Alzheimer's disease is a progressive brain disease that causes memory and language loss, cognitive impairment and personality changes. The University of Maryland Medical Center, or UMMC, notes that 5 million Americans suffer from Alzheimer's, the most common form of dementia. There is no cure or vaccine for Alzheimer's, but a number of drugs can help slow the progression of Alzheimer's and improve cognition. Some vitamins may help to improve brain function and slow mental decline, but scientific evidence is inconclusive as to whether they can prevent or treat Alzheimer's.
Examples
UMMC notes that several of the B vitamins may play a role in the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer's disease, including vitamins B1, B2, B6 and B12. B vitamins biotin and folic acid, or folate, also may provide benefit, while vitamins with antioxidant properties, such as vitamins E and C, may also help slow the progression of dementia, UMMC adds.
Sources
U.K. health information website Netdoctor says the best sources of B vitamins include meat, poultry, yeast extracts, green vegetables such as broccoli and asparagus, dairy products and fish. Folic acid can be found in fortified foods such as cereal and bread, while egg yolks and liver are rich sources of biotin. Foods rich in vitamin E include sweet potatoes, sunflower oil, salmon, spinach and whole-grain products, while strawberries, broccoli and kiwi fruit contain vitamin C. You can also take these vitamins in supplement form, although you should get medical advice before doing so because taking high or incorrect doses may cause side effects.
Efficacy
The results of a clinical trial published in the September 2010 issue of "Public Library of Science ONE" show that vitamins B6, B9 and B12 may help lessen brain shrinkage, an event that may be linked to the development of Alzheimer's disease. The study's lead author, Professor David Smith, notes that patients who took B vitamins experienced less brain atrophy than those who took a placebo treatment. The results of research published in the January 2004 issue of "Archives in Neurology" show that a combination of vitamins E and C reduces the prevalence and incidence of Alzheimer's as well.
Other Measures
Whether or not Alzheimer's can be prevented is not yet clear, says UMMC, but diet and exercise may help keep your brain healthy and stave off dementia. UMMC recommends eating fewer red meats and keeping commercially baked goods and junk food such as french fries, doughnuts and processed foods out of your diet. Replace these foods with lean meats, fatty fish, and fruits and vegetables that are rich in antioxidants. Exercising for 30 minutes daily and keeping your mind active may help to delay the onset of Alzheimer's disease.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Alzheimer's Disease
- Netdoctor: Sources of Vitamins
- Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon University: Biotin
- "Public Library of Science ONE"; "Homocysteine Lowering by B Vitamins Slows the Rate of Accelerated Brain Atrophy in Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Randomized Controlled Trial"; A. David Smith et al; September 2010
- PubMed: Reduced Risk of Alzheimer's Disease in Users of Antioxidant Vitamin Supplements: The Cache County Study
