January 2016 Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month in Canada: Early detection, prevention and MIND diet

January is Alzheimer’s disease awareness month in Canada and so we here at Bel Marra Health wanted to bring you our top articles in regards to early detection, prevention and even discuss the MIND diet.

As our population continues to grow we see more and more Alzheimer disease cases and so it may be common belief that developing Alzheimer’s disease, and dementia, is an inevitable part of aging – but the truth is it’s not.

You don’t need to grow old and become victim to memory loss and so this is why we compiled our top articles to help keep you informed and better educated on prevention methods against Alzheimer’s disease as well as the importance of early detection and what that means for your diagnosis.

We hope you become better educated on the concerns surrounding Alzheimer’s disease as a means to help better protect yourself.

Slow walking may be an early sign of Alzheimer’s disease, according to new research

Slow walking may be an early sign of Alzheimer’s disease, according to new research. In the future it may be used alongside traditional diagnostic methods to better diagnose Alzheimer’s disease. The study found a link between walking speed in the elderly and protein build-up in the brain, which is associated with Alzheimer’s disease. The researchers determined that slow walking may be a result of changes in the brain that occur prior to the onset of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

Research lead, Dr. Natalia del Campo, “It’s possible that having subtle walking disturbances in addition to memory concerns may signal Alzheimer’s disease, even before people show any clinical symptoms.” Continue reading…

MIND diet may lower the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease

The MIND diet has been shown to improve brain health and reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. As we age, the threat of developing Alzheimer’s disease increases. Although the cause of Alzheimer’s disease is still unknown, researchers are working diligently to uncover more information to combat this life-changing illness.

What we do know is there are effective ways to help reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. And there is something you do every day that can make a difference: eating well.
Diet plays a large role in our overall health, so it’s no surprise that a healthy diet can help reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. But you can’t just eat anything; in fact, you should stick to one main diet to slash your risk of Alzheimer’s disease by a significant 53 percent, research shows. Continue reading…

Chances of early detection of Alzheimer’s disease increased

The chances of early detection of Alzheimer’s disease increased with the use of amyloid PET scans, which are just as effective as the previous cerebrospinal fluid sample method. The research comes from Lund University and is the most extensive so far.

Methods of detecting Alzheimer’s disease include memory tests, computed tomography and cerebrospinal fluid sample method. Although these methods have shown to be effective, the cerebrospinal fluid sample method is only offered to those in memory clinics, so many individuals who needed it never get the test.

In Sweden a method called amyloid PET scans has recently been approved. It uses a substance which binds to a protein in the brain and is administered to the patient. The brain protein is β-amyloid and is a marker for Alzheimer’s disease. This is then mapped using PET scans. Continue reading…

Alzheimer’s disease stoppable much earlier by reducing beta amyloid protein

Alzheimer’s disease can be stopped much earlier by reducing beta amyloid protein, new findings suggests. The findings come from The Nantz National Alzheimer Center at Houston Methodist Hospital as part of a landmark trial. It looks at a key protein in the brain that may be able to prevent memory loss nearly one decade sooner than symptoms usually emerge in seniors.

The trial focuses on treatment to reduce the impact of amyloid proteins. The researchers used positron emission tomography (PET scans) and found that beta-amyloid begins forming in the brain of Alzheimer’s patients one to two decades prior to visible symptoms. Researchers believe it is this accumulation of beta-amyloids that contribute to memory loss. Continue reading…

Alzheimer’s disease risk in elderly due to mild cognitive impairment increases with stress

Alzheimer’s disease risk in elderly due to mild cognitive impairment can increase with stress. Mild cognitive impairment(MCI) is part of the stages leading up to Alzheimer’s disease. In this stage symptoms of memory loss are noticeable but do not interfere with the person’s everyday life.

Mild cognitive impairment is when memory and cognitive abilities begin to diminish and is a risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease. Research suggests that 10 to 20 percent of seniors over the age of 65 have mild cognitive impairment. Other health conditions can contribute to mild cognitive impairment like depression. Overtime a person with mild cognitive impairment can progress into Alzheimer’s disease.

There are four main types of mild cognitive impairment: Amnestic, non-amnestic, single domain and multiple domain. Amnestic MCI is when memory is significantly impaired but other cognitive functions remain functioning. Non-amnestic MCI, on the other hand, is when memory remains but other areas of cognitive function become greatly reduced.

Single domain MCI is when only one aspect of cognitive function is reduced and multiple domain is when more than one aspect of cognitive function becomes impaired. Those with multiple domain MCI are at a greater risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. Continue reading…