In the October 19, 2010 issue of Neurology, a medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology, studies show that vitamin B12 may protect against Alzheimer’s disease. This adds more evidence to a debate in the science community about whether vitamin B12 is effective in the reduction of memory loss.

Researchers who conducted the study exclaim the importance of the investigating the relationship between Alzheimer’s disease and vitamin B12. Furthermore, researchers go on to say that low levels of vitamin B12 are common in the senior community; however, there have been few studies that have examined how beneficial vitamin B12 supplements are in the reduction of memory loss.

The seven year study found that each micromolar increase in the in the concentration of homocysteine, an amino acid associated with vitamin B12, the risk of Alzheimer’s disease increased by 16 percent, whereas each picomolar increase in concentration of the active form of vitamin B12 reduced the risk of Alzheimer’s disease by two percent. The results stayed consistent after taking age, gender, smoking status, blood pressure and body mass index.

Many researchers continue to say that more research is needed to validate these findings before vitamin B12 should be used exclusively as a supplement to help protect a person’s memory.

Vitamin B12 is found in fish, poultry and other meat products.

The study was the Swedish Research Council for Medical Research, the European Commission Seventh Framework Programme, the Academy of Finland, the Ragnhild and Einar Lundstroms Minne Lindhes, the Stohnes Foundation, the Gamla Tjanarinnor Foundation and the Dementia Foundation of Sweden.

Alzheimer’s disease is named for doctor Alois Alzheimer, the first physician to describe the disease in 1906. This German doctor identified an unusual disease of the cerebral cortex in one of his female patients as part of his medical research. This illness caused a loss of memory, confusion, and hallucinations. The disease eventually killed the patient at the age of 55.

Using a new type of stain that only he had access to, the doctor was able to see a number of abnormalities in the brain and identify nerve tangles which had never been described before. Even though the malady was discovered over 100 years ago, scientists still do not know what causes Alzheimer’s.

We do know:

• The disease is progressive and fatal, affecting about 5.3 million people in the U.S.
• It destroys brain cells as it gets worse over time.
• It is not a normal part of aging.
• It is the most common type of dementia, accounting for 50% to 80% of all cases.
• The disease has no cure.

The Alzheimer’s Association says that the brain has approximately 100 billion neurons (nerve cells) that communicate with each other to form networks. Some networks help with thinking, learning and remembering; other networks are involved with seeing, hearing, smelling, and moving our muscles. With this disease, as with other types of dementia, increasing numbers of brain cells deteriorate and die.

The greatest risk factor for getting the disease is increasing age. After the age of 65, the risk of developing this form of dementia approximately doubles every five years. By the time a person reaches age 85, the risk of having Alzheimer’s is almost 50%. A family history of Alzheimer’s also increases one’s risk of acquiring the disease. Studies have shown that people who have a parent, brother, or sister with the disease are two to three times more likely to get the illness, and the risk goes up if more than one family member has it.

Visit http://www.aboutAlz.org to see a video that clearly explains Alzheimer’s disease in just 3 minutes. It shows a typical progression of the disease, how it damages regions of the brain, and how that destruction affects the person living with the disease. This film is helpful for family caregivers because it teaches the different stages of the disease and why your loved one’s behavior is changing over time. However, it is important to note that Alzheimer’s does not take the same course in all patients (as suggested by the video), and many patients will show symptoms in a different order than described in the film.

A diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease can be devastating. Today, the disease is progressive, incurable, and, in the end, terminal. Fortunately, treatments today provide hope of managing the symptoms and keeping the symptoms at a minimum for periods. But, in order to have the best hope, it is vital that you have health insurance in place. Without the right health insurance, treatment options are limited. That means that getting the treatments necessary to delay the onset of symptoms is difficult. It is important for everyone to get health insurance in place and keep it there.

Researchers are doing work on Alzheimer’s disease. They understand some of the underlying problems, but do not know the causes or the cure yet. Drug treatments as well as patient interventions are the current list of treatment options. The combination helps keep patients alert and cognitive longer than those that go without treatment. But, each patient has a unique path through the disease. It is important to get the proper medical care through the entire disease to have the best results. As people age, it is important to have health insurance in place that will help cover this and other diseases.

Most cases of Alzheimer’s disease come on as people age. There appears to be only a small percentage that has a genetic link. For people that develop early onset Alzheimer’s the genetic link appears to be stronger. If anyone in your family has had the disease, it is important to monitor aging family members for symptoms. It is also important to make sure everyone has the protection of adequate medical insurance as well. As treatments come available, health insurance will allow them to take advantage of the latest research as they battle the disease.

Health insurance is one of the best things to have in place with a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. It will give you and your family the resources necessary to get treatment and medical attention necessary. It will give you and your family peace of mind in at least one part of life. While the disease is tough enough to deal with, worrying about medical bills should not be something else of which you need to worry. If you have the right medical insurance in place, you will be doing yourself and your family a huge favor. It will allow you to focus on what is important and what will make the most difference in the time to come.

Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease may share common symptoms but there is a marked difference between these two problems of aging. Everyone as they age may lose their keys and may have some problems remembering facts and figures. For many older Americans, this is a common sign of aging. Dementia is a serious brain disorder that covers a wide spectrum of cognitive problems while Alzheimer’s disease has unique physical and brain conditions that other dementia disorders do not share.

Dementia is a common problem in the elderly population. It is estimated that as many as four million Americans live with some degree of dementia. The symptoms of dementia can be described as a collection of symptoms that indicate that the thinking process is deteriorating.

These symptoms affect the individual in a variety of ways but they all the symptoms of dementia have a devastating affect on the quality of life. Individuals suffering from dementia lose some of their ability to carry out daily activities. One effect of the disease is that a key brain chemical acetylcholine is lost. The loss of this important chemical can contribute to some of the symptoms of both dementia and Alzheimer’s.

Acetylcholine is produced in several locations in the brain including the basal forebrain. It thought that this chemical promotes learning. Acetylcholine-producing cells in the basal forebrain are damaged in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease, which are believed to contribute to the loss of memory which are an early symptom of the disease.

Dementia is also caused by the destruction of brain cells. The destruction may be caused by a head injury, a stroke, or a brain tumor. Some people have a family history of dementia. Dementia may also change a person’s mood and personality. As the dementia progresses, mood swings and other disruptive behaviors may become apparent. The person who has dementia may not be aware of these problems.

Some of the signs or symptoms of dementia may include:

• Problems with memory
• Problem with orientation
• Having difficulty making plans
• Difficulty with dressing
• Difficulty with common tasks,
• Making a phone call,
• Using cooking utensil
• Difficulty performing simple math problems
• Difficulty with language

Dementia-like symptoms can also develop as a result of other lifestyle condition, such as alcohol or substance abuse, vitamin deficiency and certain infectious diseases. Although Alzheimer’s Disease accounts for nearly 60 percent of all dementia cases; all cases of dementia are not Alzheimer’s.

Alzheimer’s disease is a unique brain disorder that affects the parts of the brain that control thought, memory and language. Alzheimer’s usually begins after age 60.

It is important to classify the type of dementia that the patient is experiencing. An appointment with a health care specialist to confirm a specific diagnosis. Some forms of dementia can be successfully treated with drugs. Once the patient and the family understand what is causing the dementia-like symptom, a treatment plan to address the root cause can be put in place.

Alzheimer’s is a tragic disease. Alzheimer’s is caused by plaques and tangles. Whereas plaques are formed from deposits of amyloid beta protein between the nerve cells, tangles are caused by tau protein deposits within the nerves. These deposits slowly affect the nerve’s ability to communicate, and they eventually die. Consequently, the person with Alzheimer’s disease slowly progresses from forgetfulness to being unable to care for their daily needs.

Fortunately, exercise may be able to help prevent Alzheimer’s disease. In a study of 1,880 septuagenarians by Columbia University, researchers monitored their diets and levels of physical activity for five years. Accordingly, researchers found those who followed the healthiest diets were 40% less likely to develop Alzheimer’s, and those who got the most exercise were 37% less likely to develop Alzheimer’s. Furthermore, those who scored in the top third for both diet and exercise were 59% less likely to get Alzheimer’s than those in the bottom third of the group.

Two studies done on mice also showed the benefits of exercise in preventing Alzheimer’s. In one study done on mice, researchers found that physical activity inhibited Alzheimer’s-like brain changes. In another study with mice bred to develop Alzheimer’s-like plaque in the brain, researchers found that mice that exercised had 50% to 80% less plaque than the mice that didn’t exercise.

Some researchers believe that exercise stimulates the production of FGF-2. FGF-2, a growth hormone, helps the brain build new neurons. Furthermore, it also improves overall functioning of the brain.

In addition to preventing Alzheimer’s disease, exercise can also help those who already have Alzheimer’s. In an Alzheimer’s disease rehab by students, after a year of exercise, they found people with Alzheimer’s in the program showed a dramatic improvement in physical fitness, mood, language, and a slower decline in mental status. Another study by an Italian research group found significant improvement in four cognitive measures after only three months of exercise.

Whether you’re trying to prevent Alzheimer’s disease or slow down the progression of Alzheimer’s, the benefits of exercise are clear. Being physically active not only promotes physical fitness but mental fitness too.

Alzheimers disease is fundamentally a form of mental disorder known as dementia. The disease is by far the most ever-present dementing illness of today with the more common form of Alzheimers disease known as late-onset Alzheimer’s.

So What’s The definition Of Alzheimers?

Alzheimers disease is considered to be primarily a condition of the elderly affecting mainly those over the age of sixty five. It is also common knowledge that this disease is the Number 4 Killer of Americans, causing over 100, 000 deaths each year in the USA alone. This figure is set to rise.

Warning Signs of Dementia.

One of the most difficult tasks faced with Alzheimers or Dementia, is actually diagnosing the condition correctly and knowing what to look for. There are more than a hundred different types of dementia but Alzheimers disease is certainly the most recognised type as we know it; therefore, it is imperative that an accurate diagnosis for Dementia/Alzheimer’s is substantiated early on. The condition is the number one cause of dementia, representing 55-65% of all cases we know of. Dementia inevitably contributes to a loss of memory and mental abilities.

The knock on effect of the implications of this disease is felt in Nursing Homes; whereby they are frequently over-burdened with dementia sufferers, particularly those with Alzheimer’s disease. These Nursing Homes will be responsible for dealing with Dementia, memory impairment, Alzheimers Disease and all care giving issues for the elderly that are admitted to the care homes.

Perhaps you suspect that a loved one is showing early signs of Dementia and/or Alzheimers Disease. This of course is not so uncommon as Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most recognised type of dementia involving older people with memory loss or perhaps rather the enduring disorder in memory retention becoming very common in our elder years. Alzheimer’s disease, therefore, affects the part of the brain that is responsible for thought, memory, and language. If you are thinking to yourself “what do these signs look like?” well the best advice that I can give is that the typical visible symptom is progressive and chronic memory loss.

The key here is to establish early detection as this will certainly help with any necessary treatment. There are a number of Alzheimer’s Disease treatment options that your family G.P will be happy to talk over with you. What care will be needed, and what treatment is available, is a matter for the doctor to determine. The emphasis here however, is that help is available should you require it.

Alzheimers disease is the exception, rather than the rule, in old age; the condition affects the neurological health of the affected patient and is a form of a mental disorder known as dementia which is progressive and irreversible.

Today there is the real possibility that we can reduce our risk of cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease by paying attention to two recent and very divergent findings. The first deals with technology and the second with good nutrition and a healthy lifestyle.

Today there are better imaging machines and better processes which can detect and tract the protein known as amyloid precursor protein which is found in many cells, including brain neurons. It is known that patients with the disease have a buildup of amyloid protein aggregates or plaque in their brain.

Before you get your hopes up too high, keep in mind that the cause of AD is still unknown. In the past, however, only a brain autopsy revealed a definitive AD diagnosis. Today an AD diagnosis can be made using a brain scan while a patient is still alive. The hope is that tracers can be used to assess the extent of the amyloid deposits in patients’ brains years before AD symptoms appear, when the disease may still be preventable or at the least, slowed down. Like most diseases, it is earlier in the course of AD when you can stop the process before the irreversible damage is done.

As a result of this research, several pharmaceutical companies are working on antiamyloid therapies. If they are successful the drugs could be given to those who are at high risk of developing AD if the research shows that is the way to go. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, more than 5 million Americans have AD. As the baby boomer generation gets older, the numbers are going to increase. By 2030 that figure is expected to reach 8 million and 16 million by 2050 in the U.S. alone.

The problem is amyloid plaque in the brain is a necessary condition for an AD diagnosis. However, it is not the only condition. There are other factors which have not been identified and research. The process of early detection of AD is complicated but this is definitely a beginning.

The constant reminder of your mother to eat your vegetables might have been the best advice you received. A recent study from Columbia University points to another possibility of reducing the risk of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) through good nutrition. The study indicated that those following the Mediterranean diet lowered their risk of mental decline. People who combined the Mediterranean diet with regular exercise lowered their risk even more. Everything adds up and makes sense. People who ate well following the Mediterranean diet and stayed most physically active had between a 61 percent to 71 percent lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease. In other words it is not a matter of eating less and exercising more, but a case of eating well and staying active.

The Mediterranean diet is low in red meat and poultry, high in fruits, nuts, legumes, vegetables and cereals, high in fish, permits low to moderate use of wine, and uses olive oil as its main source of fat. Before you get too excited, keep in mind that the research did not prove that the Mediterranean diet protects a person against Alzheimer’s disease or cognitive decline. All we know is that this healthy lifestyle runs less risk of developing the disease as well as other diseases. If you think about it this statement makes sense because those not following a Mediterranean lifestyle are more likely to eat more red meat, more cheese burgers, and more processed foods which generally put people at risk of all sorts of conditions such as diabetes and heart disease and even cancer.

Part of the concern about being definitive about the Mediterranean diet and AD is that those who are at least risk probably did not start their healthy lifestyle at age 65. They were more likely following a healthy lifestyle and being physically active for years, maybe even starting in their childhood. For instance there was a recent study that linked accelerated aging to soda and processed foods from phosphate. This was a study done on mice which showed that high levels of phosphate are linked to kidney disease, heart disease and can cause muscle atrophy. Apparently keeping a well balanced level of phosphate in the diet is important for a healthy life and longevity.

No one likes to think that they will put their loved one in a nursing home one day. Unfortunately, most Alzheimer’s patients eventually will need to be placed in an Alzheimer’s care facility. Because Alzheimer’s disease robs a person of his or her ability to handle everyday activities, often families will find they cannot care for their loved one at home. It is usually during the later stages of the disease when patients lose their ability to handle dress themselves, feed themselves and need help going to the bathroom that an Alzheimer’s care facility is considered by families.

Once your loved one is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, you should begin planning their move into an Alzheimer’s care facility. There are several things to know when looking at an Alzheimer’s care facility. You should know how they care for Alzheimer’s patients and how much experience they have had in dealing with patients suffering from the disease. Do they separate Alzheimer’s patients from the rest of the population?

Some Alzheimer’s care facilities specialize in treating Alzheimer’s patients. What are the advantages of this type of Alzheimer’s care facility over a more traditional nursing home or assisted living facility?

You should anticipate how you will pay for the Alzheimer’s care facility. Some long-term insurance polices will cover a stay in an Alzheimer’s care facility. Some private insurance companies may cover this expense as well. Many people have set aside funds should they need long-term care and that money is available for the family’s to pay for the Alzheimer’s care facility.

There are several types of Alzheimer’s care facilities. You and your loved one’s physician can discuss which Alzheimer’s care facility will best suit the needs of the Alzheimer’s patient.

Assisted living facilities provide housing, meals, health care and support for Alzheimer’s patients. This type of Alzheimer’s care facility is also called board and care, adult living and supported care. Many Alzheimer’s patients live in this type of Alzheimer’s care facility after moving out of their home. This type of Alzheimer’s care facility is often a suitable alternative to a nursing home for Alzheimer’s patients who can still perform some day to day activities. An assisted living facility is not regulated by the federal government.

Nursing homes are the most well-known type of Alzheimer’s care facility. Nursing home patients require constant care and supervision. Nutrition, recreation, medical care and spirituality are handled at this type of Alzheimer’s care facility. Nursing homes are regulated by the federal government and may also be subject to state licenses as well.

Some patients want an Alzheimer’s care facility that is targeted to their needs. An Alzheimer’s special care unit may be found in a nursing home or hospital setting where Alzheimer’s patients live within a unit. Treatment at these Alzheimer’s care facilities focuses on the needs of Alzheimer’s patients.

If you are unsure as to what kind of Alzheimer’s care facility your loved one needs, the Alzheimer’s Association has an online guide. CareFinder helps families chose the best Alzheimer’s care facility. CareFinder teaches families how to seek local support. It also guides families as to how to pay for the Alzheimer’s care facility.

Waking to see the sun arise in the east is a major celebration after 50. Another day has arrived for you to follow your new resolutions for this momentous decade. There is something that is on your mind, but you forgot. Are you in the initial grips of the dreaded Alzheimer’s disease?

The condition can begin in your fifties, and you run to your computer to research some of the data. An article enlightens you that there is a new theory. It tells you that scientists once thought that plaque in the brain was bad. Studies suggest that it may actually protect the brain. They see the real danger as free-floating bunches of protein. They theorize that the plaques that surround brain cells, might actually be protecting the brain. Amyloid proteins, called oligomers, are the villains who attack the brain.

For many years the theory was that sticky plaques caused Alzheimer’s disease. Drug developers have been targeting plaques in their search for a cure.

Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York’s researchers are instrumental in promoting this new theory that it is the oligomers that are dangerous, not the plaque. The research in progress at the Genetics and Aging Research Unit at Massachusetts General Hospital, is working on producing new drugs. Work is funded by the Cure Alzheimer’s fund. There are over five million Americans with Alzheimer’s, and if you are a ” Boomer”, you are worried. You should organize a relay for Alzheimer’s for the Cure in your area. I bet you’ll have a hefty response.

It is not fun to look at a title of a book, realize that you had read that book, but do not have memory of the characters, or the plot. You probably experienced this with movies, names of actors whom you knew well, and you stop in horror to try and remember details and their names? Research professional journals about Alzheimer’s in the library, and check out a couple of classics to re-read. This will reassure you that you are still fine. After reading, if you still can’t recall the story, you should contact a neurologist to test your memory.

Remember that special education class, and the teacher stressed that most people have some type of learning disability? One of them involves memory. When you can’t remember names, it is called “misnomia”. Nomia in Latin is “name”. The professor said that most of us have this, so don’t think you are in the beginning of Alzheimer’s when you see one of your peers in the market, or on the street and you recognize their face, but not their name. They are out of the familiar place where you know them. They could be co-workers and they are out of context. The worst thing is when you bump into them with a friend.

When you see someone you know, but can’t remember their name and they walk up to you, it is time for introductions. You pray that they say their name first! Maybe they didn’t see you, but are across from you in a crowded store. Push your carriage and keep your head down. Hide behind the sun hats! Place the largest one on your head with the brim touching your nose. Maybe they won’t notice you. You silently realize that you both are doing the same things in different isles. See, you’re not alone.

When the brain is busy processing so much information each nanosecond, unconsciously you choose what information is important, and what you can discard. Some people are gifted with remembering trivia, or they have trained their minds to memorize bits of information because they are interested in a particular topic. If you have a special interest, it is easier to file the bits of information to recall later. Aren’t you impressed with your quick response when someone asks you to explain your expertise?

Other people remember concepts and theories, and don’t remember the dates, or who theorized the hypothesis. They can remember the details by making an an acronym, like memorizing the top lines of a piece of music as “Every Good Boy Does Fine.” (EGBDF) The spaces are, FACE. Let’s be grateful that we can remember! Don’t think that since you can’t remember, you are headed for Alzheimer’s. It is normal to have some memory loss after 50.

Finally, we all forget keys, or go into a room and forget why we are there. That is why we begin to make many lists for various tasks. Lists do help, but record the lists in the same place. It is normal to forget some things because our brains compartmentalize information. Read and learn all you can about keeping your brain sharp. Bless the scientists who care enough about Alzheimer’s to work on a cure.

Doctors know that high cholesterol brings increased risk of heart disease, and what’s worrisome is the finding about the dangers of even borderline cholesterol that comes from a new study that’s one of the largest and longest dementia trials ever conducted. The study show that potentially high cholesterol causes Alzheimer’s Disease?

Adults in their mid 40s with even slightly elevated cholesterol (as well as those with high cholesterol) appear to have a greater risk for Alzheimer’s disease or related conditions like vascular dementia years later.

Researchers followed over 9,800 northern California residents who were part of the same health insurance plan during the study. The researchers didn’t have information on HDL (good) and LDL (bad) cholesterol because these weren’t widely understood when the study began in the early 1960s.

Still, if total cholesterol is high, it’s logical to assume that levels of the bad cholesterol must also be high since two thirds of the total comes from the LDL (bad) type. The team looked at the total cholesterol levels of participants between 1964 and 1973 when the subjects were between 40-45 years old.

By the end of the research, almost 600 of the subjects had developed either Alzheimer’s disease (469 subjects) or a related condition (vascular dementia in 127 subjects) when they were in their 60s, 70s and 80s.

Subjects with total cholesterol in the high range (240 or higher) at the start of the study had a 66% increase in Alzheimer’s risk. Borderline high cholesterol (levels between 200-239) brought a 52% increased risk of vascular dementia but no statistically significant risk of Alzheimer’s.

This work adds to the growing evidence that controlling your risk factors for heart disease as well as keeping a handle on your weight in midlife can protect the brain as you age. “Keeping your weight down, eating right, and getting regular exercise can keep your heart healthy as you age, and it may also keep your brain sharp,” adds lead author Alina Solomon of the University of Kuopio.

Recent estimates have 2.4 to 4.5 million Americans living with the terribly destructive symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease, an irreversible and progressive disease that destroys thinking and memory, leaving patients without the ability to do everyday things like cooking, dressing, driving a car, making decisions.

As yet, science doesn’t know what sets off the Alzheimer’s process, though experts think the damage starts 10 to 20 years before any mental symptoms appear, and this latest work seems to support the silent progression of this disease.

If you have high cholesterol, start by talking to your doctor to get updated cholesterol numbers and learn what you can do to take control of your diet, be more active. Also, if necessary medication can help bring your numbers under control.

Being aware that potentially high cholesterol causes Alzheimer’s Disease, as well as following the above actions might not just help your health today, but it may also contribute to your future brain health as well.