Complete nutrition for positive living

Food to support brain health

Dementia Action Week

//  by 

This week is Dementia Action week

(3,4) Dementia encompasses a set of symptoms that may include memory loss, difficulties with thinking, problem-solving or language difficulties.

Changes are often small to start with, however may be severe enough to affect daily life. Early signs can include not recognising everyday objects or their use (e.g. looking at a washing machine but not understanding what it is for), disorientation to place (being unable to find your way out of a shop or public place) and confused thinking. A person with dementia may also experience changes in their mood or behaviour.

Growing evidence supports the concept of a link between dementia and metabolic function, a study by De la Monte (2014) (5) suggests the term ‘Type 3 Diabetes’.

Being a nutritional therapist diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 2010 it makes sense to me that eating healthily, reducing stress and increasing exercise can have a profound effect on how you feel. So, I was intrigued to read about this 82-year-old lady who claims to have got her memory back after eating a healthy diet: http://bit.ly/2rCmMBX

How can I support my body to be the healthiest I can be, potentially reducing the likeliness of developing dementia and other diseases now and in the future?

Well, a number of Studies (1,2) discuss a therapeutic approach including dietary optimisation, low GL, low inflammatory, low grain foods, fasting for 12 hours (intermittent fasting), stress reduction techniques such as yoga or meditation, optimising sleep by increasing melatonin levels, exercising 4 to 6 times a week, keeping your mind active, optimising gut health, either increasing dietary sources or potential supplementation of curcumin or ashwagandha; Omega 3 fatty acids (DHA & EPA), B12, D3 & K2, zinc (7), a diet high in antioxidants may be beneficial.

Want to know more, get in touch to arrange your free 20-minute consultation with me, Rebecca Hancock (Nutritional Therapist), when we can discuss how we can work together to best support you. Clinics running at Bury St Edmunds https://burynaturalhealth.co.uk/nutritional-therapy/ and in Saffron Walden and surrounding areas https://www.facebook.com/rebeccahancocknutrition/

Resources
1. Alzheimer’s Society. (2018) Available at: http://alzheimers.org.uk/(Accessed: May 12, 2018)

2. National Health Service. (2018). Dementia. Available at:https://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/dementia/ (Accessed: May 12, 2018)

3. Bredesen, D.E. (2014). ‘Reversal of cognitive decline: a novel therapeutic program’. Aging (Albany NY) [Online]. 6(9), pp.707-717. Available at:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4221920/ (Accessed: May 12, 2018)


4. Bredesen, D.E. et al. (2016). ‘Reversal of cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s disease’. Aging, [Online] 8(6), p.1250. Available at:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27294343 (Accessed: May 13, 2018)

5. Suzanne, M. (2014). Type 3 diabetes is sporadic Alzheimer ׳ s disease: Mini-review. European Neuropsychopharmacology, 24(12), pp.1954-1960. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4444430/(Accessed: May 13, 2018)

6. Celsi, F. et al. 2009. ‘Mitochondria, calcium and cell death: a deadly triad in neurodegeneration’. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA)-Bioenergetics, [Online] 1787(5), pp.335-344. Available at:http://www.scientificamerican.com/…/antimicrobial-mechanis…/ (Accessed: May 12, 2018)

7. Watt, N.T. Whitehouse, I.J. Hooper, N.M. (2010). ‘The role of zinc in Alzheimer’s disease’. International Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, [Online]. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21197404 (Accessed: May 12, 2018)

8. Kamphuis, J 2010. Can Nutrients Delay or Prevent the Onset of Alzheimer’s Disease. J Alzheimers Dis. 2010;20(3):765-75 [Online] J Alzheimers Dis. 2010;20(3):765-75 Available at:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20182021 (Accessed: May 12, 2018)