Earlier this year a book was released – “Sum it Up” – which is the memoir of Pat Summit, the long-time head coach of the University of Tennessee Lady Vols. Summit is one of the most successful college basketball coaches, setting many records during her 38-year career, including the all-time record for wins and eight national championship titles. Now she faces one of the biggest challenges of her life – her fight against Alzheimer’s disease, which she was diagnosed with in 2011.

Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is one of today’s most feared diseases, and it’s on the rise. It is estimated that more than 5.4 million people in the U.S. suffer with AD. Experts predict by 2040 that number will grow to more than 11 million, and by 2050 it is projected that nearly 16 million people will suffer with AD. Every 68 seconds someone develops AD. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, the number of deaths from Alzheimer’s has risen 68 percent since the year 2000, making it the sixth leading cause of death in America. These statistics are astounding and raise the question, “Is there anything we can do to help reduce our risk for developing AD?”

The greatest risk factor for Alzheimer’s is advancing age and, since we are all aging, we are all at risk. While there are certain factors we cannot control, including genetics, family history and age, we can work on changing some of the lifestyle factors that put us at increased risk. These factors include lack of exercise, poor diet, diabetes, obesity, depression, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and smoking. In fact, if you smoke, you more than double your risk for developing AD.

It has long been believed that once a person develops AD, there is nothing that can be done to help improve the patient’s condition. However, new research is offering new hope. According to Dr. Richard S. Isaacson, a Harvard trained neurologist and co-author of the best-selling book, “The Alzheimer’s Diet,” many recent studies have shown that the memory of patients with Alzheimer’s can actually improve if they change what they eat. Dr. Isaacson stated, “Two years ago, I would have said patients couldn’t be helped after they started having dementia symptoms. I would have been dead wrong. In the past two years, there has truly been an explosion of research. Multiple studies have shown that if Alzheimer’s patients change what they eat, their memory can actually improve.”

Diet is also key in limiting one’s risk of developing Alzheimer’s. In addition to certain dietary changes, Dr. Isaacson recommends lifestyle modifications to help prevent, and in some cases, even reverse Alzheimer’s.

Dr. Isaacson has four close family members that have Alzheimer’s and each of them have improved by utilizing his recommendations. The following list includes some of his suggestions:

• Eat good fats such as olive oil, nuts, seeds, avocados and fish. Avoid hydrogenated fats, margarine and fats found in fast food.
• Eat a Mediterranean diet which focuses on vegetables, fruit and lean proteins such as fish and chicken.
• Avoid sugar and processed foods, especially high fructose corn syrup. Several studies have shown a strong connection between sugar consumption and Alzheimer’s. When we consume sugar and most processed foods, especially those made with white flour, it can cause our brain to deteriorate.
• Increase the amount of antioxidants in your diet by eating green leafy vegetables such as kale, spinach and collards. Include berries, especially blueberries, blackberries, cherries, cranberries, and try to have at least one serving a day. Focus mainly on the vegetables by eating 2-3 vegetables for every fruit.
• Drink coffee. Coffee has been shown to help with memory, as long as you limit your intake to 1-2 cups per day. Choose organic, since coffee can contain high levels of pesticides.
• Get adequate amounts of zinc. Zinc is important for the hippocampus, which is involved with memory. Some of the richest sources of zinc are seafood, meats, nuts, seeds and spinach. A few signs you might have low zinc are white spots on your fingernails, large pores, slow wound healing and pain on the inside of your heels.
• Get quality sleep of at least 7-8 hours each night.
• Exercise. Scientists have found that those who have a history of exercise have an ability to prevent brain damage and dementia, even when they carried the gene that is linked to an increased risk of Alzheimer’s. Some researchers believe that exercise is the single most important thing you can do to help prevent AD.

   

Dr. Ramona Warren can be reached at Pathways to Healing, 706-454-2040.