Alzheimer's disease is a cognitive illness that manifests in later years of your life, but damages to your brain may occur 10 to 20 years before symptoms begin, according to the National Institute on Aging. Diet contributes to the cause and prevention of chronic diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes and cancer and may impact the development of Alzheimer's disease. Consult your doctor about your cognitive health and diet plan to prevent or slow down the progression of Alzheimer's disease.
Alzheimer's Disease
Alzheimer's disease is the leading cause of dementia and affects more than 5 million people in the United States, notes the National Institute on Aging. Alzheimer's disease is characterized by loss of thinking, reasoning and memory and inability to complete daily activities. The symptoms of Alzheimer's disease begin after 60 years of age in most people.
Misconceptions
A common misconception is that Alzheimer's disease is not a fatal condition and that you may die from some other illness. The truth is that Alzheimer's disease is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States, based on 2009 data by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Although Alzheimer's disease is not immediately life-threatening, patients often live less years after first experiencing symptoms of the illness compared with other people the same age. Research by scientists at the UO Alzheimer-Memory Clinic in Brescia, Italy, and published in "Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics" in 2009 reports that life expectancy for patients with Alzheimer's disease can vary between three and 10 years, with a life span as long as seven to 10 years for patients with conditions beginning in their 60s or 70s and three years or less for patients with conditions beginning in their 90s. However, it is not entirely known how much diet plays a role in extending life after the disease conditions commence.
Prevention Diet
You can reduce your risk of Alzheimer's disease by consuming a plant-based Mediterranean diet and taking nutritional supplements containing both vitamins C and E. A plant-based Mediterranean diet includes fruits and vegetables, legumes, nuts, seeds, whole grains and olive oil. The diet may also include moderate amounts of low-fat yogurt and cheese and fish. Adherence to a Mediterranean diet is significantly associated with a lower risk of Alzheimer's disease, according to research by scientists at Columbia University in New York City and published in the "Journal of Alzheimer's Disease" in 2010. Research by scientists at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, and published in the "Archives of Neurology" in 2004 discovered that the combined use of supplements containing vitamins C and E is associated with reduced prevalence and incidence of Alzheimer's disease.
Considerations
No one or two nutrients are solely associated with the cause or prevention of Alzheimer's disease. Nonetheless, it is prudent to develop healthy eating habits when you are young and to adhere to these principles throughout your life. Alzheimer's disease may not only be difficult for you, but can be devastating to loved ones who suffer as well.
References
- National Institute on Aging; Alzheimer's Disease Fact Sheet; 2010
- Centers For Disease Control and Prevention; Leading Causes of Death; 2009
- "Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics"; Life Expectancy in Alzheimer's Disease; O. Zanetti, et al.; 2009
- "Journal of Alzheimers Disease"; Mediterranean Diet, Inflammatory and Metabolic Biomarkers, and Risk of Alzheimer's Disease; Yian Gu, et al.; 2010
- "Archives of Neurology"; Reduced Risk of Alzheimer Disease in Users of Antioxidant Vitamin Supplements: The Cache County Study; Peter Zandi, et al.; Jan 2004
