Forgetting is a common cause of anxiety for those who are still capable of remembering. This stems from the collective appreciation for memory as a priceless factor capable of shaping both identity and history, whether personal or otherwise. Furthermore, memory is one of the crucial and staple ways through which people make sense of their lives.

Several people dread the thought of waking up one day, unable to remember; or unable to know that they no longer remember. Unfortunately, forgetting is part of a real degenerative, progressive, and irreversible disease that several people suffer from — Alzheimer’s Disease. On a less dramatic note, the disease also destroys thinking skills along with memory, which renders the patient unable to perform even the simplest tasks that he formerly used to carry out.

While a definitive cure for Alzheimer’s disease is yet to be discovered, scientific ventures and research teach people that all hope is not lost with Mother Nature. Natural elements may contribute to the prevention and delay of Alzheimer’s Disease. Recent research yielded promising results, showing what could possibly serve as the first leap to initiate a successful movement in delaying the onset of Alzheimer’s — through the significant role of Vitamin B supplementation.

Predicting or Confirming Alzheimer’s Disease: Raised Concentrations of Homocysteine

Characterized by cognitive impairment, the condition renders victims to lose human capacities of functioning properly, reasoning, thinking, and recognizing. Studies showed that those who have heightened risks of suffering from the severe condition have excessive blood levels of the amino acid called homocysteine, which is also known to augment beta amyloid — the protein primarily associated with dementia because of its amyloid plaque-forming deposits. This is because atrophy is one of the early caveats for dementia, and the rate of brain atrophy reduction or increase is directly linked to levels of homocysteine in the body. Furthermore, homocysteine has also been found to directly confirm the condition of dementia itself.

As a significant protein building block, methionine is used by the body to make or produce cysteine. Insufficient supply of certain vitamins causes methionine to convert itself into homocysteine. Homocysteine acts as a poison. It enables the formation of plaque by punching holes in arteries, which then leads to strokes that impair the human brain. Homocysteine concentrations are associated with the body’s vitamin B supply; precisely because this is a co-factor that plays a role in homocysteine metabolism.

A new insight into battling the homocysteine factor is a primary discovery in the recent study, which reveals the significant role of vitamin B supplementation against Alzheimer’s Disease. The study focused on the relationship between the said supplementation and lower homocysteine levels.

The Study: Combating Homocysteine through Vitamin B

Published in Public Library of Science One and led by Professor David Smith of the University of Oxford, the study showed that supplementation of Vitamin B can decrease plasma homocysteine in the body. As a result, the reduction can pave the way for a heightened rate of brain atrophy reduction and decreased dementia development. According to David Smith, the findings were based on the results of a 2-year treatment, in which some participants consumed vitamin B supplementation.  168 participants were observed over the two-year span, and those who took supplementation had 30% less brain shrinkage, with some who had a 50% rate of brain atrophy reduction.

Those people with mild cognitive impairment can experience a reduction in cognitive impairment due to B vitamins through lowering homocysteine concentrations. More trials need to be done in order to further test and support the effectiveness of vitamin B against the disease’s development. Still, as remarked by the Senior Research Scientist at the Stanford/VA Alzheimer’s, J. Wesson Ashford, what’s most important is that those with high supply of homocysteine in their system have yielded notable improvements in the study.

Other Natural Alternatives that Potentially Alleviate and Prevent Alzheimer’s Disease

Apart from the significant role of Vitamin B supplementation in the prevention and delay of Alzheimer’s disease, Mother Nature has also offered other preventive measures that can similarly reduce risk of the disease, or delay its onset.

Omega 3 –fatty acids

Due to their roles as powerful antioxidants, omega- 3 fatty acids have been shown to provide favourable effects on the heart, with its action of combating inflammatory activities, and on protecting nerve cell membrane.

In relation to Alzheimer’s Disease, scientists from UCLA’s Alzheimer Disease Center have discovered that high levels of omega-3 intake may lead to heightened chances of reducing an individual’s risk of cognitive decline, or dementia. The particular omega-3 fatty acid called docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) heightens LR 11 production. This protein is discovered to be capable of destroying or arresting the protein responsible for plaque formation, beta amyloid, which is a major factor linked to Alzheimer’s. Furthermore, LR 11 is found in patients whose levels of Alzheimer’s disease have been significantly reduced. As such, because high LR11 levels prevent toxic plaque formation, low LR11 levels may be considered as a risk factor. Other studies have also associated low DHA levels with cognitive decline or damage, and insufficient amounts may increase oxidative stress in the brain of those who suffer from Alzheimer’s.

Turmeric

As one of the most popular ingredients included in curry recipes, Turmeric has long been used for its exotic taste and potent healing effects. Studies recently supported the latter claim.

Alzheimer’s disease has been linked to oxidative stress or damage in the brain. The particular biologically active agent in turmeric, called curcumin, has been found to effectively inhibit the nitric oxide-based damage to the protein named synuclein. Furthermore, a study by UCLA researchers yielded discoveries that show how curcumin inhibited amyloid aggregation, and that it was effective in dissolving amyloid fibril. When employed with live mice, the curcumin reportedly crosses blood brain barrier and attaches itself to small amyloid fragments. As soon as this happens, the protein fragments are rendered unable to clump together; which thus prevents plaque formation from taking place.

Besides the given particular roles, curcumin is a potent preventive and protective agent in its capacity to target diverse mechanisms that contribute to Alzheimer’s disease; mainly through having anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. As such, it is useful as a protective factor on multiple levels.

CoQ10

Similar to omega-3 fatty acids and turmeric, supplementation of coenzyme Q10 reportedly offers multi-layered benefits for humans. Furthermore, a study by the John Hopkins University in 2006 that involved animals showed that CoQ10 supplementation can prevent cognitive impairment and dysfunction. Links are found through its capacity of inhibiting oxidative stress, inhibiting the formation of blood clots, improving the cells’ energy reproduction, and in being an antioxidant. These tasks enable coenzyme Q10 to improve memory and cognitive functions.

Grape Seed Extract

A study published in the Journal of Neuroscience demonstrated that grape seed extracts can potentially prevent Alzheimer’s; and those who do not suffer from the disease can also benefit through gaining enhanced memory levels. Results showed that mice that were orally administered with grape seed extract were associated with a reduction in beta-amyloid deposits.

Another angle that demonstrates the promising role of grape seed extract is that it contains a rich and concentrated source of polyphenol compounds, most of which are proanthocyanidins. Polyphenol is a powerful and natural antioxidant that protects cells from oxidative stress, which is both beneficial and contributory to the prevention and delay of Alzheimer’s Disease.

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ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
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