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Introduction
Alzheimer's disease is a progressive condition that damages areas of the
brain involved in intelligence, memory, behavior, judgment, and
language. It is the most common form of mental decline in older adults.
Alzheimer's gets worse over time, but the course of the disease varies
from person to person. Some people may still be able to function
relatively well until late stages of Alzheimers disease. Others may lose
the ability to do daily activities in earlier stages. Over time,
Alzheimer's disease causes severe mental and functional problems and
eventually results in death.
Causes
Scientists do not yet fully understand the causes of Alzheimer's
disease. There probably is not one single cause, but several factors
that affect each person differently.
Recent studies indicate that amyloid beta protein may cause Alzheimer's
disease. In healthy people, this protein can cross the blood-brain
barrier (the wall of blood vessels that feed the brain and regulate the
entry and exit of brain chemicals) and leave the brain. In people with
Alzheimers disease, amyloid beta protein can't pass through that
barrier. As more amyloid beta protein accumulates in a person's brain,
they become more and more mentally disabled.
Research has recently revealed that consumption of sugar could be one of
the biggest threats to our overall health - especially when it comes to
age related diseases such as Alzheimer's. One of the major problems
stemming from sugar over-consumption is a chemical process called
glycation. Glycation refers to the combination of a sugar and a protein
molecule and occurs in your body when glucose in your blood combines
with the amino acids tryptophan, lysine or arginine. This reaction
releases byproducts called Advanced Glycation Endproducts (appropriately
given the acronym AGE).
The formation of AGEs is accelerated when you have lower levels of
antioxidants in your system and when your kidneys are weak or
malfunctioning. The formation is also accelerated when blood sugar
levels are high. Researchers now believe that glycation and the
formation of AGEs lie at the heart of the alteration of proteins in the
brain that cause Alzheimer's disease.
Risk Factors
Age is the most important known risk factor for Alzheimer's disease. The
number of people with the disease doubles every FREE years beyond age 6FREE.
Blood sugar problems that cause excess glucose in the blood, such as
diabetes, has now been added to the list of risk factors for
Alzheimer's, given the role of glycation.
Family history is another risk factor, depending on the type of
Alzheimer's . Familial Alzheimer's Disease, a rare form of Alzheimer's
that usually occurs between the ages of 30 and 60, is inherited - so
family history is a big risk factor. The more common form of Alzheimers
disease is known as late-onset Alzheimer's. It occurs later in life, and
no obvious inheritance pattern is seen.
Relationship to Aluminum
Since 196FREE, researchers have suspected that Alzheimers disease is
related to accumulations of aluminum in the brain. A relationship
between aluminum in drinking water and Alzheimer's has now been
established. Additionally, a study looked at the association of
Alzheimer's and lifetime exposure to aluminum in antiperspirants and
antacids. Scientists found a direct correlation. The more antiperspirant
that was used, the more likely the person would develop Alzheimers
disease. The same held true for aluminum antacids. It is hard to deny
that environmental exposure to aluminum is at least related to
Alzheimer's.
Symptoms and Cures
Alzheimer's disease is a progressive disease for which there is no known
cure. However, various therapies and treatments can slow the
progression of Alzheimer's. Therefore, it is important to know the
warning signs for each stage of Alzheimer's and detect the condition early. If caught early alpha lipoic acid and other Alzheimer's treatments can be used to slow (and possibly stop) the progression of the disease.
About the Author
Mr. Kelkar has been practicing
alternative healing techniques for years. These routines have proven
effective in curing a variety of common ailments - addressing the root
cause of the malady, rather than merely the symptoms. He is an
contributor to Body Cleansing / Detox and Natural Cures, a high content site focused on alternative healing techniques.
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