Dear Reader,
Ever walk into a room and forget why you went in there? My patients joke and call it a “senior” moment, but the fact is that it’s really no joking matter.
For one thing, more than 5 million Americans have Alzheimer’s disease and it’s currently incurable. That’s why it’s important to do what you can to prevent it and boost your brain power now.
Simply put, Alzheimer’s disrupts the communication between your brain’s neurons. It causes a protein buildup of plaque, which causes tangled bundles that interfere with your neuronal network’s ability to communicate and function properly.
Modern medicine’s approach has been drugs like Aricept. A British study found that over the long-term, Aricept failed to improve the quality of life of those taking it.
Patients taking the drug showed minimal improvement for the first 24 months. But after that, the drug no longer improved their condition. Patients still had to be institutionalized, and spend their incomes on caregivers—suggesting the minimal benefits were not worth the cost over the long run, only to have the same end result.1
The good news is, you can take action to prevent Alzheimer’s naturally.
You can start by ensuring you’re in good general health. And that means being fit and conditioned. One study found that people who are overweight are twice as likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease. But what they also found was that people who eat a diet rich in fruit and vegetables had a 40 percent less chance of developing dementia. 2
Next thing on my list is to use what I call brain “boosters.” These are supplements that improve brain function and blood flow to the brain. One of the most fundamental is DHA—an Omega-3 fatty acid found in fish oil.
A very recent study found that DHA may significantly increase LR11, a protein that reduces the “bad” protein plaque buildup that’s present in people with Alzheimer’s.3 You can find fish oil supplements at any health food store, or even grocery stores. I recommend cod liver oil.
Then there’s vinpocetine, nature’s own powerful memory enhancer. It increases blood flow to your brain by expanding your blood vessels. It’s been used in Europe for over 20 years to treat dementia. One study gave 42 patients with chronic cerebral dysfunction10mg of vinpocetine every day for 30 days, then 5mg for 60 days. 42 other patients received a placebo.
Those who took vinpocetine showed significant improvement, and scored consistently better on various mental tests. Best of all, there were no serious side effects.4
Finally, keep your brain active to ward off Alzheimer’s and dementia. Choose activities that engage your mind and make you think. At the top of the list are crossword puzzles. Even ballroom dancing—not only does it make you think, but it can be a great way to get a fun workout.
Most of the supplements I mention here can be found at any health food store. But if you want a potent combination of nature’s most powerful brain boosters you won’t find anywhere else–including vinpocetine–check out my latest “brain boosting” supplement. It combines everything you need to ensure those embarrassing “senior” moments never happen to you. Click HERE to try it out today, risk free.
To Your Good Health,
Al Sears, M.D.
1 Gray, R “Long-term donepezil treatment in 565 patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD2000): randomised double-blind trial” The Lancet 2004; 363:2105-2115
2 Whitmer R, et al. Obesity in middle age and future risk of dementia. BMJ, 29 April 2005
3 Cole G, et al, “Omega-3 Fatty Acid Docosahexaenoic Acid Increases SorLA/LR11, a Sorting Protein with Reduced Expression in Sporadic Alzheimer’s Disease (AD): Relevance to AD Prevention” The Journal of Neuroscience, Dec. 26, 2007; vol 27: pp 14299-14307.
4 Balestreri, R : Fontana, L : Astengo, F,“A double-blind placebo controlled evaluation of the safety and efficacy of vinpocetine in the treatment of patients with chronic vascular senile cerebral dysfunction.”, J-Am-Geriatr-Soc. 1987 May; 35(5):