10 Early Warning Signs of Alzheimer's Disease

By Layne Lowery

Early symptoms of Alzheimer's disease differ by individual, as well as day-to-day. Some signs may be so subtle that they may go unnoticed by family or friends, while other symptoms will become increasingly obvious over time.

The following checklist was written by the Alzheimer's Association¹ to assist individuals determine if they or a loved one have the early warning signs of the disease. We thank them for making this valuable information available to the public.

1. Memory loss. One of the most common early signs of dementia is forgetting recently learned information. While it's normal to forget appointments, names or telephone numbers, those with Alzheimer's disease will forget such things more often and not remember them later.

2. Difficulty performing familiar tasks. People with Alzheimer's disease often find it hard to complete familiar, everyday tasks which they previously did without thinking. A person with Alzheimer's may forget how to cook, make repairs or how to play cards.

3. Problems with language. Everyone has trouble finding the right word occasionally, but a person with Alzheimer's disease often forgets simple words or substitutes unusual words.

4. Disorientation to time and place. It's normal to forget the day of the week or where you are going. But people with Alzheimer's disease can become lost on their own street, forget where they are and how they got there, and not know how to get back home.

5. Poor or decreased judgment. No one has perfect judgment all of the time. Those with Alzheimer's may dress without regard to weather, wearing several shirts or blouses on a warm day, or very little clothing on a cold day. Individuals with Alzheimer's disease often show poor judgment about money, giving away large amounts of money to telemarketers, overpaying for home repairs or buying products they don't need.

6. Problems with abstract thinking. Balancing a checkbook may be hard when the task is more complicated than usual. Someone with Alzheimer's disease could forget completely what the numbers are and what needs to be done with them.

7. Misplacing things. Anyone can temporarily misplace a wallet or key. A person with Alzheimer's may put things in unusual places: An iron in the freezer or a wristwatch in the sugar bowl.

8. Changes in mood or behavior. Everyone can become sad or moody. Someone with Alzheimer's disease can show rapid mood swings (from calm to tears to anger) for no apparent reason.

9. Changes in personality. People's personalities ordinarily change somewhat with age. But a person with Alzheimer's disease can change a lot, becoming extremely confused, suspicious, fearful or dependent on a family member.

10. Loss of initiative. It's normal to tire of housework, business activities or social obligations at times. The person with Alzheimer's may become very passive, sitting in front of the television for hours, sleeping more than usual, or not wanting to do usual activities.

Can Alzheimer's Disease be Prevented?

So far there is no guaranteed way of preventing Alzheimer's disease. But ongoing research is revealing some exciting possibilities for warding off the disease:

Exercising the Brain. People who keep their brains active by reading or doing jigsaw puzzles, word games or chess are less likely to have Alzheimer's disease. "We found that frequency of cognitive activity, but not of physical activity, was associated with risk of developing Alzheimer's disease and the rate of cognitive decline. We found that compared to persons with infrequent cognitive activity, risk of developing Alzheimer's disease was reduced by about 50% in people who were frequently cognitively active," said Robert Wilson, Ph.D.¹

"There has been an emerging concept from a number of studies that brain reserve may be a protective factor against Alzheimer's disease... there's a suggestion that people with lower levels of formal education have a higher risk of Alzheimer's disease. And so that would be an early-to-adult life influence on the brain reserve. What [studies] may show is that perhaps staying active during later life could modulate or sustain brain function, and again, that could possibly be protective," said Douglas Galasko, M.D., professor of the department of neurosciences at the University of California-San Diego and staff scientist at the VA San Diego Healthcare System.

Exercising your body. Thirty minutes of daily activity has tremendous benefit to the heart, muscles and brain. Walk, garden, clean your house, rake leaves, go dancing or exercise (try minimal exercises while still sitting in your chair).

Drinking plenty of fluids. Dehydration (not having enough water, juices, milk or other fluids) is a major factor in temporary memory loss. Drink plenty of fluids and cut down or eliminate alcohol.

Use caution with medications. Your doctor should know all the over-the-counter and prescribed medications you are taking. Some combinations may cause confusion or forgetfulness, and even long-term damage to your memory.

Eat a healthy diet. Eat five fruits and vegetables a day to promote a healthy mind and body. Dark greens and leafy vegetables, like broccoli, spinach and romaine lettuce, are especially beneficial.

Supplement the brain with Phosphatidylserine (PS).² Several double-blind clinical studies suggest that taking phosphatidylserine during the early stages of Alzheimer's disease can slow the rate of deterioration for those suffering from Alzheimer's. So, the earlier a person begins taking phosphatidylserine, the better--especially when the disease runs in the family.

Here are some examples of promising research:

• Forty patients with probable Alzheimer's disease received either social support, cognitive training only or cognitive training in combination with pyritinol (a derivative of vitamin B6) or phosphatidylserine. After six months, patients given cognitive training plus phosphatidylserine showed "a significant glucose enhancement during the stimulation tasks in various brain regions and improvement in cognitive functioning compared to the other groups."

• Fifty-one patients meeting clinical criteria for probable Alzheimer's disease were studied. Patients were treated for 12 weeks with a formulation of phosphatidylserine or placebos. Patients treated with the phosphatidylserine drug improved on several cognitive measures compared with those who were given placebos. Differences between treatment groups were most apparent among patients with less severe cognitive impairment. Results suggest that phosphatidylserine may be a promising candidate for study in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease.

Remember, early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease or other disorders causing dementia is an important step in getting appropriate treatment, care and support services, and maintaining the quality of life for a longer period of time.

Resources

Resources Alzheimer's Association, 919 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 1000, Chicago, IL 60611-1676; 1-800-272-3900. This is the largest national voluntary health organization supporting Alzheimer's research and care. They can help find a local Alzheimer's chapter that often has video lending libraries, caregiver support and more.

Alzheimer's Disease Education & Referral Center (ADEAR), Service of the National Institute on Aging, P.O. Box 8250, Silver Spring, MD 209078250. The U.S. Congress created ADEAR in 1990 to compile, archive and disseminate information on Alzheimer's disease to the public. ADEAR is operated as a service of the National Institute on Aging and National Institutes of Health. Call 1-800-438-4380.

References

1. Alzheimer's Association, 919 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 1000, Chicago, IL 60611- 1676; 1-800-272-3900.
2. Wilson, RS et al. Neurology, Nov 2007; 69: 1911-1920.
3. Balch, J. Prescription for Healthy Living (newsletter).

[Ed. Note: Layne Lowery is the President of Health Resources™, a manufacturer of high-quality nutritional supplements. In the health business since 1995, Layne's passion is providing affordable natural health solutions and educational tools based on the best scientific research available to empower his customers to make wise decisions on matters of personal health.]

Healthy Nutrition: Thanksgiving Turkey -- More Than Just Delicious By Jackie Silver

Thanksgiving is right around the corner, so let's talk turkey. Most people already know that turkey is an excellent source of protein, but did you also know that turkey is a good source of cancer-preventive selenium?¹ Selenium is an essential component of several major metabolic pathways, including thyroid hormone metabolism, antioxidant defense systems and immune function.

Selenium has been shown to induce DNA repair² and synthesis in damaged cells, inhibit the growth of cancer cells and rev up the self-destruct sequence the body uses to eliminate worn out or abnormal cells. But that's not all...

Vitamin B6 is an important vitamin present in turkey, as well as niacin, which plays a role in maintaining good cholesterol.³ B6 is needed for more than 100 enzymes involved in protein metabolism, according to the National Institutes of Health.⁴ It's also essential for red blood cell metabolism and for the proper function of your nervous and immune systems. So, even if your eyes glazed over from all that scientific mumbo jumbo, you can rest assured that your body and your taste buds will enjoy your Thanksgiving turkey!

Have you ever cooked your turkey to the USDA-recommended⁵ 165 degrees and found that it's still pink next to the bone? It may simply be a very young turkey. Its immature bones may allow hemoglobin to leach into the meat, but it's still safe to eat.⁶ Here's another quick tip: don't cook your turkey with the dressing stuffed inside -- you may be risking a case of food poisoning.⁷ Instead, try this original recipe, cooked separately, as an Aging Backwards side dish.

Original Thanksgiving Recipe: Aging Backwards Stuffing with Cranberry

1 package store-bought, flavored stuffing
2 stalks celery, chopped
1 onion, chopped
3 tablespoons of Brazil nuts, chopped (good source of selenium)
1/4 cup dried cranberries
1 cup hot water
Pour hot water over dried cranberries and set aside. Sauté celery and onion until soft. Prepare stuffing mix per package directions and add sautéed celery, onions, chopped Brazil nuts and plumped cranberries. Spoon mixture into casserole dish and bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes. Serve a small portion as a side to turkey. Remember, portion control is conducive to Aging Backwards.

Here's why cranberry stuffing is a great choice for your Thanksgiving turkey. The medical and health community recognizes antioxidants as premier disease fighters, and cranberries have been shown to contain more antioxidants than 19 commonly eaten fruits. According to a recent study, these antioxidants may play a role in helping to prevent certain cancers and heart disease.⁸

References

1. http://www.cancerproject.org/protective_foods/selenium.php
2. http://jnci.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/95/2/98
   
3. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/06/080605150904.htm
   
4. http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/vitaminb6.asp
   
5. http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Fact_Sheets/
   
6. http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/Turkey/faqs.html
   
7. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/1715751.stm
8. http://www.cranberryinstitute.org/news/PR/PR062001.htm

[Ed. note: Jackie Silver is aging backwards. She shares her secrets, tips, and shortcuts on her web site, AgingBackwards.com, in her new book, Aging Backwards: Secrets to Staying Young, on the syndicated TV show, Daytime, on Clear Channel radio's Mix 100.7, and as a sought-after speaker. For more information, click here.]

Healthy Recipes: Luscious Mexican Lasagna By Laura LaValle, RD, LD

Well, it's that time of year again, where I enjoy turning on my oven to bake a good casserole! This dish is made with vegetables and very thin corn tortillas, so even though each serving contains 15 grams of carbohydrate, remember that most of that is very low glycemic impact vegetables and beans. Mmmm, delicious.

Time to table: 1 hour

Serves: 10

Healing Nutrient Spotlight
Excellent source of vitamin A, zinc
Good source of vitamin C, calcium, iron, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B-6, vitamin B-12, magnesium, selenium

Ingredients*

3 T. olive oil, divided
1 1/2 cups chopped onion, divided
2 tsp. ground cumin, divided
1 tsp. ground coriander
1/2 T. chili powder
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
3 T. lime juice
2 cups grated carrots
2 cups grated zucchini
1/4 cup canned green chilies
1 lb. organic, grass-fed ground beef (this recipe works great with leftover or ground turkey as well)
1 15-oz. can black beans, drained
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
1/4 cup salsa or picante sauce, plus additional salsa for serving
4, 6-inch corn tortillas
1 cup shredded hard cheese such as cheddar, or substitute a vegan cheese alternative such as Vegan Gourmet cheddar flavor

*Choose organic ingredients for optimal nutrition

Preparation

Preheat oven to 350°. Grease a 9 x 9-inch baking pan. Heat 1 T. oil in skillet over medium heat. Add ¾ cup onion and sauté for 5 minutes. Add 1 tsp. cumin and coriander and cook for 5 minutes. Stir in beans, cilantro and lime juice. Heat through, remove from skillet into bowl and set aside. Rinse and dry skillet. Saute¢ remaining onion in oil for 5 minutes. Add carrots and zucchini and cook 5 more minutes.

Add ground beef and cook until browned. Stir in chili powder, garlic powder, green chilies, and remaining cumin. Cook for 3 minutes. Add salsa and simmer for 2 more minutes. Layer 2 tortillas, tearing to fit pan, half of bean mixture, and half of ground beef mixture. Repeat layers and top with cheese. Bake 30 minutes until casserole is bubbly and cheese is melted. Let lasagna cool for 5-10 minutes before slicing. Serve with additional salsa, if desired.

Nutrition

275 calories, 15 g total fat, 5 g saturated fat, 3.42 g monounsaturated fat, .84 g polyunsaturated fat, 50 mg cholesterol, 15 g carbohydrate, 5 g fiber, 4 g sugar, 21 g protein, 7250 IU vitamin A, .1 mg thiamin, .21 mg riboflavin, 2.8 mg niacin, .25 mg pantothenic acid, .21 mg vitamin B-6, .89 mg vitamin B-12, 35 mcg folate, 7.47 mg vitamin C, 150 mg calcium, 45 mg magnesium, .14 mg manganese, 400 mg potassium, 220 mg sodium, 2.55 mg iron, .09 mg copper, 3.83 mg zinc, 11 mcg selenium

[Ed. Note: Laura B. LaValle, RD, LD is presently the director of dietetics nutrition at LaValle Metabolic Institute (formerly part of Living Longer Institute). She offers personal nutritional counseling at LMI for clients who need help with their diet in relation to illness or disease. Laura also provides educational services in the areas of health promotion, wellness, and disease prevention. To learn more, click here.]

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These articles appear courtesy of Early to Rise’s Total Health Breakthroughs [Issue 11-25-08] which offers alternative solutions for mind, body and soul. For a complimentary subscription, visit http://www.totalhealthbreakthroughs.com/