New Study: Blueberries Can Help Fight Alzheimer’s

blueberries can help fight alzheimer'sAlzheimer’s disease is a devastating form of dementia that affects thinking, memory and behavior. A new study by Dr. Robert Krikorian and his team of colleagues from the University of Cincinnati Academic Health Center has found that eating blueberries can help fight Alzheimer’s.

The study followed two groups, one that was given the equivalent of 1 cup of blueberries (in the form of blueberry powder) and the other, a placebo. The subjects were over the age of 68 and had some sort of mild cognitive impairment.

After 16 weeks, the group that was given the blueberry powder had a significant improvement in cognitive function over those who took the placebo. The benefits may be a result of flavonoids called anthocyanins, in which blueberries are rich. Continue reading “New Study: Blueberries Can Help Fight Alzheimer’s”

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New Study Links Heartburn Drugs and Dementia

seniorProton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are a popular class of heartburn medications that includes Prilosec, Nexium and Prevacid. These medications, which are available over the counter (without a prescription), lower the amount of stomach acid produced by the stomach. Concern has been increasing that Americans might be overusing PPIs to treat minor cases of heartburn or acid reflux. And, a new study published in the journal JAMA Neurology, shows heartburn drugs and dementia are linked, in that these drugs may raise a senior’s risk of developing dementia.

Researchers collected data from a large German health insurance firm on almost 74,000 seniors aged 75 or older. The data ran from 2004 to 2011, and included diagnoses and drug prescriptions. About 2,950 patients regularly used PPIs, which for this study was defined as at least one PPI prescription in each quarter of an 18-month interval. Regular users of PPIs had a 44% increased risk of dementia compared with those not receiving PPI medications. Continue reading “New Study Links Heartburn Drugs and Dementia”

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Reducing Risk of Alzheimer’s Disease with Diet and Fish Oils

Alzheimer’s is an awful, degenerative disease. If no one in your life has ever been affected by it, consider yourself lucky. It has hit pretty close to home for me in the last couple of years; watching someone, once vibrant and loving, turn into a different person is heart-wrenching.

However, there may be some hope in preventing Alzheimer’s disease. A new study in the journal Neurology is reporting that a diet rich in marine derived omega-3 fats and vitamins B, C, D and E dramatically lowered the risk of reduced brain volume, memory loss and risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Certain lifetsyle factors such as education and blood pressure, combined with a healthy diet, lowered the risk of brain shrinkage by almost 40%. Shrinking brain volume is associated with the development of many forms of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease.

Dr. Gene Bowman, from the Departments of Neurology and Public Health and Preventive Medicine at the Oregon Health and Science University, and his team of researchers studied 104 elderly people with the average age of 87. They found that the vitamins and nutrients you get from eating a wide range of fruits, vegetables and fish can be measured in blood biomarkers and have a direct impact on brain shrinkage, memory and cognition.  Continue reading “Reducing Risk of Alzheimer’s Disease with Diet and Fish Oils”

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Boosting Brain Power

I read an article recently in a well known newspaper about the potential “astronomical” increase in Alzheimer’s in the upcoming years due to baby boomers, and the toll it will take on society. The reaction the article received ranged from outrage, to disbelief and most disturbingly, resignation.

However, there are things to be done to lessen the burden of dementia on society and families. “Brain Fitness” is a combination of methods and lifestyle factors that can revitalize the brain and add many years of active functioning in later life. Continue reading “Boosting Brain Power”

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