The Most Feared Terminal Disease: Alzheimer s Presented by Terry Lemerond
What exactly is Alzheimer s Disease? Progressive and fatal brain disease brain cells destroyed memory loss problems with thinking and behavior Most common form of dementia No cure Growing more common: Almost 14 million people with Alzheimer s by 2050!
Did You Know? Another case of Alzheimer s disease is diagnosed every 70 seconds By 2050, a new case will be diagnosed every 33 seconds 2010 Alzheimer s Disease Facts and Figures. http://www.alz.org/documents_custom/alz_ff_wisconsin.pdf?type=interior_map
More than just a Brain Fart Memory loss that disrupts your normal life It s just an age-related change: forget a name but remember it later Warning sign: Have to ask for the same information over and over again Challenges in planning and solving problems It s just an age-related change: need help with the computer Warning sign: Can t follow a familiar recipe or remember the rules of an often played game Confusion over time and place It s just an age related change: get confused about the day of the week but remember later Warning sign: Don t know where you are, or how you got there Losing or misplacing things It s just an age-related change: misplace keys or glasses but find them later Warning sign: put things in odd places, can t retrace steps to find lost items
Cause of Alzheimer s: Plaques and Tangles Plaques Build up between nerve cells Deposits of protein fragments beta amyloid Tangles Form inside dying cells Found in predictable patterns, first in areas of the brain for learning and memory, spreading out to other areas Free radical activity Increased oxidative stress (caused by heavy metals such as aluminum?) increases rate of brain cell death Healthy Brain Cells Damaged Brain Cell with beta amyloid plaques
Conventional Treatment Mild to Moderate AD cholinesterase inhibitors (Aricept ) preserve levels of acetylcholine, a chemical messenger in the brain that is important for memory and learning Moderate to Severe AD N-methyl D-aspartate (NMDA) antagonists delay progression of some symptoms Regulates glutamate, an important brain chemical. When produced in excessive amounts, glutamate may lead to brain cell death. Side effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss, muscle weakness and confusion These drugs slow symptoms, temporarily, for about half of the people who use them
Natural Treatment: Curcumin Most bioactive compound in turmeric Antioxidant and Anti-inflammatory New research on effects in the brain
How Does it Work? Reduces oxidative damage and inflammation Reduces amyloid accumulation and promotes amyloid destruction In one week, curcumin reduced the average size of beta-amyloid plaques by 30% (animal model of Alzheimer s disease) 1 Curcumin effectively passes the blood-brain barrier and binds to beta amyloid. Curcumin is more effective in inhibiting formation of beta amyloid protein fragmentsthan many other drugs being tested as Alzheimer's treatments! 1. Garcia-Alloza M. Curcumin labels amyloid pathology in vivo, disrupts existing plaques, and partially restores distorted neurites in an Alzheimer mouse model. J Neurochem. 2007;102:1095-1104.
Curcumin Absorption Greatest challenge bioavailability poorly absorbed from the intestinal tract metabolizes easily to other compounds Options Bind to phosphatidylcholine (lecithin) No human bioavailability data to date Mix with piperine (black pepper) Piperine interacts with many drugs and medications Mix with phospholipids and turmeric essential oils, micronized Best Results: Up to 10 times better absorption than standard curcumin extracts (human clinical data)
New Curcumin Research Edith Cowan University, Australia Human clinical trial of curcumin with turmeric essential oils in patients with cognitive impairment University of California, Los Angeles Efficacy and Safety of Curcumin Formulation in Alzheimer's Disease
Vitamin D The sunshine vitamin (actually a prohormone) Research findings participants deficient in vitamin D were 88% more By the time we are 65, changes to the structure of the skin reduce production of vitamin D by up to 60%! likely to have a mood disorder such as depression or anxiety. compared to people with higher vitamin D levels, participants deficient in vitamin D performed worse on mental performance tests When compared to people who have optimal vitamin D levels, once you reach 65, low levels of vitamin D make it twice as likely that you will suffer some degree of mental decline
Vitamin D + Curcumin
Spanish Sage Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory Inhibits an enzyme which can disrupt signals in the brain acetylcholinesterase (enzyme) breaks down acetylcholine (neurotransmitter) Spanish sage inhibits acetylcholinesterase In healthy adult volunteers, Spanish sage improved memory and word recall In patients with Alzheimer s, Spanish sage oil reduced symptoms and improved attention No significant side effects
Rosemary The herb of remembrance Crosses the blood brain barrier Like Spanish Sage, is an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor Activates a signaling pathway that protects the brain from free radicals Alzheimer s disease and other dementias are associated with high levels of free radical damage Unique characteristic: does not activate unless free radical damage occurs much less potential for side effects
Recap: Ingredient Benefits Antioxidant and Anti-inflammatory Curcumin, Rosemary and Spanish Sage Oil Reduce beta amyloid plaques Curcumin and vitamin D Inhibit cholinesterase Spanish sage oil Antidepressant and improved mental function Vitamin D and curcumin Other helpful nutrients Omega fatty acids and phospholipids from salmon: Omega-3 s increase a compound which can destroy betaamyloid plaques Silica: detoxifies aluminum Healthier Brain, Clearer Thinking
Dosage and Safety 2,000 IU vitamin D3; 600 mg of curcumin, Rosemary and Spanish Sage oil daily No significant side effects Who should take this formula? Alzheimer s prevention Alzheimer s patients Age related memory changes Prevention of other top causes of dementia (stroke and multi-infarct dementia) Anyone desiring improved mental function, memory and recall