Some New Evidence on the Cause of Dementia or
Alzheimer’s
According to the Australian Bureau of
Statistics, both diabetes and dementia are increasing in Australia. Think about
the following questions:
1)
Is there a link between diabetes and dementia? Recent evidence suggests
this is most likely.
2)
What is the link? The answer is clear – obesity is the common link.
Abdominal obesity is a direct cause of insulin resistance which frequently leads
to diabetes. Obesity and diabetes are closely linked to recently discovered
risk factors for dementia - high blood glucose and high insulin, and a diet too
high in saturated and trans fats.
First, look at diabetes.
Almost 8% of Australians have diabetes. Diabetes greatly increases the risk of
developing cardiovascular disease, and cardiovascular disease is the biggest
killer of Australians. Diabetes usually takes many years to develop. It begins
with an excess of fat around the organs of the abdomen and is seen as an
increasing waist measurement, which is a direct cause of insulin resistance.
This means the cells of the body are resistant to the action of insulin to allow
glucose (blood sugar) into the cells. The body responds by increasing insulin
levels. The pancreas can only maintain increased insulin secretion for so many
years, and then insulin begins to decline. It is at this stage that insulin
injections are required. Men
if you have a waist greater than 100 cm and women if your waist is greater than
88 cm, you almost definitely have insulin resistance
and are at high risk of progressing to insulin dependent diabetes. You can
either take action now to get your waist measurement down or let it gradually
grow. You have the choice, and I can show you how to successfully reduce your
excess abdominal fat.
Second, look at dementia or Alzheimer’s.
It is a major factor in more than 40% of everyone in aged care. That we could
become one of those statistics is a frightening prospect. A small percentage of
people have a genetic predisposition to developing dementia, but even this does
not mean that they definitely will develop the condition. If you could reduce
your chances of developing dementia by more than half by simply looking at the
foods you eat, wouldn’t it be extremely foolish not to consider some lifestyle
changes? If you also take note of other risk reducing strategies listed at the
end of this page, you can make a big impact on reducing risk for developing
dementia.
There are two relatively newly recognized
dietary factors that influence the development of dementia:
1)
High blood glucose
levels. A study
published in the fourth issue of the 2006 Journal of Nutrition, Health, and
Aging looked at 1983 postmenopausal women over a four year period, and found
that those with chronic high blood glucose had up to a 4-fold increased risk of
developing mild cognitive impairment or dementia. High blood sugar and high
insulin each have separate mechanisms for increasing risk of dementia, and are
seen in insulin resistance. Measure your
waist – men above 100 cm and women above 80 cm are at great risk. But the good
news is if you reduce your waist measurement and increase your exercise, you
will reduce insulin resistance. For serious weight loss, I have found you
cannot beat the Ultra Lite program.
2)
High dietary
saturated and trans fats, and copper.
A study published in the August issue of the Archives of Neurology shows
that a diet high in saturated and trans fats and low in “good” fats results in
two to three times increased rate of developing Alzheimer’s or cognitive
decline. If these people also have high copper levels, then the risk is greatly
increased.
Saturated fats are found in animal products and
trans fats are a result of oil being boiled, with more trans fats being produced
from unsaturated oils. If you do fry foods, never keep the oil to re-use.
Olive oil is a mono-unsaturated oil is perhaps the best for frying. Recent
evidence shows even though coconut oil is a saturated fat, it is different to
animal fats, can have some health benefits, does not produce trans fatty acids,
and is probably good to use for any high temperature cooking. All fats should
be used in moderation.
The amplifying effect of high copper on dementia
risk from fats could be very important.
Copper is naturally found in many foods and absorption of copper by the
digestive system is controlled by levels of the minerals zinc and molybdenum.
There may be excessive absorption if these minerals are deficient or if intake
of copper is excessive, especially if you drink water from the copper hot water
system. The body normally excretes excess copper through the liver via the
bile, but this can be inhibited by xenoestrogens – chemicals found in many
pesticides, petroleum products, plastics (especially cling wraps – never cover
food in microwave with cling wrap), oral contraceptive medications and hormone
replacement treatment, and other hormones from poultry industry and antibiotics
in animal feed.
·
Ensure you are not overweight or
suffer from insulin resistance. If so take action now.
·
Have a well balanced diet and
avoid high glycaemic index foods in large amounts. Avoid deep fried foods and
animal fats (trans fats). Ensure you have plenty of antioxidants in your
diet.
·
Beware too much tofu. A
Japanese study showed that men who had high consumption of tofu had 2.4 times
increase in risk of developing dementia.
·
Get you doctor to check levels
of Homocysteine and markers of inflammation in your next blood test. A breath
test for presence of the stomach bacteria helicobacter. If any of these are
elevated, risk of developing dementia is increased.
·
Hair analysis to test for
elevated levels of copper, aluminium, iron or mercury.
·
High alcohol consumption is
linked with increased dementia.
·
Stress is to be avoided or
managed. Naturopathic treatment and massage are good for stress.
·
You may have a genetic
predisposition for dementia, if so take extra caution.
St George
Naturopathic Clinic
