That’s right, folks. Veggies like spinach, kale, collard and mustard greens could help slow cognitive decline. Dementia. You don’t have to go down like your grandparents in nursing homes. No kidding. Researchers say that foods rich in vitamin K, lutein and beta-carotene can help the brain maintain healthy functioning. These include the brightly colored fruits and vegetables available in your grocery store.
Dementia Defined
So that’s one down, three more surprising remedies to go. But first, let's define dementia and its causes.
“Dementia” is a general term for a decline in mental ability severe enough to cause disruption in daily activities. It describes a range of symptoms associated with a disruption in memory and other thinking, or cognitive, skills.
Two of the following core mental functioning criteria must be significantly impaired to be considered dementia: memory, reasoning and judgment, visual perception, communication and language, and the ability to focus attention. Dementia is progressive; it usually gets worse over time.
With 60 to 80 percent of dementia patients diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease (AD), it is the most common form of dementia. First described in 1906 by Dr. Alois Alzheimer, 5.5 million Americans live with this disease. Worldwide, that number is 35.6 million. The majority of sufferers are women. In the U.S., Alzheimer’s is the sixth-leading cause of death with about 500,000 fatalities annually.
How do you recognize Alzheimer’s?
Typical early symptoms for Alzheimer’s patients range from apathy and depression to difficulty remembering recent conversations, names or events. Later signs include impaired communication, disorientation, difficulty swallowing, or walking, confusion, poor judgment or behavior changes. Brain changes caused by deposits of plaques (protein deposits) or tangles (twisted strands of proteins) are common. There is also nerve cell damage and death. These elevated levels of protein are found in and around brain cells and interfere with communication between the cells. The hippocampus, the deep brain center of learning and memory, often has damage caused by elevated protein levels, which is why, at times, memory issues arise early in AD patients.
Vascular Dementia
Vascular dementia strikes about 10 percent of dementia patients. It is typically caused by stroke and is the second most common form of dementia. The main diagnostic difference is that in vascular dementia, impaired judgment, or the inability to make decisions, plan or organize are the primary symptoms, not memory loss, as in AD. Damaged blood vessels are linked to brain changes and tied to vascular dementia.
Other Alternate Treatments
Alternative treatments have always coexisted alongside Western medicine but because they are seen as unorthodox, and they have mostly been unrecognized by Westerners, these treatments are largely unfamiliar to most of us. These practices include homeopathic techniques, use of herbs and acupuncture. Four alternate and natural remedies you may not have considered for dementia are reviewed here for you.
1. Foods rich in vitamin K and beta-carotene have previously been discussed.
2. Omega-3 fatty acids. This is a type of polyunsaturated fatty acid that has been linked to a reduction in coronary disease. It is found in cold-water fatty fish such as salmon, herring and mackerel. There are two types of fatty acids and both have been found to lower heart disease and stroke risk. It has also been found that an increase in omega-3s could result in a decrease in the risk of dementia or cognitive decline. To a lesser extent, omega-3 oils are found in flaxseed, soybean and canola oil and English walnuts. One must be careful because in high doses, these oils can cause bleeding, especially in conjunction with blood thinners.
3. Herbs and supplements. Recently, there has been an uptick in the number of herbal remedies, dietary supplements and “medical foods” offered to the general public for a variety of ailments. One must keep in mind that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration doesn’t keep watch over these dietary supplements, so regulation is practically nonexistent. Do your research into reputable brands and read the labels carefully.
- Gingko biloba is a plant extract that contains several compounds that may have a positive effect on both brain and body. It is thought to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory qualities which protects cell membranes and regulates neurotransmitters.
- Huperzine A is made from Chinese club moss. It has actions similar to FDA Alzheimer’s drugs, cholinesterase inhibitors, which slow down the action of a neurotransmitter. So if you are taking these inhibitors, do not take this drug.
- Tramiprosate is made from an amino acid, taurine, found in seaweed. Amino acids are the chemical building blocks of protein. The brand name is “ViviMind.” There have been no proven benefits, according to some studies.
- Caprylic acid is also considered a medical food. Axonal, a coconut oil extract that the body breaks down into caprylic acids which then breaks down into “ketone bodies.” These bodies are thought to supply nutrients to cells that have lost their ability to process glucose because of AD. Glucose is the brain’s chief source of energy.
- Acupuncture is the Chinese medical practice of inserting very fine needles into the appropriate pressure points. The action is said to unblock the energy (“chi”) pathways, the “meridians,” so that the balance of energy is restored in the body.
- Aromatherapy involves the use of plant-derived essential oils that have beneficial properties. Certain oils have been found to improve cognition in some Alzheimer’s patients.
- Massage is the manipulation of soft body tissues to manage symptoms of dementia, depression, anxiety and agitation.It has been found to be marginally beneficial and warrants further investigation.