Unfortunately, it’s a well known fact that there is no cure for dementia. Despite billions invested in research, the pharmaceutical industry has not yet been able to develop a drug. However, targeted diets with an increased intake of specific micronutrients can reduce the risk of the onset of dementia. This has now been proven by epidemiological data.
Unfortunately, dementia and Alzheimer’s are becoming key issues of our era. In Austria, about 100,000 people are affected by dementia, and in Germany the number is about 1.7 million. Two thirds of these are cases of Alzheimer’s. Due to longer life expectancies, this number is expected to rise to about 3 million by 2050.
Long-term observations suggest that the number of Alzheimer’s diseases doubles every five years with advancing age. You can find out more about the early detection, diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer’s here.
Since Alzheimer’s disease already leads to dysfunction of the synapses before the onset of dementia, preventive action can be taken. Nutrition has a great influence as a preventive factor on the maintenance of cognitive abilities in old age. The great potential of plant substances and micronutrients in the fight against Alzheimer’s is currently the starting point of numerous promising studies.
The right diet and the intake of targeted micronutrients can prevent dementia.
B vitamins and homocysteine
Increased homocysteine levels are a risk factor for cognitive impairment, progressive brain atrophy, dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease.
Homocysteine is a sulphur-containing amino acid which is formed during the metabolism and rapidly broken down again. Epidemiological studies show a link between hyperhomocysteinemia and cognitive performance.
In order to lower the elevated homocysteine level, an adequate intake of vitamins B6, B12 and folic acid may be an effective non-drug option. Several studies, such as the VITACoG study, clearly demonstrated the influence of this intervention on a mild cognitive disorder.
This study was conducted by the Oxford Project to Investigate Memory and Aging (OPTIMA) at Oxford University in the UK with 168 participants. The study researched whether a vitamin B complex consisting of 800 μg folic acid, 500 μg vitamin B12, and 20 mg vitamin B6 is capable of slowing progressive brain atrophy (brain atrophy) over a period of two years.
For participants with elevated homocysteine levels, the B complex reduced brain shrinkage by up to 53%.
The result was clear: the atrophy rate was reduced by 29.6%. The most striking effect was that the results depend on the level of homocysteine levels. In the upper quartile, atrophy rates could be slowed down by up to 53%, but those of the lower two quartiles did not show any major change. This suggests that a minimum level of homocysteine is required for vitamin B supplementation to have positive effects.
Plant substances to minimize risks
In order to reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease, one can also look to the Mediterranean diet, which has proven effective in studies. An observational study found that the risk was reduced by a third. This form of nutrition is characterized by a high proportion of polyunsaturated fatty acids and antioxidative plant substances.
Resveratrol, an active ingredient contained in red wine, also has anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects. Another candidate is epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), an active ingredient from green tea. This has an influence on the most diverse cell signals and protects the structures of the nerve cells. More about green tea here.
Curcuma, the plant extract curcumin, and the curcuminoids contained in it act as scavengers of free radicals and thus reduce the oxidative stress that can lead to degeneration of nerve cells. You can find more about curcuma here.
The Ginkgo Biloba is probably the best-known plant used to treat dementia. According to meta-analyses, there are promising indications that a long-term (i.e. at least 5 months) supply of 200 mg ginkgo extracts has positive effects on dementia every day.
A newcomer among the plant substances that could help fight against Alzheimer’s is cannabidiol (CBD). In addition to its antioxidant properties, this non-psychoactive active ingredient of the hemp plant has already been certified as capable of reducing damaged areas of the nervous system and even in the formation of new nerves.
