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Role of Drugs/Pharmacology
The common drugs available today are mainly the cholinesterase inhibitors. According to review of all published double-blind placebo-controlled trials, they did not leave any significant impact in reversing, or even slowing down the dementia process. This includes drugs called donepezil, rivastigmine, and galantamine. So, because of insignificant benefits and flawed methods, the Scientific Editorial Board concluded that the recommendations of cholinesterase inhibitors for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease is questionable.
For a long time, it was concluded that if the acetylcholine between the pre and postsynaptic junction could be retained, that would be the elixir for keeping a sharp memory. Unfortunately, there are many other factors that contributes to the process of dementia. We cannot isolate only one factor and there is is no magic bullet or silver lining. The only effective course in dealing with dementia is to treat the patient holistically with a wholesome, natural diet, exercise, hormone replacements, and mental activities popularly known as ‘mental aerobics.’
A recent study in the Journal of Neurochemistry, December 2010, the prestigious Salk Institute collaborating with Cedar Sinai Hospital showed that CNB-001, a synthetic derivative of curcumin, enhanced memory and was highly neuroprotective against ischemic stroke and Traumatic Brain Injury TBI.
Nutrition, Diet, & Brain Super foods
The brain is primarily comprised of fats. That is why healthy fats including the essential the fatty acids (EFAs) in balance are so important. Omega 3 is particularly important. (See “Know Your Fats & Oils” by Lady Carla Davis, MPH, in the Masters of Health magazine, October Issue). Foods high in the EFAs include wild game, wild caught salmon and sardines, organic flax seed oil, flax seed meal, walnuts, chia seeds.
Foods high in other types of healthy fats include quality protein such as organic turkey, egg yolks, almonds, pecans, coconuts, and pumpkin seeds.
Plant brain superfoods are colourful and rich in nutrients such as enzymes, antioxidants, phytochemicals, vitamins, minerals, and fiber. They include organic fruits such as avocado, most berries especially blueberries; organic vegetables such as broccoli, kale, spinach, and other leafy greens. Herbs and spices such as curcumin, turmeric, cinnamon oregano; teas such as rooibos and green tea.
Studies done on the Mediterranean diet, with a score from 0-9, revealed that subjects who adhered to the Mediterranean diet, had an odds ratio for Alzheimer's by 0.4. In other words, they were 40% less likely to develop this mind robbing illness. Subjects were adjusted for age, sex, ethnicity, education.
Curbing Inflammation, the Mediterranean diet was associated with 17% lower Inflammatory Bio markers serum IL levels. We, now know that Alzheimer's disease or dementia, just like heart disease, strokes, osteoporosis, cancer, and most of the chronic disease conditions originate from inflammation. We can now measure the inflammatory biomarkers, which actually gives us a very good idea about how chronic disease is aggravated by inflammation.
Thus, we have to change our lifestyle to better balance the body’s autonomic nervous system from a hyper-inflammatory state to anti-inflammatory state, i.g. an anti-inflammatory diet and lifestyle that better copes with stress.
Dietary factors; especially fats and oils also play a big role in inflammation. The EPIC (European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition) study found that polyunsaturated fatty acids PUFA inversely were related with cognition loss. Physical activity and lifestyles improved cognition. It also improved Mini–Mental Status Examination and Geriatric Depression Scale GDS that was published in Public Health Nutrition, October 2008.
According to John Barron, of the Baseline Health Foundation, L- Carnosine has been proven to reduce or completely prevent cell damage caused by beta-amyloid (AKA amyloid-beta, amyloid ß-protein, and Aß), one of the prime suspected protein risk factors for Alzheimer's. The presence of beta-amyloid leads to damage of the nerves and arteries of the brain.