Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer'sis a brain disorder that seriously affects a person's ability to carry out daily activities. Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia among older people. It involves the parts of the brain that control thought, memory, and language. Alzheimer'sis a progressive disease, meaning that it gets worse over time. The start point for dementia is less clear and the symptoms may actually follow years afterwards. This is most often associated with the development of senile plaques, which actually start around the age of fifty.

Many people with dementia need no medication for behavioral problems. But for some people, doctors may prescribe medications to reduce agitation, anxiety, depression, or sleeping problems. These troublesome behaviors are common in people with dementia. Careful use of doctor-prescribed drugs may make some people with dementia more comfortable and make caring for them easier.

A healthy diet is important. Although no special diets or nutritional supplements have been found to prevent or reverse Alzheimer's disease or multi-infarct dementia, a balanced diet helps maintain overall good health. In cases of multi-infarct dementia, improving the diet may play a role in preventing more strokes.

Fruit Juice May Prevent Alzheimer's Disease

A study published in the American Journal of Medicine finds that seniors who drink fruit or vegetable juices at lease three times a week lower the risk of developing Alzheimer's Disease by 76 percent. The researchers credit the high levels of polyphenols in juices as being responsible for these findings. The antioxidant action of polyphenols (found mainly in the skins of fruits and vegetables) is well noted in other studies.