Alzheimer's and Dementia

So much is coming at us as to how to know whether or not you are more susceptible to certain illnesses. While genetics can play a big role in diseases, more and more we are seeing that poor nutrition and eating habits are the biggest culprit of robbing us of our health. We start the drug cycle and getting out is very difficult. Trying some more natural approaches may help you more in this fight than anything. Starting there first and giving it time to work can keep you off the slippery slope of declining health. Research, research, research! Do not just take everything your doctor has to say as fact. Proactive rather than reactive can be your best defense. This is a great article on night time sleep aids that has been helpful to many.

Your Drugs May Give You Dementia

Maybe you think a diagnosis of dementia is your worst nightmare, but I’d argue that even more gruesome is the possibility of being told you have dementia, when in fact one simple step could reverse it quite simply. "Pseudodementia" is far more common than you’d guess... and the cause can often be found in your medicine cabinet.

Sam Gandy, MD, PhD, professor of neurology and psychiatry at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City, sees many elderly patients who seem to be suffering from Alzheimer’s disease (AD) or other forms of dementia... but may not be. He told me he believes as many as 10% of those 65 and older believed to have dementia may actually be experiencing side effects from medication.

Sleeping pills are a common culprit. A good night’s sleep often becomes increasingly elusive for aging men and women, leading doctors, sympathetic to their plight, to prescribe drugs such as zolpidem (Ambien). These drugs trigger mental and physical lethargy -- that’s why they work -- but in some people that state of mind and body carries over to the next day and impairs function, says Dr. Gandy. It’s not just prescriptions, either -- over-the-counter sleep-aids, which seem as innocent as popping a vitamin, can also cause this problem. OTC sleep-aids (including brands like Unisom Sleep Tabs, Tylenol PM and Nytol Quickcap caplets) contain antihistamines, virtually all of which can cause dementia-like symptoms.

Yet another common type of drug prescribed in elderly to promote sleep and/or calm nerves are tranquilizers in the benzodiazepine class. This includes lorazepam (Ativan), clonazepam (Klonopin), alprazolam (Xanax), diazepam (Valium) and many more. Occasional use is okay, Dr. Gandy says, but when people take such medications often, they can build up in the system, leading to dementia-type symptoms. Dr. Gandy says if you are going to take a "benzo," look for one with a short half-life such as Ativan or Xanax rather than, say, Valium, which lingers much longer in the body, thus making accumulation more likely.

BEYOND SLEEPING PILLS -- WHAT ELSE?

Still other drugs used to treat frequent medical problems in the elderly can slow cognition. These include some beta blocker drugs, prescribed for a wide variety of problems such as high blood pressure, irregular heart rhythm, migraine, angina and glaucoma. Also, anticholinergic drugs are a problem -- these are prescribed to treat Parkinson’s disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), some gastrointestinal problems, urine retention and more. Although some studies seem to have shown that statin drugs -- the world’s top-selling pharmaceuticals, prescribed to lower cholesterol levels -- help prevent dementia, there is considerable anecdotal evidence of people developing dementia symptoms after taking them -- with symptoms then vanishing when they stop the drug. Drugs are often life-savers, but not all that much is known about what happens in the body when they are used over long periods, and most especially in combination with other medications. This is one of the most important reasons why it is smart to take as few medications as possible.

Yet another frequent cause of pseudodementia is not a drug, but rather depression -- a condition that is particularly complicated in the elderly, says Dr. Gandy, because they tend to isolate themselves and often their depression symptoms closely resemble early-stage dementia. In fact, he told me he has had experiences of trying to set up a clinical trial for Alzheimer’s Disease, only to discover that candidates referred by their physicians actually suffered clinical depression, not AD at all. Treating these patients with antidepressants also improved their cognition, Dr. Gandy said.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

The resounding message is that no one should be quick to accept a diagnosis of dementia as the cause of memory loss and/or confusion, especially in an elderly individual. Call your doctor if you develop memory problems soon after starting a new drug. Have your doctor scrutinize all medications to see if one or the combination might be causing the symptoms. Be sure your pharmacist has a complete list of all medications taken, especially if they aren’t all filled at the same pharmacy. If it turns out that one or several of the drugs you take could be the cause, Dr. Gandy advises working out a plan with your doctor to withdraw from the drug or drugs for a month or so to see if symptoms change. Finally, be very careful about any sleep aids, whether OTC or prescription.

Source(s):

Sam Gandy, MD, PhD, professor of neurology and psychiatry at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City.

Making your everyday staple items from scratch

Baking your own breads and cookies are very economical. The best part is the satisfaction of you and your family being able to say "we did this ourselves". Knowing the ingredients are simply sugar, flour, eggs, salt, leavening agent, not a list as long as my arm most of which are unpronounceable! If you can't say it don't eat it was the motto of Bryer's ice-cream and it is a good one. We have many great bulk food stores in our area that will help us to get our basics at a good cost. Pine Grove bulk foods in Howard, Oak Hill, Hill Crest bulk and natural foods and Crystal Valley in the Penn Yan area. There are many more out there, these are the ones that I am familiar with. The savings are huge especially for baked goods and making your own mayonnaise is so simple and much better tasting. Again knowing that there are not all of the chemicals and preservatives in your food gives you an upper hand on your families health. Find these recipes Food for Thought web page at www.fln.org. Enjoy yourself as you and your family experiment with some new and different taste treats. Bon Appetit'

Foods that heal!

Flax seed is the number one anti-inflammatory used in the ground form. Grinding the seeds with a coffee grinder releases the omega-3's to lubricate joints and reduce inflammation. Ginger is commonly used for bloating, nausea and motion sickness. Cinnamon is a sugar regulator, lowers cholesterol and the aroma helps your memory. Almonds alleviate food cravings, lower cholesterol are high in fiber and vitamin E. Garlic is a natural blood thinner and antibiotic. Honey is great for energy, helps allergies and boosts your immune system. Apples lower cholesterol, are good for weight loss and anti-cancer. Apple cider vinegar has a long list of uses. With all the digestion problems present today this is one of the best resources to settle stomach acid and help you to digest properly. Potatoes and avocados are high in potassium which helps fight cramping in your legs. These are just a few benefits from eating whole foods. Check it out for yourself by searching, health benefits of, and type in the food you are wanting more info on. You will be amazed at the many medicinal foods that are at your fingertips for much less than the cost of a prescription drug. The results may take more time but your patience and persistence will pay off with a healthy mind and body for you and your family.

Protection from food borne illness

There is so much talk these days of food borne illnesses and we need to know how to protect ourselves. Making sure that we are thoroughly washing after visiting the restroom in restaurants is vital. So much is passed on from door handles and the exchange of money. Before you sit down to eat take time to wash or use a good anti-bacterial product.
When washing fruits and vegetables before eating soak them in fresh squeezed lemon juice and toss in rind and all or you can use a good organic cleaner such as Basic-H from Shaklee. If you do not know a Shaklee distributor you can call Lois Saxton at 607-776-4737 and she can get the product for you. This cleaner takes off the waxy coating that is on most store bought produce. Under that coating are the sprays and bacteria that can cause the upset stomach. Simple precautions such as these and taking good enzymes can help you avoid the health risks of improper handling of the foods you eat. For some basic enzyme products go to www.puritan.com and type in enzymes. There you will find one that is right for you.

All foods in moderation!

Years ago all grocery stores had a butcher behind the counter to tell you about the best cut of meat and where it was from. In most cases it was local. We still have that option if we look around us, ask questions and find a farmer who can give you some tips on the best meat lockers in your area. No need to be concerned about the diseased meats coming in from out of the country when you buy local and you are helping your economy. In both New York and Pennsylvania there are farmers markets available to get fresh fruits and vegetables. Combining these foods gives you more fiber which will help your bodies to properly digest and utilize the proteins that you consume. Eating beef and pork 3-4 meals per week while having poultry and fish the other meals also will keep your system at peek performance. Currently Americans consume on average 106 lbs. of red meat per year compared to only 10-15 lbs. of fish. Find ways you can bring in salmon and mackerel to your meal time. These are great for the brain and help lower cholesterol. Eating a food two or three times will make it familiar to your taste buds so it becomes a food that you will enjoy eating.Remembering that all things in moderation helps you to have a healthy mind and body. Find the closest to God made good whole foods, homemade cookies and treats and plenty of fresh water and your chances for good health is much more likely. Also the younger you are changing to positive eating habits, the faster and more complete your body will heal itself.

Help with sleep disorders

At a shopping mall in Coventry, England, researchers posted colorful signs along the steps of a staircase that said: “Taking the stairs protects your heart.” Over a 6-week period, the number of people who chose to walk up the stairs instead of riding the adjacent escalator more than doubled. The researchers say that every step counts, and that long-term behavior will change only if the signs are seen regularly.
If what we put before our eyes tells us to take a drug to help us sleep that is what we tend to do. If however we challenge ourselves to put into practice those habits that will help us to overcome the stresses and disorders that cause sleep problems we can begin to realize the benefits of a great nights rest!
Now some of those natural remedies are eating celery before going to bed. Drinking sleepy time tea, putting a dot of lavender oil on your pillow, a nice hot bath before bed, taking tryptophan which is the amino acid found in turkey will all help you to get to sleep and stay asleep all night. If you suffer with having to get up frequently to go to the bathroom taking 1000 mg of Ester C an hour or so before bedtime helps to strengthen the bladder and reduce those unwanted trips during the night.
Restless leg syndrome where there is involuntary jerking of the legs can be due to a shortage of B vitamins. Taking a good B-complex can help in that area!
Too much sugar and caffeine can cause incomplete sleep. You may wake up in the morning feeling as though you did not get near enough sleep, even though you may have slept 8 or more hours. MSG and other chemical stimulants can also rob you of much needed rest. Watch the labels on your foods.
Studies have also proven that prayer before bed can relax your mind and body for a complete night of sleep.

Seasonal Affective Dissorder S.A.D.

S.A.D affects millions of Americans, yes it is real, however it is very combat able! When we understand the how's and whys of this foe we can effectively win the battle. The missing link in the equation is the sun. We become deficient in Vitamin D and it can feel like the world is crashing in on us. For some regions in the country it is much worse than others. In the Icelandic regions they have very little sun at times yet much less of a problem with S.A.D. and researchers have found that diets with higher intake of fish could be the answer.
Fish is very high in Vitamin D with Cod liver oil leading the list at 1360 IU per tablespoon. Now if you find that hard to swallow there are gel caps available or the next best thing on the list is salmon at 360 IU for a 3.5 oz portion. mackerel comes in after that with 345 IU and tuna at 200 IU. Milk is down there a ways with 98 IU per 8 oz. glass and ready to eat cereals as 40 IU per 1/2 cup serving. You have to watch what they are using to fortify the milk and cereals with as in some cases they are not absorb able and if they are synthetic you are adding insult to injury. The recommended daily allowance of Vitamin D is 200 IU for new born-50, 400 IU for 51-70 and 70 plus needs 600 IU for optimal health. When we understand the correlation between a lack of sun during the cold and flu season and summer being a time where we tend to be a lot healthier because we are naturally out in the sun, taking Vitamin D supplements during the dreary days will make much more sense.