Changing Your Diet May Lower Your Alzheimer's Disease Risk

Can a change in your diet lower your Alzheimer's Disease risk?

The answer may be yes, according to Yian Gu, an associate research scientist at Columbia University in New York City.

Past research has shown that you can reduce your risk of developing Alzheimer's Disease by 65% by eating a Mediterranean type of diet and exercising regularly. Since the Mediterranean type of diet is low in red meats and high in fish, nuts and vegetables, this study focused on the amount of omega-3 fatty acids in the diets of dementia free seniors over the age of 65.

One of the characteristics of having a high risk of developing Alzheimer's Disease, is a high blood level of beta amyloid protein. This protein is a major component of amyloid deposits in the brain, which is a hallmark of the disease.

After studying 1,200 dementia free seniors over the age of 65, the results indicate that "regardless of age, gender, ethnicity and educational background, the more omega-3 fatty acids consumed, the lower the beta amyloid levels found in the blood." These healthy seniors got most of their omega-3 fatty acids from fish, poultry, margarine, nuts and salad dressing.

In other words, eating more foods high in omega-3 fatty acids reduces the amount of beta amyloid protein in your blood stream, which in turn reduces your risk of developing Alzheimer's Disease.

Alzheimer's does occur in my family over the age of 70. This is one of the reasons that I have changed my diet to eating more cold water fish. I now seldom eat red meats, and consume 3 servings a week of Brisling Sardines. The fish that are highest in omega-3 fats and low in mercury are sardines, herring and wild salmon.

Other foods high in omega-3 fats are

1. Ground Flax seed
2. Chia Seeds
3. Walnuts
4. And cooked soybeans

Omega-3 fatty acids are not only good for your heart, but also good for your brain's health and fitness. Eat more foods high in omega-3 fatty acids and live long and prosper.

Charles

Reference:

Doctor's Lounge: " Eating More Foods Rich in Omega-3s May Lower Alzheimer's Risk: Study "
The FASEB Journal: " Role of the beta-amyloid protein in Alzheimer's Disease "
WebMD: " Beta-Amyloid May Identify Alzheimer's Disease "