Stress and Alzheimer's Disease

A recent study discovered that there might be an important link between chronic stress and Alzheimer's disease. The study indicated that those under constant stress spawned insoluble tau proteins in their brain. This protein is one of the suspected causes of Alzheimer's, thus establishing a clear link between people who are constantly stressed out and their likelihood of getting Alzheimer's.

Neurofibrillary tangles-a protein deposit-are one of the most recognizable indicators that someone has Alzheimer's disease. This, the researchers are saying, is why there has always been a link between stress and sporadic Alzheimer's. Now that it's known that stress can actually spawn these protein structures in the brain, steps need to be taken to figure out how to fight this stress-induced problem. Alzheimer's disease affects about 25 million people around the world, and now that one of the possible causes of this disease is better understood, the next logical step is to figure out how to prevent it.

The study looked at lab mice and found that when they were exposed to emotional stress, their likelihood of getting Alzheimer's increased. The stress spawned the insoluble proteins and this in turn leads to the neurofibrillary tangles mainly found in the brain's hippocampus that so accurately diagnose Alzheimer's.

There are a lot of advances that have been made in Alzheimer's and dementia research lately. This is just another important step toward finding an effective way of preventing and treating this awful disease. Now that one of the causes of Alzheimer's is known, researchers should move in the direction of learning how to prevent this from happening. Stress, of course, is unavoidable in many situations and as a result will never be able to be eliminated, but the results of that stress-the protein deposits-might be able to be avoided. This would be a huge step forward in treating this disease. Responding to the results of stress is the most logical way of approaching this information.

The interesting thing about this study was that they found that not all stresses and stressors are created equal. Acute stress, the kind that is severe and harsh but doesn't last for very long, has little to no bearing on the development of the detrimental proteins. These transient stressors are actually beneficial to the brain, researchers believe, since it increases cellular plasticity. It's chronic and repeated stress that has the biggest negative impact upon the brain. The constant wearing and tearing of stress pathways is what leads to these protein deposits within the hippocampus. And it is the results of this constant stress that is the likely cause of Alzheimer's disease. By figuring out how to eliminate these insoluble tau proteins, doctors will be taking a huge step toward the fight against Alzheimer's.

Matthew G. Young is a freelance writer who specializes in financial, sports, and health-related topics. To learn more about in home health care visit Paradise In Home Care

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Testing for Alzheimer's Disease

If you think that you or a loved is showing signs of Alzheimer's or dementia, it is important that you seek medical advice. The cause of these diseases is still relatively unknown, so it is very important that you treat this carefully and with a great degree of precaution. First, you should go to your primary care physician and discuss your situation. They will be able to put you in touch with a good neurologist who can give you more information. The neurologist will be able to test you and let you know for certain if you have Alzheimer's.

A memory test will give you some preliminary information on your condition. This will give you insight on different aspects of your memory through word associations and other small memory tests. These tests will be repeated throughout your treatment to let the neurologist know exactly how fast you are progressing through the process of the disease. It's important to remember that not all memory loss is dementia related. Stress can lead to poor memory and "senior moments." These do not necessarily imply that you have Alzheimer's. Hormone changes, thyroid problems, and low blood sugar can all be culprits for your fuzzy thinking. Still, if you have any doubt or suspicion in your mind, it is vital that you get yourself checked out.

If your memory loss is not dementia related, there is a very good chance that it can be fixed. When stress levels subside, or you get treatment for a different medical problem, your memory is very likely to return to normal. A slight amount of memory loss or slower thought processes is normal as we age, but if you are still having doubts about your medical condition, there is absolutely no harm in getting checked out. Precaution will never hurt anyone

Alzheimer's is not just a disease of the memory. It affects your emotions too. Bizarre or unexpected emotional changes can be a clear warning sign of Alzheimer's. By being able to spot these in yourself or your loved one, you can spot the disease much earlier in its progression and begin treatments sooner.

If you are diagnosed with Alzheimer's, there is no need to despair. The treatment of Alzheimer's can go far beyond just the cocktail of medications that doctors are asked to choose from. Exercising the mind can be a big help in slowing the disease's progression. Play memory games and puzzles that tax your brain. The more strenuous the activity, the better your resistance to the disease will be. Also, remember that exercise of the body is a good way to stave off the disease. Going for a walk every day can help both your body and your brain.

Matthew G. Young is a freelance writer who specializes in financial, sports, and health-related topics. To learn more about in home health care visit Paradise In Home Care.

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The Role of Zinc in Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia

For many years it has been known that heavy metal poisoning is not only detrimental to physical health but mental health as well - but now more and more research is driving this point home.

When considering mental health and cognition it was always considered that aluminium played the greatest role in causing the symptoms related to Alzheimer's and other dementias. However this is no longer the case and for this reason, in the next few articles I am going to look at not only aluminium but also zinc, copper and mercury and their effects on the brain.

So let's begin...

Zinc is a very strange supplement when used in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Too little and it will have no effect and too much and it may actually aggravate the condition - therefore balance is the key.

Although zinc is an essential trace element in human biology it is neurotoxic (poisonous to nerves) at high concentrations. Several studies have shown that high levels aggravate plaque formation actually causing more aggregations (or clumping of these plaques and nerve fibres) that are typically found in Alzheimer's patients.

Other studies however, have shown that the level of zinc found in the brains of those suffering from the condition are reduced particularly in the area of the hippocampus - the part related to memory and learning. Supplementation of 10 patient's suffering with Alzheimer's with zinc aspartate / sulphate showed significant improvements in their condition.

Other theories believe that it may be an imbalance of trace metals that allows a toxic overload of heavy metals to build up creating these changes in the brain. An important study shows how they believe it is low general levels of zinc and selenium that cause a toxic build-up of heavy metals in the brain (particularly mercury) as they are its chief mineral antagonists (i.e. they block its absorption) and are known to have a protective role against heavy metal toxicity. However, a yet unpublished study from 1991 showed that dosages of 90mg a day caused a decline in cognition after only 5 days.

Because of this uncertainty I would urge caution with the use of zinc supplements and limit the daily supplementation to 50mg of zinc a day and I would also consider undergoing a detox program to remove excess heavy metals from the system.

It is also important to note that the supplementation of zinc also needs to be combined with copper in a ratio of 10:1 (therefore 25mg zinc to 2.5mg copper) to enhance the correct metabolism.

In my next article I will consider the effects copper plays in the prevention / causation of Alzheimer's and dementia.

I have been involved in Chiropractic and healthcare research for over 20 years. My latest book "The Alzheimer's Alternative" ( http://www.alzheimersalternative.com/ ) is I believe the definitive guide to Alzheimer's disease, alternative treatment and supplementation.

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