FORGET the supplements!
February 6th 2008 20:04
Signature Tune
A 65 year old worries about his family history of Alzheimer's and diabetes.
He wants to know if Acetyl L Carnitine and Alpha Lipoic Acid pills help to ward off memory loss.
There is insufficient data available to recommend either of these products or any other supplement.
The recommendations remain as generally,
— Stay active socially and cognitively.
— Exercise on a regular basis.
— Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables daily and fish at least twice a week.
— Visit your doctor regularly and be sure that risk factors for atherosclerosis are identified and treated (high blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, stop smoking, etc).
In fact taking supplements my well prove harmful.
There is no magic bullet.
"There are many factors that appear to be involved with developing Alzheimer's disease — brain cell loss, inflammation, free radicals, environmental and genetic factors. I have grown skeptical that any one supplement will make a major difference in preventing or improving this disease." says Dr. David Carr, clinical director of geriatric medicine.
Carr says "that the exciting news in Alzheimer's research is with beta-amyloid. This is the abnormal protein that accumulates in the brain of Alzheimer's patients. It creates a plaque between brain cells, which appears to cause inflammation and cell death"
"If we can decrease its production or increase its clearance, we may be able to slow its progression and possibly improve the symptoms," Carr said.
Alzheimer's disease is the seventh leading cause of death in the United States. Its symptoms can be treated, but no cure is known.
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