Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's Disease
Alzheimer's disease is a brain disorder which gradually
destroys the ability to reason, remember, imagine, and learn. It's
different from the mild forgetfulness normally observed in older
people. Over the course of the disease, people with Alzheimer's no
longer recognize themselves or much about the world around them.
Depression, anxiety, and paranoia often accompany these symptoms.
Although there is no cure, new treatments help lessen Alzheimer's
symptoms and slow its progression.

Currently, doctors can't diagnose Alzheimer's disease with 100%
certainty until a brain autopsy after the person's death reveals the
disease's markers: abnormal clumps and irregular knots of brain cells.
So diagnosis of Alzheimer's rests largely on the judgment of physicians
experienced in dealing with dementing illnesses. But that judgment has
become quite sophisticated.

There are many diseases or other problems that can cause dementia -
Low levels of Vitamin E have been seen in neuromuscular diseases, and
dementias such as Alzheimer?s disease. Studies show that vitamin E or
another drug, selegiline, slowed the progression of Alzheimer's. Brain
tissue is highly susceptible to free radical damage because, unlike
many other tissues, it does not contain significant amounts of
protective antioxidant compounds. Certain nutrients, antioxidants, can
prevent the oxidative damage free radicals cause. Antioxidant nutrients
include:

Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, selenium, the carotenoids, among
them beta-carotene. These have been used along with Lecithin or choline
supplements in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

Aluminum is unusually abundant in the brain tissue of people with
Alzheimer's disease. Antacids, especially those containing aluminum,
are best avoided because of their interference with calcium absorption
and the possibility of aluminum toxicity, which has been implicated in
Alzheimer's disease and other types of senility.