Understanding Alzheimer’s

 

Published February 7, 2004 in the North Island Weekender

 

A few weeks ago I watched the KCTS production on Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) called The Forgetting: A Portrait of Alzheimer’s. My  mother-in-law has severe Alzheimer’s and so I am beginning to better understand this disease. The truth is that as we age we are more touched by the diseases that occur later in life as we see friends and relatives affected by them. This program was an excellent summary of the diagnosis and the progression of the disease but did not speak to the causes nor of the alternative treatments.

 

The challenge with AD is early diagnosis. Many family members can look back and see changes over the years but didn’t think it was serious. There is also the confusion of Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) or dementia versus AD. Some experts believe that those diagnosed with MCI have a 10 times greater risk of progressing to AD. There is little need to worry about normal momentary memory lapses like misplacing car keys or forgetting the name of a new acquaintance. People with MCI are likely to forget important information on a regular basis. They struggle to remember names and words and can’t. They have difficulty remembering details, forgetting things repeatedly and may ask the same question over and over only to keep forgetting the answer. Those with AD in addition to forgetfulness have language impairment, disorientation and difficulty performing once –familiar tasks. The concern is that are there tests to be done that can detect these changes earlier and what can be done to slow the progression of the disease. If the disease process can be slowed by as few as five years patients will die from causes other than AD and significantly reduce costs as well as patient care as most folks who develop AD are elderly.

In the January 31^st 2004 Globe and Mail there was an article on AD relating it to iron excesses (hemochromatosis) that increase the risk of AD. Other disease processes must be ruled out before a diagnosis of AD is arrived at. Cognitive decline can be a result of B vitamin deficiencies, under-active thyroid, low blood sugar, severe anemia, transient ischemic attacks, drugs toxicities, and disorders of the brain including tumors.

There are simple blood tests for hemochromotosis including serum ferritin that should be done routinely as part of any physical exam. However as with any of the above disease processes tests that are performed can be read differently. Medical doctors are looking for pathology when they read the blood test results. Naturopathic doctors are looking for optimal function of the organ system. Careful evaluation of these blood tests can give lots of clues to possible causes and treatment.

The research is indicating that the cause of AD is multi-factorial just as is the cause of cancer. The lack of estrogen, electromagnetic exposure, solvent exposure, aluminum, excess free radicals and increase in oxidation all increase death of brain cells.

Genetic testing is becoming perfected so that the risk for AD can be determined and thus a supplement program can be initiated to prevent the genes from manifesting. This is a new thought in medicine that genes are modifiable. Just because you have the genes for AD doesn’t mean that you have to develop the disease. This concept is explained in “Genetic Nutritioneering” by Bland and Benum. At the very least with this approach AD progression can be slowed. A sample of anti-oxidants that are recommended on such a program would include mixed tocopherol NON GM Vitamin E, CoQ10, bioflavinoids, selenium and vitamin C.

The other link is with homocysteine. This is a protein in the blood that is associated with an increase of AD, diabetes, heart disease and osteoporosis. This is a simple blood test and again optimal levels are lower than what your MD may call normal.

When homocysteine levels are above optimal it means that there is not adequate B12, Folic acid and B6 in the body. A person may be taking all of these B vitamins but may not be absorbing them or taking them in the right form. Clinically, for example, serum B12 and folic acid blood tests are done by MD’s to determine a patient’s status. However these are not functional tests and often these patients benefit from supplementation even though their tests are “normal”. These patients are the ones who greatly benefit from B12 and B complex injections.

With the numbers of patients with AD dramatically increasing over the next twenty years people need to know how to test for it early, know what their genetic profile is and take a preventive nutritional program to slow or prevent AD, limit brain inflammation and reverse and prevent as many causes of cognitive loss as possible.

 

Dr. Pincott has been practicing naturopathic medicine since 1985 and is currently practicing in Campbell River. She can be reached at (250) 286-3655 or www.DrPincott.com