Demetia and Alzheimer's Flashcards
1
Q
Dementia
A
- Dementia describes a syndrome of cognitive impairment that affects memory recall, cognitive
abilities and behaviour, and significantly interferes with a person’s ability to perform daily activities. - Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia and accounts for 60-80% of all dementia cases.
2
Q
Demetia risk factors
A
- Chronic / acute stress.
- Proton pump inhibitor medication.
- Poor diet (junk food, sugars).
- Vitamin and nutritional deficiencies, e.g., vitamin A, D, C, B6, B9, B12 etc.
- Poor lifestyle (e.g., smoking and drinking alcohol)
- Vaccinations.
- Hypertension and diabetes (Type 3 diabetes)
- Mental inactivity
- Obesity.
- Physical inactivity.
- Social isolation.
- Environmental toxins (aluminum, heavy metals.
- ApoE4 polymorphism.
- Mid life depression.
3
Q
Four types of dementia
A
- Frontotemporal dementia: Behavioural, language and movement difficulties, driven by atrophy of frontal and temporal lobes.
- Vascular dementia: Impaired blood flow to the brain leading to cognitive decline . Often associated with cardiovascular disease
- Lewy body dementia: Lewy bodies are abnormal clumps of protein that cause alterations in thoughts, perceptions and movement. Lewy bodies are also found in Parkinson’s disease patients.
- Alzheimer’s disease: Amyloid beta and tau are two proteins which are correlated with Alzheimer’s disease pathology. Patients suffer progressive loss of memory, language and reasoning.
4
Q
Alzheimer’s Disease
A
- Build up of misfolded amyloid beta and tau proteins:
- Amyloid beta is now thought to be the brain’s protective response to a threat rather than the cause of Alzheimer’s disease.
- Infection, inflammation and oxidative stress drive amyloid production.
5
Q
Dr Bredesen’s three categories of Alzheimers
A
- Inflammation or ‘hot’: Associated with increased innate immune system activation, inflammation, pro-inflammatory microglia (M1) and reduced sirtuin (SIRT1) activity compared to NF kappa B
- Atrophic or ‘cold’: Loss of trophic support from neurotrophins such as brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF).
- Cortical or ‘toxic’: Dr Bredesen considers this subtype to be associated with environmental toxins, leading to chronic inflammation and general brain atrophy.
6
Q
Microglia
A
The resident immune cells of the brain:
- M1 (pro-inflammatory) type microglia can be polarised to an M2 (anti- inflammatory) type.
- Increased Nrf2 = M2.
- Increased NF-KB = M1
7
Q
Pathogens and Alzheimer’s
A
- Pathogens cause cell damage which is communicated to TLRs
- Dysbiosis
- TLRs on brain microglia are sensitive to our own damaged tissue
- Oral dysbiosis: P. gingivalis (from periodontitis) is associated with a significantly ↑ Alzheimer’s risk.
- Oxytocin can suppress microglia related inflammation
8
Q
Neurogenesis
A
- In Alzheimer’s, cholinergic hippocampal neurons are lost and there is also a reduced ability to grow new neurons through neurogenesis
- Every day there are 700 new neurons created in the hippocampus but they will not survive if inflammation is high.
9
Q
BDNF (Neurotrophins)
A
- BDNF (brain derived neurotrophic factor) is a neuroprotective protein essential for the survival of cholinergic neurons.
- In Alzheimer’s disease BDNF levels are significantly decreased.
- BDNF supports cognitive ability , memory , neurogenesis and synapse function
10
Q
Diet and lifestyle to support BDNF
A
- Exercise, yoga, dance.
- Oxygen, fresh air, nature.
- Environmental enrichment.
- Social enrichment.
- Music, singing, laughing.
- Reduced stress.
- Cultural excursions
- Calorie restriction
- Polyphenols resveratrol, catechins / epicatechins, e.g., green tea, blueberries, cocoa.
- Mediterranean diet.
- Pomegranate, raspberry, strawberry, walnut, blackberry, pecan and cranberry.
- Omega 3 fatty acids.
- Vitamin B12
- Lactobacillus and bifidobacterium
- Rutin and hesperidin.
- Curcumin (turmeric).
11
Q
Dr David Perlmutter’s Diet
A
- Whole unprocessed foods.
- Low GI foods such as green leafy vegetables, kale,
broccoli, cauliflower, beans, blueberries and apples. - Healthy fats from olive oil, avocado, nuts and seeds.
- Fatty fish such as salmon, herring, sardines and mackerel.
- Choose free range, pasture fed, organic animal produce.
- Drink plenty of water the brain is 80%
water and can shrink if dehydrated.
12
Q
MIND Diet
A
Include (9):
* green leafy vegetables
* other vegetables
* nuts
* berries
* beans
* whole grains
* fish
* poultry
* olive oil
Excluding (5):
* red meats
* butter and margarine
* cheese
* pastries and sweets
* fried or fast food.
13
Q
Ketoflex 12 / 3
A
Dr Dale Bredesen
12h fast
3h between meals
Mild ketogenic
14
Q
Alzheimers and Coconut oil
A
- Alzheimer’s patients present with compromised brain glucose metabolism although ketone metabolism remains intact.
- Consumption of 20 g / day of organic coconut oil raises blood ketone levels and correlates with improved cognitive performance.
- Coconut oil is rich in MCTs
- Strict ketogenic diets are not recommended for Alzheimer’s patients due to potential gastrointestinal disturbances and loss of appetite.
15
Q
MEND Protocol 1
A
Optimise Diet
Excercise, reduce stress
Brain stimulation, oxygen and adequate sleep
Test of CRP
Test B5, B6, B12 and folate
GI Health
