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Diets rich in copper and heavy in saturated fats and trans fats could be related to the onset of Alzheimer’s. A study of more than 3,700 people 65 years or older found that subject that consumed at least 1.6 milligrams of copper a day along with foods heavy in saturated and trans fat added the equivalent of 19 years to their ages in terms of mental decline.
Copper is normally consumed in animal organs like liver as well as in shell fish, nuts, legumes, potatoes and chocolate. Drinking water that has traveled through copper pipes
and taking multivitamins that contain copper are other ways to increase intake.
Copper is essentially for brain development—too much copper may block the body’s ability to rid itself of proteins that form plaques found to clog the brains of Alzheimer’s patients.
The study was conducted by Martha Clare Morris of Rush University Medical Center in Chicago.
Physicians have found some success in using estrogen to treat memory loss in older women. For more information go to www.nymemory.org or www.Herplace.com or read Estrogen, Memory & Menopause by Gayatri Devi, MD. Improve or maintain cognition according to the Alzheimer’s Association:
- follow a low fat diet rich in fruits and vegetables
- Get out and move most days of the week
- Play games, do crosswords or take a class
- Reduce high blood pressure or high cholesterol
- Adopt and optimistic approach to life
Studies show that medication that reduces high blood pressure and high cholesterol might help prevent Alzheimer’s in healthy people. These treatments may also slow the progression of established disease. |