By Richard Malik, ND
26 November 2007

Many people have relatives that have had Alzheimer’s disease and are concerned about their personal risk of getting it; they have heard that Alzheimer’s is hereditary. I personally understand this concern; before passing away several years ago, my father was afflicted with Alzheimer’s.

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia - a loss in the ability to remember recent events and use language that is accompanied by changes in emotional and social responses. The risk of acquiring Alzheimer’s increases as we get older; only 14% of people over the age of 65 have Alzheimer’s, but 40% of people over the age of 80 have it. However, don’t let this statistic discourage you - there is plenty you can do for prevention.

If your mother, father or other relatives have had Alzheimer’s what are your personal risks? That is hard to say for sure, but keep in mind that most of these fears are overblown - only 10% of cases of Alzheimer’s disease are caused by the genes we get from our parents. To put it another way, this means that 90% of Alzheimer’s cases are not hereditary.

The treatment of established Alzheimer’s is difficult - much more difficult than prevention. So, as with many health conditions, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

The steps you and I can take to prevent Alzheimer’s make good common sense. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, the first preventive measure is to protect yourself from head injuries. Head injuries at any time in life increase the risk of developing Alzheimer’s as we get older.

The brain is dependent upon the heart and arteries to supply the nutrients it needs to function and remain healthy. Diseases of the heart and, especially, the arteries like atherosclerosis increase the risk of Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. Lifestyle habits that are heart healthy help: eating healthy foods; exercising and maintaining a healthy weight; and proactively treating heart conditions all decrease your risk of developing dementia.

Tobacco and alcohol consumption are associated with dementia. Avoiding or minimizing your intake is smart. Exercising the mind as well the body is important for brain health. So staying socially connected, interacting with others, writing, and being a life-long learner are also important.

The phamacological treatment of Alzheimer’s usually involves drugs that increase levels of a neurotransmitter in the brain called acetylcholine. While showing some modest benefit, the medical studies done on these drugs leave questions as to the degree of improvement that is attained and the numbers of patients needed to be treated in order for one person to benefit. Studies show that Ginkgo biloba, an herb used to improve cognition and circulation in the brain, to be about as effective as these drugs.

Researchers suspect that oxidative damage in the brain is one of the main causes of Alzheimer’s. In the past many patients were given high doses of supplemental vitamin E because it is a fat-soluble antioxidant that can work in the fat-rich brain. However, recent studies seem to indicate that high doses of alpha-tocopherol, the form of vitamin E found in most supplements, may increase the risk of heart disease and atherosclerosis. Its use for the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer’s has decreased substantially.

While medical research has shown that mega-doses of supplemental vitamin E in the form of alpha-tocopherol may have a negative impact on health, there is absolutely no concern about the vitamin E you get from foods. Foods rich in vitamin E include whole grains; nuts and seeds; eggs; green leafy vegetables; and vegetable oils.

Supplementing with forms of vitamin E that are closer to the forms found naturally in food may be a safer way to go. Vitamin E supplements that mimic naturally occurring vitamin E contain several vitamin E fractions including: alpha, beta, gamma, and delta tocopherols. Gamma tocopherol is an important form of vitamin E - make sure your vitamin E supplement has plenty of it.

Obtaining the anti-oxidant benefits of vitamin E is best through the diet. If you use a supplemental form, get one that has all the fractions listed above and take no more than 800 IU per day.

Would you believe that something as simple as drinking vegetable and fruit juices four times a week can substantially reduce your risk of getting Alzheimer’s? In September of 2006, a study published in the American Journal of Medicine showed a 76% decreased risk of Alzheimer’s in elderly patients that regularly consume vegetable and fruit juices when compared to elderly patients that have vegetable of fruit juices once a week or less. This 76% reduction in risk is huge . The researchers suspect antioxidants play a role in observed the preventive effect.

As with most health conditions, the risk of getting Alzheimer’s Disease can be considerably reduced by simple, preventive measures. Focus on taking care of your head and your heart while eating and drinking foods that are rich in anti-oxidants - especially vitamin E.