Physical Symptoms To Watch Out For That Can Spell Alzheimer's

Early warning is one of the keys to success in treating most health complaints. This is especially true of Alzheimer's disease (AD) because studies have shown that treatment early on when symptoms first appear may have a significant impact on quality of life for patients and caregivers.

A new study indicates that physical changes may be more accurate in predicting AD than the familiar red flags of cognitive decline.

Alzheimer's Disease: Exercise Helps Protect Your Brain Cells

A previous study conducted by US researchers at Seattle's University of Washington (UW) showed that people who exercise regularly may be less likely to develop dementia.

In a follow up study published in a recent Archives of Internal Medicine, the same UW team recruited nearly 2,300 subjects aged 65 years or older. None of the subjects had symptoms of dementia when the study began. During the six-year trial, subjects were given physical and cognitive tests every two years. By the end of the trial period 319 subjects had developed dementia - 221 of those cases were diagnosed as AD.

Researchers found that subjects who had the lowest levels of physical performance were about three times more likely to develop dementia and AD when compared to subjects who were in excellent physical shape.

At the outset of the study, researchers had expected cognitive symptoms to appear before physical problems developed. But the study's lead author, Dr. Eric B. Larson told Food Consumer that they were 'surprised to find that physical changes can precede declines in thinking.'

Alzheimer's Disease: How Different Aromas Can Help Detect Alzheimers

Anything that can help in predicting dementia and Alzheimer's disease is welcome - even if it's somewhat unconventional.

In a previous e-Alert I told you about an unusual US study from Columbia University that examined a phenomenon that scientists have known about for some years: The ability to identify aromas is diminished in AD patients.

Columbia researchers asked more than 200 subjects to identify 40 different scratch-&-sniff aromas. About three quarters of the subjects had been diagnosed with mild memory impairment. The others served as control subjects. After being tested, the memory- impaired patients were followed for an average of five years to track the development of Alzheimer's disease.

When the Columbia team analysed their completed data alongside the results of other Alzheimer's/aroma trials, the researchers narrowed the 40 aromas to this list of ten that were shown to be the most commonly misidentified by AD patients: clove, leather, lemon, lilac, menthol, pineapple, smoke, soap, strawberry and natural gas (or rather, the aroma that's added to natural gas).

Remarkably, the Columbia test had a greater degree of accuracy in predicting AD than other tests that used genetic testing or brain imaging.

Alzheimer's Disease: Sage Memory

Once the early signs of dementia and AD are recognised, there are several courses of action to choose from.

Mainstream doctors will often prescribe donepezil, a drug that's better known by the brand name Aricept. Donepezil inhibits AChE, an enzyme that breaks down a chemical that's typically deficient in AD patients. The problem with donepezil is that it may prompt side effects such as insomnia, depression, dizziness and muscle cramps (according to the Aricept web site).

Sage is another effective AChE inhibitor, used by herbalists for hundreds of years to improve memory. Side effects: none.

In a past e-Alert, I told you about Elaine Perry, the director of Medical Plant Research Centre (MPRC) at the Universities of Newcastle and Northumbria (Why Sage Is A Valuable Herb For Alzheimers Sufferers). She and her colleagues have extensively studied sage and other botanicals in the treatment of Alzheimer's. In 2004 she presented preliminary data that showed sage to have a significant effect on behaviour and attention in healthy subjects. And when lemon balm was added to sage, the combination improved memory and mood.

Niacin (vitamin B-3) has also been linked with reduced AD risk. According to a 2005 study conducted by Chicago's Rush Institute for Healthy Ageing, high levels of dietary niacin may significantly reduce the risk of cognitive decline. Niacin is most concentrated in high-protein foods such as beef liver, peanuts, chicken, tuna and salmon.

Sources:
'Performance-Based Physical Function and Future Dementia in Older People' Archives of Internal Medicine, Vol. 166, No. 10, 5/22/06, archinte.ama- assn.org 'Staying Physically Fit Prevents Alzheimer's Disease' Kathy Jones, Food Consumer, 5/23/06, foodconsumer.org