BASSEL, Switzerland — There is a direct correlation between nutrient levels and the onset of Alzheimer’s pathology, according to findings in a study out of Switzerland.

The study was published in the February 2015 edition of the journal Nutrition.

Researchers note that Alzheimer’s disease is the most common disabling cause of dementia worldwide. The major obstacle in managing it and designing therapeutic strategies lies in the difficulty in slowing the neuronal loss in the diseased brain once symptoms have begun.

Researchers are therefore looking for alternative strategies to maintain a healthy neuronal population in the aging brain, and one factor this study shows as important is the optimal supply of nutrients needed for maintaining normal brain function.

Through mechanistic studies, epidemiological analyses and randomized controlled intervention trials, they have found a positive effect of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and micronutrients such as vitamins B, E, C and D in helping neurons to cope with the aging process with little or no detrimental side effects.

The study concludes with “… essential nutrients may have great potential in delaying the onset of AD if individuals have a lifelong optimal supply. The lack of an established therapy against AD, whose incidence is anticipated to increase further and rapidly in an aging society, and the established roles of a whole host of (micro) nutrients draw our attention toward optimizing the nutritional status of not only older adults but also the general population. Such efforts will sharpen our knowledge of preventive strategies and provide additional support to established therapeutic concepts as they become available.”
Dr. Adam Graves ND, LAc, who practices at Colorado Natural Medicine, in Castle Rock, Co and specializes in hormones, digestion, pain and fatigue said this study helps us know how to control appetite and our weight loss.
He said “This article contributes to a growing body that nutritional supplementation can help with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. By providing nutrients that help protect the brain and its neurons, we can help prevent Alzheimer’s and dementia. One should also note that combining these supplements with a diet high in fruits and vegetables and an active lifestyle would further prevent Alzheimer’s and age-related dementia.”

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0899900714003396