Alzheimer'sCan It Be Prevented?

By: Ryan StanleyFinal Project

INTRODUCTION

• Initiative: My grandmother suffered from Dementia and eventually passed away as a result

• There has been a greater amount of recent Alzheimer’s discoveries, therefore I altered my focus from Dementia to Alzheimer’s

• We have yet to find a cure

INTRODUCTION

• Focus: I wanted to research if Alzheimer’s is preventable and if so, how

• Expectations: Alzheimer’s is not preventable but under certain circumstances can be slowed down

**FACT: “Every 70 seconds someone is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease!”**

INTRODUCTION

Hypothesis: Recent findings show Alzheimer’s can be prevented under certain circumstances such as maintaining a healthy diet, participating in regular exercise, and maintaining a healthy brain

INTRODUCTION

Major Theories Include: • Eating certain foods prevent Alzheimer’s• Alzheimer’s can not be prevented but the rate

of destruction can be altered• Exercising the brain can increase neural

connection and therefore prevent Alzheimer’s

INTRODUCTION

Things to know:• MCI- mild cognitive impairment• The Hippocampus is one of the first parts

damaged by Alzheimer’s • Plasticity is the brains ability to find an

alternate pathway of neural connection to achieve an otherwise impossible task due to prior damage

INTRODUCTION

(Cont.)• The Dentate Gyrus- responsible for age related

memory decline• MCT- medium chain triglycerides, including

ketone bodies (end product of MCT metabolism)

MAJOR FINDINGS

Brain Exercise:• Brain stimulating activities such as challenging

games (Chess or Sudoku) are believed to be beneficial in delaying the onset of Alzheimer’s

• Learning how to use mnemonics and other memory devices showed a 33% improvement on memory assessment test for mildly impaired ₁

MAJOR FINIDNGS

(Cont.)• Individuals affected by Alzheimer’s do, in fact, have

plasticity and therefore are able to increase memory during the early onset of the disease

• “Those with higher IQ’s, higher education, more mentally (complex) demanding jobs are at a reduced risk” ₂

Sylvie Belleville, director of research at the University Institute of Geriatrics of Montreal study on learning memory devices during memory training program using individuals with MCI and Studies by Yaakov Stern, PnD. at Columbia University

MAJOR FINDINGS

Medication:• A 12 year longitudal study of 1,000 subjects

proved cholesterol lowering medication does not prove beneficial to cognition or decrease the risk of developing Alzheimer’s ₃

Insider Medicine broadcast in Chicago

MAJOR FINDINGS

(Cont.)• Alzheimer’s brains are characterized by an

abundance of plaque containing protein amyloid-β

• Semagacestat, a newer drug, does interfere with synthesis of protein but has a detrimental effect on cognition

MAJOR FINDINGS

Eating habits:• In addition to serious exercise for both your

body and brain, Curry spice has been proven to be beneficial in the production of amyloid plaque (binding to it)

• Also, recent research shows a direct link with Alzheimer’s and..

Lincoln Web article, Fitness Column

Nitrites used to preserve foods

Diabetes Insulin-related diseases

MAJOR FINDINGS

(Cont.)• A diet high in carbohydrates and low in

beneficial cholesterol correlates with brain based insulin resistance (Type 3 Diabetes) altering cellular and repair brain functions

• Beta-amyloid acts as a cholesterol substitute and the build up of this plaque is associated with Alzheimer’s

MAJOR FINDINGS

(Cont.)• Ketone bodies from coconut oil work as an

alternative fuel for glucose in neurons, allowing them to function even on a low carb diet ₄

2001-2004 Studies published by Dr. Richard L. Veech and others on ketone bodies

MAJOR FINDINGS

Cognition:• Your locus of Control can determine your

cognitive ability

Studies conducted by Margie E. Lachman, PhD, at Brandeis University of nation wide people in midlife prove those with internal Locus of Control are more likely to be happy and healthy and therefore better memory and intellectual functioning.

External locus of Control (concerning life and mental/physical health)

Accompanied by distress and

anxiety

Interfere with performance

Eventually result in memory lapses and continued decline in cognition

capability

MAJOR FINDINGS

Physical Exercise:• Studies on humans show exercise stimulates

neural connections in the Dentate Gyrus

2007 Study Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (Vol. 104, NO. 13)

MAJOR FINDINGS

Support and Opposition:1. Research on the preventable effects coconut

oil, Curry, healthy diet, exercise, and a positive outlook have on Alzheimer’s support my claims

2. Research on the detrimental effects of cholesterol lowering medication oppose claims that medication could reduce Alzheimer’s risk and the correlation between cholesterol and Alzheimer’s

I find the research studies on cholesterol lowering medication, such as Semagacestat, invalid because they were tested on patients already diagnosed and therefore unable to reverse the affects of Alzheimer’s. This does not speak for their ability to prevent Alzheimer’s before it is diagnosed or at an earlier stage of exposure.

CLOSING

I was able to adequately answer my question.

I have discovered many waysin which Alzheimer’srisk can be reduced or even prevented.

CLOSING

Main Findings

1. Exercise stimulates neural connections in the dentate gyrus. This is based on the findings in the “Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences”, and shown by MRI scans

2. An internal locus of control results in healthier and happier people with better memories. A suggestion made by Margie E. Lachman, PhD, after conducting a national study of midlife adults.

3. Ketone bodies work as an alternate for glucose in insulin resistant brains, repairing the cell walls and preventing from further damage leading to Alzheimer’s. These findings are based on studies conducted by Dr. Richard L. Veech of the NIH. His studies have “shown that both the heart and brain run 25% more efficiently on ketones than on blood sugar.” ₅

4. Pioneering research in pharmaceuticals has proven ineffective (Semagacestat) at improving cognition. These findings were brought to my attention by the “European Journal of Internal Medicine”.

REFERENCES

1)http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42308687/ns/health-alzheimers_disease/2)http://apa.org/monitor/2008/03/dementia.aspx3) http://www.5min.com/Video/Brain-Fitness-and-Alzheimers-1432779494 AND 5) http://www.healthy-eating-politics.com/alzheimers-disease.html