Alzheimer's disease is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States, according to the Alzheimer's Association. The disease increased by 66 percent between 2000 and 2008, while other degenerative disease rates fell. Research has shown that some nutritional and herbal supplements may be helpful in preventing Alzheimer's disease. Consult your doctor before using supplements to prevent Alzheimer's disease.
Phosphatidylserine
Phosphatidylserine, a component of cell membranes, may improve memory, according to a study published in the November 2010 issue of the "Journal of Clinical Biochemistry and Nutrition." Elderly study participants, all with mild cognitive impairment, took 100 or 300 mg of phosphatidylserine per day for six months. Memory scores increased in all groups, and those with the lowest starting scores improved the most. Improvements occurred mostly in delayed verbal recall, an aspect of memory associated with early stages of dementia. There were no adverse effects, and the researchers concluded that phosphatidylserine is a safe and helpful supplement for improving memory for some people.
Vitamin B
B vitamins slowed the progress of dementia in some Alzheimer's patients, in a study published in the January 2011 issue of the journal "Clinical Nutrition." In the study, 140 patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease or vascular dementia took 1 mg of vitamin B-12 and 5 mg of folic acid per day for 24 months. Participants whose levels of homocysteine --- a marker for inflammation --- were elevated showed improvements in a dementia rating scale, though on the whole, cognitive and psychological scores showed no significant change.
Omega-3
Omega-3 fatty acids from fish and plant oils may have beneficial effects on cognition, according to a study published in the 2010 issue of the "Journal of Alzheimer's Disease." The essential fatty acid docosahexanoic acid also reduced oxidized lipids and prevented the formation of protein deposits in the brain that are associated with Alzheimer's disease. The meta-study --- a review of previously published research --- also found that losing weight and decreasing triglyceride levels improved cognitive performance in some people. In animal studies, high triglycerides caused impaired learning and memory, possibly due to triglycerides' inhibition of leptins --- hormones that have positive effects on cognition.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D may offer neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory effects that help prevent Alzheimer's disease, according to a study published in the December 2010 "Psychologie and Neuropsychiatrie du Vielleissiment." Vitamin D receptors and vitamin D activating enzymes are abundant in the brain, indicating that the brain uses high levels of the vitamin. The researchers noted that studies in humans remain inconclusive and further studies should be conducted to confirm preliminary results.
References
- "Journal of Clinical Biochemistry and Nutrition"; Soybean-derived phosphatidylserine improves memory function of the elderly Japanese subjects with memory complaints; Kato-Kataoka A, et al.; 2010
- "Clinical Nutrition"; A randomized placebo controlled trial of homocysteine lowering to reduce cognitive decline in older demented people; Kwok T, et al.; 2011
- "Journal of Alzheimer's Disease"; Lipids and cognition; Morley JE, et al.; 2010
- "Psychologie et Neuropsychiatrie du Vielleissiment"; 2010
