Possible protection against Alzheimer's

By Beverly Creamer
Advertiser Staff Writer

Possibly protective techniques against Alzheimer's disease, gathered from landmark research on a community of aging nuns and other recent studies:

• Estrogen use has been associated with decreased risk of Alzheimer's and enhanced cognitive function. Women who undergo hormone replacement therapy after menopause have a significantly greater blood flow to areas of the brain involved in memory.

• One of the marks of Alzheimer's is inflammation in the brain. There is new epidemiologic evidence that anti-inflammatories such as prednisone and NSAIDS, including ibuprofen and indomethacin, are associated with a decreased risk of Alzheimer's.

• Preventing strokes through diet and exercise, or medications, may be a key factor in avoiding Alzheimer's symptoms. A history of small strokes increases the likelihood of dementia.

• Include in your diet plenty of folic acid, which is part of the vitamin B group of nutrients found in green plants, fresh fruit, liver and yeast. In the nun study, sisters with high folate levels showed little evidence of Alzheimer's in their brains after death. This nutrient also tends to counteract the effects of homocysteine, an amino acid that's a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Therefore, folic acid in the blood helps reduce the risk of stroke. It's not clear how much is appropriate.

• It's unclear whether vitamins C and E are protective, but antioxidants like these prevent free radical damage, which can harm brain nerve cells. Antioxidant foods include carrots and tomatoes and other highly colored vegetables. Many free radical scavengers such as gingko biloba and melatonin are known to counteract the damage of free radicals.

• According to the latest research, neither mercury nor aluminum have been implicated in Alzheimer's disease.

• Treat depression. Mental decline seems to go hand in hand with a drop in positive emotions.

• Take protective measures, such as wearing a helmet during recreational activities and seat belts in cars, to prevent head injury, which is linked to Alzheimer's risk.

• Higher educational levels and continuing learning later in life seem to be protective. Study a new language, do crossword puzzles, brush your teeth with your opposite hand to push the other side of the brain to learn something new, take continuing education courses for seniors, recommends Janet Bender of the Alzheimer's Association chapter in Hawai'i.