Omega-3 oils Found to Halt Neuroinflammation That Leads to Alzheimer’s Disease
Omega-3 fatty acids have been attracting a lot of
nutrition headlines lately as studies continue to reinforce their known
benefits and even uncover some new ones.
While Omega 3 has long been linked with brain
health, new research shows how dietary essential fatty acids could help treat Alzheimer’s disease and other conditions during
their early stages.
The key Omega-3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic
acid (DHA) creates signaling molecules known as docosanoids when cellular
equilibrium is disrupted by disease or injury. Scientists from Louisiana State
University School of Medicine’s Neuroscience Center of Excellence have
discovered a docosanoid known as Neuroprotection D1 (NPD1), and they say that
it protects neurons by determining the way certain genes in the brain and
retina respond.
This has important ramifications for Alzheimer’s
disease because preclinical events in the illness such as dendritic spine
damage, cell-to-cell communication issues, and neuroinflammation all coincide
with diminishing DHA in the brain.
NPD1’s neuroprotective bioactivity has the ability
to modulate inflammation and promote cell survival, which can help restore the
equilibrium within the cell.
The scientists are hopeful that their work will
help lead to future treatments. They say the key is intervening in the
diseases’ early stages.
One of the study’s authors, Dr. Nicolas Bazan,
said: “It is our hope that this knowledge will contribute to managing early
stages of such devastating diseases as Alzheimer’s, stroke, traumatic brain
injury, age-related macular degeneration, Parkinson’s and others.”
Previous studies show Omega 3
brain benefits
Past studies have shown that DHA and another
omega-3 fatty acid, EPA, help maintain optimal brain health. A study published
in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease found that omega-3 rich foods like salmon, mackerel, and sardines help
prevent the illness by promoting the flow of blood in the parts of
the brain responsible for the regulation of learning and memory.
A 2013 study in the same journal found that
combining omega-3 fatty acids with vitamin D could enhance the ability of the
immune system to eliminate deposits of amyloid plaque in the brain, which are
connected to the development of the disease.
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of
dementia, affecting five million Americans and killing more people in our
country each year than breast cancer and prostate cancer combined. Trouble
recalling newly-acquired information is one common early symptom, and the
symptoms grow in severity as patients experience serious memory loss, baseless
distrust of loved ones, behavioral changes, and trouble speaking, walking and
swallowing.
Sadly,
the "Rhinestone Cowboy" has ridden off into the sunset.
Recently, we said goodbye to one of the greatest and most beloved recording artists of our time, Glen Campbell, who passed away at the age of 81.
In a long career that spanned six decades, you might not be able to even remember a time when a Glen Campbell tune wasn't on the airwaves. And despite his disclosure of an Alzheimer's diagnosis six years ago, he kept on singing almost until the very end.
One of the things Campbell's public battle with this devastating disease did was shine a bright light on the fact that Big Pharma has gotten nowhere in finding a treatment for Alzheimer's.
And if we've learned anything about this terrible disease, it's that drugs aren't going to be the answer.
In fact, some of the best ways to keep our brains healthy and our minds sharp as a tack may have been right in front of us all along.
How meds can mimic symptoms
Two years ago, a CNN documentary about Campbell and his struggle with Alzheimer's aired to great fanfare. That film had one single sponsor -- Eli Lilly.
The drugmaker said at the time that it wanted the show to be "our gift to patients and people suffering from this disease."
"We are not asking something of them," a Lilly spokesman said. "We are trying to give something to them."
Well, thanks for nothing, Eli Lilly.
That "something" Lilly gave, no doubt out of the goodness of its corporate heart, was three ads, all masquerading as public service announcements.
But at that time, the drugmaker had in its pipeline what it thought was going to be its biggest seller yet -- a med to treat Alzheimer's that ended up being a bust.
There are several meds already approved for the disease, but they're doing nothing to curb or cure Alzheimer's. Still, docs are giving them out like candy to plenty of their patients, many of whom don't even have the disease in the first place!
For years, we've been warning eAlert readers about the dozens and dozens of different drugs that can so closely mimic Alzheimer's, the only way to officially rule it out is with an autopsy.
On top of that, certain infections such as Lyme can also masquerade as dementia.
But while Alzheimer's numbers in the U.S. are skyrocketing despite all this pill-popping, the rates are actually falling in other countries.
So, what's going on in Sweden, Norway, and the UK that isn't happening here?
Well, those countries offer programs to help citizens improve their diets, exercise more, and play more "brain games."
The rates of this memory-robbing disease are also much lower in places such as India, where turmeric is used all the time in cooking -- and that's not just a coincidence.
Research has shown that a compound found in the spice turmeric, called curcumin, can both improve memory in Alzheimer's patients and significantly reduce brain inflammation and plaque formation.
Here in the U.S., where cutting through the noise of Big Pharma giants like Eli Lilly is an uphill climb, our scientists have still made some amazing discoveries in reversing the symptoms of dementia.
And those discoveries don't have a thing to do with prescription meds.
For example, UCLA researchers have had remarkable success with a common-sense approach for volunteers showing early Alzheimer's symptoms.
They eliminated processed foods from their diets, added more fresh fruits and vegetables, upped vitamin D levels, and tossed in some probiotics and DHA supplements.
All of us should be doing those things, Alzheimer's or not!
And although that was a small study involving just 10 patients, this treatment plan completely reversed dementia symptoms for all but one of them!
But that's not the only non-drug approach to this devastating problem that's shown remarkable success lately. Results of others from around the world have also been nothing short of miraculous.
The ancient Chinese practice of acupuncture has been found to protect against memory loss and help you think better. A Canadian study found the powerhouse combo of vitamins C and E to reduce the risk of dementia by 40 percent and Alzheimer's by 42 percent!
And researchers in Denmark have discovered that the medium-chain fatty acids found in coconut oil both "postpone the aging process" and boost the brains of those already suffering from Alzheimer's.
So, while Big Pharma chugs along spending billions on researching its drugs, it very well may be that the Alzheimer's "cure" we've all been hoping for is already available to all of us.
Recently, we said goodbye to one of the greatest and most beloved recording artists of our time, Glen Campbell, who passed away at the age of 81.
In a long career that spanned six decades, you might not be able to even remember a time when a Glen Campbell tune wasn't on the airwaves. And despite his disclosure of an Alzheimer's diagnosis six years ago, he kept on singing almost until the very end.
One of the things Campbell's public battle with this devastating disease did was shine a bright light on the fact that Big Pharma has gotten nowhere in finding a treatment for Alzheimer's.
And if we've learned anything about this terrible disease, it's that drugs aren't going to be the answer.
In fact, some of the best ways to keep our brains healthy and our minds sharp as a tack may have been right in front of us all along.
How meds can mimic symptoms
Two years ago, a CNN documentary about Campbell and his struggle with Alzheimer's aired to great fanfare. That film had one single sponsor -- Eli Lilly.
The drugmaker said at the time that it wanted the show to be "our gift to patients and people suffering from this disease."
"We are not asking something of them," a Lilly spokesman said. "We are trying to give something to them."
Well, thanks for nothing, Eli Lilly.
That "something" Lilly gave, no doubt out of the goodness of its corporate heart, was three ads, all masquerading as public service announcements.
But at that time, the drugmaker had in its pipeline what it thought was going to be its biggest seller yet -- a med to treat Alzheimer's that ended up being a bust.
There are several meds already approved for the disease, but they're doing nothing to curb or cure Alzheimer's. Still, docs are giving them out like candy to plenty of their patients, many of whom don't even have the disease in the first place!
For years, we've been warning eAlert readers about the dozens and dozens of different drugs that can so closely mimic Alzheimer's, the only way to officially rule it out is with an autopsy.
On top of that, certain infections such as Lyme can also masquerade as dementia.
But while Alzheimer's numbers in the U.S. are skyrocketing despite all this pill-popping, the rates are actually falling in other countries.
So, what's going on in Sweden, Norway, and the UK that isn't happening here?
Well, those countries offer programs to help citizens improve their diets, exercise more, and play more "brain games."
The rates of this memory-robbing disease are also much lower in places such as India, where turmeric is used all the time in cooking -- and that's not just a coincidence.
Research has shown that a compound found in the spice turmeric, called curcumin, can both improve memory in Alzheimer's patients and significantly reduce brain inflammation and plaque formation.
Here in the U.S., where cutting through the noise of Big Pharma giants like Eli Lilly is an uphill climb, our scientists have still made some amazing discoveries in reversing the symptoms of dementia.
And those discoveries don't have a thing to do with prescription meds.
For example, UCLA researchers have had remarkable success with a common-sense approach for volunteers showing early Alzheimer's symptoms.
They eliminated processed foods from their diets, added more fresh fruits and vegetables, upped vitamin D levels, and tossed in some probiotics and DHA supplements.
All of us should be doing those things, Alzheimer's or not!
And although that was a small study involving just 10 patients, this treatment plan completely reversed dementia symptoms for all but one of them!
But that's not the only non-drug approach to this devastating problem that's shown remarkable success lately. Results of others from around the world have also been nothing short of miraculous.
The ancient Chinese practice of acupuncture has been found to protect against memory loss and help you think better. A Canadian study found the powerhouse combo of vitamins C and E to reduce the risk of dementia by 40 percent and Alzheimer's by 42 percent!
And researchers in Denmark have discovered that the medium-chain fatty acids found in coconut oil both "postpone the aging process" and boost the brains of those already suffering from Alzheimer's.
So, while Big Pharma chugs along spending billions on researching its drugs, it very well may be that the Alzheimer's "cure" we've all been hoping for is already available to all of us.
We Need More Protein As We Age
Do you remember the "hearty breakfast?" Those were
the days when steak and eggs and sausage and flapjacks were king!
Of course, nowadays we dutifully eat a bowl of cereal and call it a morning
Well, that old-fashioned kind of breakfast -- and lunch -- is back on the menu!
A study out of Canada, just published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, has given new emphasis to the importance of seniors consuming protein throughout the day, rather than just having it at dinner.
We all know that we lose muscle strength as we get older, and that starts happening around the "youthful" age of 50.
But there's something simple and enjoyable you can do about that: Simply eat more protein during the course of the day.
The Canadian researchers followed some 1,700 relatively healthy seniors ranging in age from 67 to 84 for three years, testing them on a yearly basis for hand, arm, and leg strength. And they found that both men andwomen whose protein intake was more evenly distributed throughout the day retained a greater amount of muscle strength.
That means much more than just being able to lift heavier things. Getting weaker as our muscles get smaller goes hand and hand with the bane of old age -- becoming frail.
The Canadian study isn't the first one to conclude that older adults need more protein. Back in 2015, researchers at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences reported that healthy adults between 52 and 75 who doubled their recommended daily allowance of protein increased their ability to build muscle mass and were better able to compensate for protein breakdown.
But, the question remains, just how much protein should you be aiming for?
If you go by the feds' Recommended Daily Allowance, you'll be shortchanging yourself. That only calls for 56 grams a day for men and 46 for women -- and most experts on aging say that seniors should be getting double that amount.
The big players like beef, chicken, and fish can boost your daily protein intake by as many as 20 to 30 grams. But there are plenty of other delicious foods that can, too, such as:
Of course, nowadays we dutifully eat a bowl of cereal and call it a morning
Well, that old-fashioned kind of breakfast -- and lunch -- is back on the menu!
A study out of Canada, just published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, has given new emphasis to the importance of seniors consuming protein throughout the day, rather than just having it at dinner.
We all know that we lose muscle strength as we get older, and that starts happening around the "youthful" age of 50.
But there's something simple and enjoyable you can do about that: Simply eat more protein during the course of the day.
The Canadian researchers followed some 1,700 relatively healthy seniors ranging in age from 67 to 84 for three years, testing them on a yearly basis for hand, arm, and leg strength. And they found that both men andwomen whose protein intake was more evenly distributed throughout the day retained a greater amount of muscle strength.
That means much more than just being able to lift heavier things. Getting weaker as our muscles get smaller goes hand and hand with the bane of old age -- becoming frail.
The Canadian study isn't the first one to conclude that older adults need more protein. Back in 2015, researchers at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences reported that healthy adults between 52 and 75 who doubled their recommended daily allowance of protein increased their ability to build muscle mass and were better able to compensate for protein breakdown.
But, the question remains, just how much protein should you be aiming for?
If you go by the feds' Recommended Daily Allowance, you'll be shortchanging yourself. That only calls for 56 grams a day for men and 46 for women -- and most experts on aging say that seniors should be getting double that amount.
The big players like beef, chicken, and fish can boost your daily protein intake by as many as 20 to 30 grams. But there are plenty of other delicious foods that can, too, such as:
·
Nuts: Snacking on almonds, pistachios, and cashews during
the day will add around six to eight grams of protein per quarter-cup serving.
·
Grains and beans: A cup of quinoa will provide you
with eight grams of protein. And lentil, lima, kidney, and white beans offer a
whopping 14 to 18 grams per cup.
·
Eggs: Every sunny-side up egg you enjoy will brighten your
day with six grams of protein.
·
Pomegranate: Okay, I'm sure that a bright red
pomegranate isn't the first thing you might think about when you want some
protein, but this juicy fruit contains five grams. The trick here (along with
how to open one!) is that the protein is in the seeds, not the juice.
·
Avocados: This green goddess of the fruit
world will add four grams of protein to your day.
But rather than counting up exactly how much protein you eat
during the day, a much better idea is to just make sure every meal contains a
protein-rich food -- starting with breakfast!
Until next time, stay healthy and happy
JD Roma
The information on this blog is provided for
educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical
care, and medical advice and services are not being offered. If you have, or
suspect you have, a health problem you should consult your physician
(preferably a Naturopath).
No comments:
Post a Comment