4-Step Protocol to Prevent Alzheimer’s

When I talk to my patients who are over the age of 60—especially those whose memory isn’t as sharp as it used to be—one question keeps popping up.

Dr. B, how can I prevent Alzheimer’s disease?

It’s a growing worry for most baby boomers, especially if their parents had the disease. But what’s really sad is that modern medicine has few answers for preventing or treating Alzheimer’s.

That’s not to say there’s nothing you can do to prevent this brain-robbing disease.

One nutrient stands out.

Because oxidative stress is an important contributor to Alzheimer’s disease, powerful antioxidants like alpha lipoic acid (ALA) not only help to prevent the disease, they can slow down its progression in people already diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. One study found that alpha lipoic acid protects against Alzheimer’s by preventing free radical production. In this study, a daily dose of 600 mg of ALA was given to 9 patients with Alzheimer’s disease. After a year, the ALA helped to stabilize their cognitive function.

During a larger and longer follow-up study, the progression of the disease was dramatically lower among those taking ALA compared to those getting no treatment or those taking conventional Alzheimer drugs.¹

ALA is known as the universal antioxidant because it’s soluble in both water and fat. That means it can benefit nearly all parts of the body. Plus, this powerful antioxidant can cross the blood-brain barrier so it can directly counteract the free radicals that can damage the brain.

But as good as ALA is, you can make it better.

Combining ALA with the amino acid Acetyl L-Carnitine can improve your memory by lowering oxidative damage in the brain even more.² Acetyl L-Carnitine works by preventing the buildup of amyloid plaque that damages brain tissues. These plaques are thought to be a cause of Alzheimer’s.

But keeping your brain firing on all cylinders and protecting it from oxidative stress requires more than simply popping a couple of pills every day.

Here’s my 4-step protocol to help you avoid Alzheimer’s disease:

1. Supplement wisely. Take 50 mg of R-alpha lipoic acid (the more potent form of ALA), 1,000-2,000 mg of Acetyl-L-Carnitine and 800 IU of vitamin E every day.
2. Avoid aluminum. That includes antiperspirants, antacids, aluminum cookware and aluminum cans.
3. Challenge your mind daily. Mental stimulation is linked to a lower risk of Alzheimer’s and dementia. Researchers suspect that mental challenges help build up your brain, making it less susceptible to the lesions associated with Alzheimer's disease. Take up a new hobby to get those brain cells working.
4. Exercise regularly. Not only does exercise boost circulation in the brain, it also reduces the amount of sugar in the blood. This sugar contributes to the formation of advanced glycation end-products (AGEs). These compounds can damage the blood vessels in the brain.³
   

Additional Articles of Interest:
The Best Kept Secret for Preventing Dementia
Alzheimer's Disease Supplements
Preventing Alzheimer's Disease

References:

1. Hager K. Alpha-lipoic acid as a new treatment option for Alzheimer's disease--a 48 months follow-up analysis. Journal of Neural Transmissions. Suppl. 2007;(72):189-193.
2. Ahmed HH. Modulatory effects of vitamin E, acetyl-l-carnitine and α-lipoic acid on new potential biomarkers for Alzheimer’s disease in rat model. Experimental Toxicology and Pathology. 2010 Dec 23 [epub ahead of print]
3. Hudson BI. Association of serum soluble Receptor for Advanced Glycation End-products with subclinical cerebrovascular disease: the Northern Manhattan Study (NOMAS). Atherosclerosis. 2011;216:192-198.