want to begin distancing yourself. Look for more positive social opportunities in your community, such as a yoga class or group hike.
Avoid jumping to conclusions. When you believe you already know what is going to happen, you stop observing what actually is happening. You act on what you think, rather than on what’s in front of you. When you believe you know what someone is thinking, you stop listening to them. This can cause a lot of undue pain and strife. Rather than making snap judgements, try to actively listen and observe.
Don’t avoid your feelings. Many times, we engage in actions that numb us in an order to avoid sad feelings. But sadness has its benefits: It makes us feel alive. In fact, sadness can have a deeply rejuvenating effect that increases our capacity for happiness. When negative feelings emerge, pay attention to them. Process these feelings by writing them down or talking to someone.
Mind your own business. There is a Polish proverb that goes, “Not my monkeys, not my circus.” This saying reminds us that we do not need to engage in the drama of others.
Such drama and conflict can greatly dampen your mood.
Try not to intervene in the conflicts of others.
Refrain from gossiping! Don’t talk about people behind their backs.
Don’t allow others to pull you into arguments or pressure you to take sides.
Be nice! Make an effort to respect your fellow humans and interact with them in gentle, positive ways. Not only will this make you feel better, but this will help you attract other positive people. Scientists have proven that when we endeavor to be positive (even when we don’t feel happy), we very quickly become happy.
Get yourself in shape physically. A healthy body helps you to deal with stress effectively.
A healthy body leads to a healthy mind!
Get involved in your community. Whether it is a church group, yoga club, or sewing circle. Look for opportunities at school or in your area, and make an effort to connect with people.
If stress is so crushing that you cannot deal with it, call a help line.
There are many resources available through religious centers and community outreaches.
Be careful not to pick fights with those treating you poorly.
Either avoid them or deal with them in a calm, mature manner.
If you think you might be depressed, talk to a counselor or physician for appropriate treatment.
With great appreciation — Trevor King with Live Longer, Feel Better! has been so gracious to share one of his most recent articles about overcoming depression. It goes deep into the nuances of preventing, overcoming and beating depression. Trust me, this is an article you will want to bookmark and share with your closest friends and family. I suffered from depression for ten years before I tried natural approaches. Without doubt the natural approach was way more effective for me than the drugs.
Here are my 8 recommendations:-
Number 1: Sugar I simply cannot emphasize this enough.
You MUST cut sugar out of your diet. It’s a real killer. In my own depression journey, this was the first thing that gave me any significant relief. I went “cold turkey” on cutting sugar from my diet and almost overnight I had a clarity in my brain that I hadn’t had for five years. In my case it’s processed white sugar that really kills me the most. For some reason I seem to be able to cope with small amounts of honey and pure Maple Syrup – but give me plain white sugar and
I can spend a whole day in bed. And I’m not exaggerating that. When I went off white sugar the first time, I tried to cut every single food out that had sugar in there – including things like bread. It’s HARD! If you have never looked at what foods have sugar in them – you will be amazed. Almost everything has sugar in there somewhere. We all know about sugar cravings, followed by sugar crashes – and then needing more sugar to make us feel better. Well my depression was almost that on a much grander scale. I couldn’t see it at the time.
But when I cut sugar from my diet – I can’t emphasize this enough – the relief was HUGE!
Still to this day I can’t eat desserts like a normal person might – I will be in the pits the next day – sometimes actually within half an hour of eating that sugary treat. So try ditching sugar – there are lots of books out there to help you – and look up “That Sugar Film” – it will blow your mind.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNr71oGoZC8
That Sugar Film is a 2014 Australian documentary starring and directed by Damon Gameau. The film looks at hidden sugar in foods and the effect it can have on the human body. The film follows Gameau’s experiment on himself, changing from his normal diet containing no refined sugar, to a ‘health-conscious’ diet low in fat but high in sugar, equivalent to 200 grams
(40 tsp) of sugar per day.
40 spoons of sugar a day: the story behind That Sugar Film
https://www.wcrf.org/int/blog/
articles/2015/09/40-spoons-
sugar-day-story-behind-sugar-film
And the Secrets of Sugar https://topdocumentaryfilms.com/secrets-sugar/
Number 2: Get More Sun – or Vitamin D
All of us (human beings) evolved getting regular sunlight. Sunlight allows your body to make natural Vitamin D, and has other health benefits as well. First, sunlight is thought to increase serotonin, the hormone that helps you feel good. Low levels of serotonin is thought to be one of the primary causes of depression (although this paradigm is increasingly being challenged). Some people are vulnerable to experiencing depression in the winter months, often called Seasonal Affect Disorder. I live in Ireland (not a lot of sun here at ANY time of the year!) but in winter in particular it is harder to get the sun you would need to stay mentally in top shape. So personally, I have a light in my office that gives me the type of light I need. Just search Amazon for SAD light, 10,000 LUX and you will find them. I find this helps me through the long winter months. I also supplement with vitamin D. Personally I take between 5,000 and 10,000 IU of Vitamin D per day – but we always have to tell you to check with your doctor
before taking supplements.
That’s the law? And remember too – not all light is created equal. For example, light from your computer screen and phone screen have lots of high-frequency blue light. This light reaches your eyes and stimulates something called melanopsin, which then reduces melatonin. Melatonin is the hormone that regulates sleep by helping you relax and feel tired at night. So, the impact of watching TV and looking at phones and computers at night is decreased melatonin, and potentially trouble falling asleep or staying asleep. And poor sleep never helps depression. So the long and the short of it – by increasing your exposure to sunlight during the day, and reducing your exposure to computer screens and TV and phones at night, you can help prevent depression, protect your sleep, and feel better from the increased Vitamin D from the sun. And failing that – get those vitamin D capsules….
How Healing Touch Physical Therapy Help Alzheimer Patients.
https://www.bing.com/videos/
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Number 3: Fun Physical Exercise
Physical exercise can help prevent or reverse depression several ways: Exercise feels good to the body and increases serotonin in the body (the neurotransmitter that those suffering from depression are lacking). Exercise increases heart rate, which can help restore emotions. Exercise feels productive, and can leave you feeling good that you have accomplished something Exercise can be fun Exercise can be a social experience and help strengthen social ties and increase feelings of love, acceptance, and support It’s important that any exercise you do should be enjoyable for you. If it isn’t enjoyable, it is unlikely you are going to continue to do it. And exercise must be done regularly if it is going to help protect you from depression. Here’s an IMPORTANT POINT that I found was relevant to myself. Often, I would be so depressed that even though I knew exercise would help – there was no way I could bring myself to do it. Making me feel EVEN MORE GUILTY and therefore – MORE DEPRESSED. It was a vicious cycle. There’s a fine line between beating yourself up because you can’t do the exercise -and rightly trying to force yourself to do it because you know it will help in the long run.
Number 4: Drink LOTS of Water
Being Hydrated is critical to feeling good and having good energy. A lot of people who are depressed experience reduced levels of energy, and dehydration can definitely cause depression to be a lot worse. But please – make sure you are drinking water that is actually good for you – because some kinds of water can actually make things worse. Currently in most US states, tap water around the country has Fluoride added to it. Whether or not fluoride in tap water protects teeth is a much-debated topic, but what we do know is that drinking water with fluoride is very bad for you. That’s especially true if your body is already tired and run down from a condition like depression or diabetes. For example, one study found that children who drank fluoridated water were more likely to have problems with their thyroid hormones. Another study found that fluoride in drinking water was associated with liver damage and kidney damage in children. So make sure that the water you are drinking does NOT contain fluoride. ALSO – if you can afford to – Get yourself a Hydrogen Water filter. Make sure that it eliminates Fluoride from your supply as previously discussed. But the beauty of these is that they also add H2 to your water and there are over 700 studies that show H2 is a great addition to your health regime. I’ve used an Echo H2 machine myself – and it’s really helped me.
Number 5: Take a Niacin Supplement
This was another CRUCIAL step in me getting a handle on my depression. There is a very long and well documented history of people successfully using niacin to beat depression. Dr. Abram Hoffer used Niacin to cure Bill W. (the founder of Alcoholics Anonymous) of HIS depression – and Bill W. was so impressed that he actually wanted to build the vitamin therapy into the AA protocols, as he knew that most alcoholics also suffered from depression. His Advisory Board were not persuaded and it never came to pass. Niacin in its pure form will make you flush – that’s where you get a red tingling and probably a very red skin rash. It’s totally harmless, but can scare the pants off you if you aren’t expecting it. There are other forms of Niacin that do NOT make you flush – such as Niacinamide and Inositol Hexaniacinate. My own personal story? I hated the flush, so I started taking 3,000 mg of Niacinamide every day, split into three doses of 1,000 mg each time. Along with the ditching of sugar, this was without doubt the biggest contributing factor to getting a handle on my depression. I still take it to this day.
Number 6: Take other Supplements
Many supplements are touted to help with depression – these are just a few of them. Magnesium Research has shown that magnesium and a deficiency in magnesium is related to depression. And patients given magnesium supplements can quickly “snap out of” that same depression. Reviewing 21 studies on magnesium and its relationship to depression, researchers concluded that magnesium significantly reduces depressive symptoms, and it may even be able to reverse depression completely.
The researchers conclude: “Oral magnesium supplementation may prevent depression and might be used as an adjunctive therapy.” Magnesium supplements are easy to find and relatively inexpensive. The important thing is finding magnesium that is absorbed by your body. Magnesium Oxide is basically a waste of time – and that’s the kind most often found in cheaper Magnesium supplements in your Walmart’s and so on. So look for a better form of Magnesium – I personally take a Magnesium Powder, but there are many kinds you can get that will help you tremendously. Just do a little homework, look at reviews and get yourself a decent Magnesium. I still take it every day. Foods high in Magnesium: You can also get magnesium from food. And food is often the preferred source of minerals, because we as human beings evolved eating food, so our bodies are familiar with what to do
with nutrients absorbed from food.
*Note: It is very hard to overdose on magnesium, especially if you are supplementing with the recommended dose. If you are concerned about preventing depression or reducing depressive symptoms, it is recommended to increase magnesium-rich food and supplement with liquid magnesium. It is extremely unlikely that such a regimen will have any negative consequences, and you getting enough magnesium could make a big difference with your depression. Here are some magnesium-rich foods: Dark chocolate Leafy greens (like broccoli, kale and chard) Chia seeds (soak them in water first) Fatty fish, like salmon and tuna. Avocado, Bananas, Almonds and Zinc has been found to be low in the serum of those suffering from depression. In fact, the more depressed someone is, the lower the zinc level…
Zinc supplementation has been shown to have antidepressant effects and again, I take a Zinc supplement every day – 30mg. I wouldn’t be without it. Vitamin B6 My good friend Andrew Saul says on DoctorYourself.com …“Ample amounts of B-complex vitamins, especially B-6 (pyridoxine) must be present for your body’s normal, depression-fighting chemical reactions to occur. B-6 deficiency is very common in Americans, and that “deficiency” is measured against an already ridiculously low US RDA of only two milligrams.
The amount of B-6 needed for clinical effectiveness in, say, rabbits is the human dose equivalent of 75 mg daily. That is over 35 times more than the RDA!” I have tried many other supplements –some have helped – some I’m not so sure – I have given you brief notes below – you really need to try things for yourself and see what results you get. Chromium – known to help blood sugar issues GABA – A supplement that’s becoming more popular for depression and anxiety B-Complex – Andrew Saul would again insist that you take this if you were suffering from depression Vitamin C – helps with Depression and a HOST of other things –
but you need a decent dose -usually WAY more than the RDA Tryptophan.
Number 7: Avoid Alcohol
Not only are hangover’s painful and reduce your energy, but alcohol may deplete essential minerals, which may in itself contribute to depression. Researchers found that alcohol caused
a loss of magnesium in humans, via increased excretion through the urine. Essentially, alcohol decreases magnesium in your body, and considering all of the evidence linking a magnesium deficiency to depression ( as already discussed) and increasing magnesium to reduce depression, it is clear that drinking alcohol is a self-defeating behavior if you are looking to prevent or heal depression. Alcohol provides short-term pleasure and sacrifices long-term health and happiness. And that’s especially true for those at risk for depression. Again, in the real world – I know that when you are depressed, sometimes it feels like alcohol is the only way out. But PLEASE – it’s a very dangerous way out – and not at all good for you long term.
So be very careful before reaching for that bottle.
Number 8: the 80% diet.
It’s called “hara hachi bu”. It means, eat until you are 80 percent full. You have probably heard about the Okinawan people and how they often live to 100. They are the longest lived, healthiest people on the planet and they practice hara hachi bu. When you start eating until you’re 80% full instead of 100% full, you’re going to have more energy and feel lighter, or vibrant, instead of being weighed down by too much food and feeling sleepy while your body works double-time to process it. Healthier countries eat their meals in multiple small courses rather than one big pile. Along with eating a healthy diet, staying active well into old age,
they also live by the rule “hara hachi bu”-eat until you are 80 percent full.
It requires you to slow down eating, be mindful at your meals and get in touch with hunger cues. Just by practicing this simple habit, you may improve your body.
I watched a Youtube clip about Dr. Mary Newport https://coconutketones.com/
which led to her books and further investigation. I found it a fascinating and personal account of Dr. Newport’s quest to help, at the very least, slow the progression of her husband’s Alzheimer’s, initially to hopefully qualify him for drug trials and buy him time. Something patients with advanced Alzheimer’s don’t have much of. Her research led to her to try the unconventional treatment, or voodoo medicine as my brother would call it, of coconut oil. The very simplified version is that pure, not hydrogenated, coconut oil contains ketones which feed the brain when it is unable to access sufficient glucose and within a fairly short period of time Dr. Newport saw significant improvements in her husbands symptoms and quality of life.
Further research followed along with frustrated attempts to spread the word through traditional medical and research forums. She has now committed herself to seeking funding for further research and development but also to getting the word of this hopeful discovery out to as many people as possible. I am no scientist and we used to tease my grandmother mercilessly about her regimen of daily supplements but more and more I begin to think she was a woman ahead of her time but I find her research and, at least for now, anecdotal evidence fairly compelling. Plus I find Dr. Newport’s dedication and commitment to caring for her husband and sharing her information to be very inspiring, she’s a super hero.
The underlying biochemistry behind her advocacy of Virgin Coconut Oil as the best means of delivering ketones, is clear and well supported scientifically. It is clearer and more credible than the “scientific” explanations behind the Memory Healer Program; though the wholefood diet she advocates is almost exactly the diet which the Memory Healer Program provides. This is mainly wholefoods, with raw salads & veg as a priority, some protein, and as few sugars & carbohydrates and as little processed or refined food as possible.
This is why that diet, with the addition of daily intake of Coconut Oil, is working so well for my Mum. Basically what happens in Alzheimer’s, other forms of dementia & Parkinson’s Disease, is that the glucose (from carbohydrates) which is the normal fuel for the brain cells, (and all the cells in the body), can no longer get across the blood-brain barrier, so the brain cells are deprived and start to die. Hence the MRI Brain scans of advanced Alzheimer’s sufferers show brain shrinkage, and areas of destruction of brain cells, as well as the plaques & tangles associated with the brain being starved of fuel. The reason for the failure of the transport of fuel (glucose) to the brain, is lack of insulin or a resistance to insulin in the mitochondria in the brain cells. The brain requires massive supplies of energy to continue to function properly.
The tiny mitochondria in the brain cells normally process this energy. The body has a natural way of dealing with this problem on a temporary basis, by producing ketones, which seems to be a fuel which can pass through the blood brain barrier without needing the insulin transporter, and therefore fuel the brain cells. Normally we only produce ketones when we are starved for 48 hours or more. As soon as we eat again, the ketones levels drop and we go back to processing carbs to make glucose, with the insulin produced in the pancreas to transport the glucose. But where the latter process is not happening, as in Alz. sufferers, then ketones which the body can quickly synthesize from Virgin Unrefined Coconut Oil, come to the rescue, and allow the brain cells to be fueled, and new cells to grow and replace the dead or damaged ones. The best available source of ketones is Virgin Unrefined Coconut Oil and other Coconut based products, as well as MCT Oils from palm oil or coconut oil, or synthesized forms of these powerful fatty acids. Coconut Oil is a medium chain fatty acid
(i.e. MCT), and it is a saturated fat, but it will not raise LDL cholesterol levels, and is not harmful to the diet. In fact, it has other great benefits in addition to supplying the ketones needed for Alzheimer’s sufferers. It has anti-oxidants, vitamins, fights infections, especially fungal problems, and herpes simplex problems and it boosts the immune system. It is good for the skin and hair; and is an excellent preventative health supplement. Because the effects of Ketones are short term, they must be replaced daily to ensure the brain cells are being fueled. Hence the need to take the Coconut oil every day.
Dr. Mary Newport incorporated moderate doses into Steve’s meals, 3 times a day. He showed remarkable improvements, and only had setbacks when other illnesses or meds taken for them, prevented the taking of, or absorption of the ketones in the coconut oil. This does mean that the subtitle of her book is rather misleading, because there is no permanent cure for Alzheimer’s. If you stop producing the ketones i.e. stop taking the coconut oil, then you deteriorate again, as your brain is not being fueled properly. But we can say that the symptoms can be arrested, and the sufferer can lead a fairly normal life. Here is a passage from the publisher’s blurb, which is not very clear, but it does get some of the background to the Newport’s story across….. This is an this updated second edition Dr. Newport, a neonatal practitioner, continues the story of Steve’s progress and provides the most recent research on such topics as possible causes of Alzheimer’s due to the herpes simplex virus and nitrosamine substances and how infection, inflammation and genetic makeup may affect an individual’s response to fatty acid therapy.
Among many other updates, she details the latest clinical trials aimed at removing beta amyloid that accumulates in the Alzheimer’s brain. Dr. Newport’s story of Steve’s reprieve from Alzheimer’s provides a real breakthrough for care giver’s eager to learn about readily available fatty acids in foods that may reverse the ravages of this dreaded disease. Changes in loved ones may take many forms, including improved memory, return of personality, resumption of activities and social interaction and relief from certain physical symptoms. ‘ Care giver’s of those who suffer from Alzheimer’s disease are searching desperately for hope, relief and a cure. They will find all that in this book that summaries Dr. Newport’s research and Steve’s reprieve, the importance of medium-chain fatty acids and how Alzheimer’s patients can make the transition to a healthy diet rich in these vital fats Dr. Newport has become an ardent advocate for ketone ester research, with FDA approval her final goal.
These are (Stewart McFarlane) further COMMENTS for this review.
I have been giving virgin coconut oil capsules & paste/oil daily in food for 5 weeks to Mum. Her short term memory & verbal accuracy have improved, as well her joints, skin, appetite & mood. She is sleeping and eating well, and has had no dizzy spells since starting this regime. She is walking 90 minutes a day and is reading novels again in the evening, her bridge playing has improved. I recently gave Mum 2 standard memory tests. Pretty much the same test as those used in her diagnosis. She scored 10/10 in one (i.e. the Clock Face Test) & 98% in the other (Standard Sage Test).
So she would be declared clear of AZ’s if these were her first tests.
She had been on coconut oil, beetroot juice and the Memory Healer Diet for 5 ½ weeks when she took these tests. Mum’s blood pressure has returned to normal, though this may be due to the organic beetroot juice she is taking daily, along with beetroot in salads & soups. It is important to use virgin coconut oil, not the refined or processed stuff. The refined oil is no good as a food or supplement. Don’t store the coconut oil in fridge or cool places, as it gets very hard. Best mixed with warm foods just before eating, or warmed by placing the jar in a bowl of hot water, or on a warm hob or heater or even microwave for a second, so it can liquify, then you can even mix it with cold things such as yoghurt or ice cream. The compulsion to eat chocolate, biscuits, ice cream & other sweet is common in Alzheimer’s sufferers: because the brain is telling them it is starved of glucose (fuel) so they eat the sweet stuff to supply it, but it doesn’t work because the glucose cannot fuel the brain cells because of the insulin deficit or insulin resistance, so the sweet stuff just gets turned to fat, rots the teeth, as well as supplying some energy to other parts of the body, but not much, often due insulin deficiency. I have noticed that Mum’s craving for those things has diminished, because the fuel to the brain is being supplied by the ketones from the Coconut Oil. NOTE: If you are starting yourself or a loved one on coconut oil, go easy to start with, it can cause diarrhea if you take too much, too early. Build up gradually & you will have no problem. If you get the runs, reduce intake until your stomach adjusts. Mum & I have had no problem, but we always liked coconut anyway. Anyway, better to have the runs for short spell, than a permanently malfunctioning brain. I should add that my general approach to my Mum’s illness has been strongly influenced by the person centred care method advocated by the Contented Dementia (SPECAL) as advocated in Oliver James ” Contented Dementia: 24-hour Wraparound Care for Lifelong Well-being” Contented Dementia [Kindle Edition]. The Contented Dementia Trust is based in Burford, Oxfordshire. Though they do not advocate any specific diets, as far as I know.
VIRGIN COCONUT OIL, restores memory & and helps mental functioning. Great for skin and hair; and protects against many infections and fungal rashes. Boosts the immune system & provides many other benefits. Mum doing very well on this. As an alternative to the Suma brand, these 2 are good brands for spreads or adding to warm food or even with ice cream. “Groovy Food” extra virgin organic coconut oil. or Waitrose own brand cold pressed virgin coconut oil (in a plastic tub). Amounts are about the same as Suma’s ie 320 grammes. https://www.goodreads.com/
book/show/3963069-contented-dementia https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVn_qDOakM8