Definitively diagnosing Alzheimer's disease is an extremely difficult task. Up until now, the only way to diagnose it was by studying brain tissue during an autopsy -- far too late to do anything about it.
However, hope may be on the horizon: A team of researchers developed a highly effective new test to locate the disease in its early stages, when the patient is still alive and can be treated. The test is called a bio-barcode assay; it detects small amounts of proteins in spinal fluid and is up to 1 million times more sensitive than other available tests.
The connection between the test and Alzheimer's began after a member of the research team had done previous research associating the disease with a small soluble protein in the brain known as amyloid-beta-derived diffusible ligand (ADDL). With this data, the team set out to detect ADDL in spinal fluid: They took samples of spinal fluid from 30 people (15 who had Alzheimer's and 15 who did not) and found at least some ADDL was found in every participant. It was also discovered that as the Alzheimer's in patients got worse, the concentration of ADDL increased, making it possible to follow the progression of the disease.
The Bio-Barcode Assay at Work
To detect the ADDLs, researchers used nanoscale particles -- some particles were magnetic and some of gold with strings of DNA attached -- that contained antibodies specific to ADDL.
The antibodies bind to the ADDL, sandwiching the protein between the two particles.
They are then magnetically removed from the solution and hundreds of thousands of DNA strands attached to the gold particles serve as a barcode because they can be used to label the specific target with standard detection methods.
Though the bio-barcode assay needs to be repeated and tested on more patients, researchers are confident the test provides a reliable detection method for diagnosing Alzheimer's. The research team also aspires to use the test to search for proteins and other chemicals that can offer early diagnosis of other diseases.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America February 4, 2005
USA Today February 1, 2005
Many of you have personal experience with Alzheimer's but many of you do not. If you are someone who is not or are just interested in seeing one great romance movie, then I would strongly advise you to rent The Notebook on DVD. It is a very touching movie nearly certain to make you shed a few tears. I particularly enjoyed James Garner as I have enjoyed his calm reassuring always under control presence. I also thorougnly enjoyed his series The Rockford Files in the 70s. It is quite shocking to see how much he has aged, but that is part of life, and eventually we will all get there. Fortunately, by applying the principles in this newsletter you can avoid many of the complications of aging that the lead role in this movie eventually develops.
PLEASE, PLEASE remember that Alzheimer's is nearly 100 percent preventable. No one needs to suffer the devastation of losing one's mind like the central character does in The Notebook. However, please remember that we are in the midst of an Alzheimer's epidemic and if you aren't proactive you may begin to lose your mental functioning capacity. The number of people with Alzheimer's disease is expected to triple, as the greatest known risk factor of Alzheimer's is age. About 4.5 million people are affected today and the prevalence doubles every five years after the age of 65. In fact, if current population trends continue, it is estimated some 13.5 million Americans will have Alzheimer's disease by 2050.
But what's important for you to understand is that Alzheimer's disease is not a normal part of aging and there are a number of natural and safe ways to prevent and treat it.
One of the best things you can do is follow the diet described in my Total Health Program. The premise is to increase the amount of fresh vegetables, which are high in folate, in your diet and restrict grains and sugars.
Additionally, I recommend consuming high-quality fish or cod liver oil so you can meet the optimal amount of omega-3 fats needed to achieve good health and fight Alzheimer's. It is important to find a fish or cod liver oil that is independently tested by a lab and found to conform to the highest purity guidelines. This will ensure that the oil is free of mercury and other toxins. One such brand, which I have found to be of superior quality, is Carlson's fish and cod liver oil. You can find Carlson's at your local health food store; however if this is not an option for you, for your convenience we carry Carlson's fish and cod liver oil in our store.
Additional Guidelines to Preventing Alzheimer's Disease
Exercise. Studies have found that exercise can protect the brain, thereby warding off Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia. Similar to a healthy diet, regular physical activity is one of those things that can significantly improve many aspects of your physical and emotional health.
Avoid and remove mercury from your body. Even trace amounts of mercury can cause the type of damage to nerves that is characteristic of the damage found in Alzheimer's disease. Dental amalgam fillings are one of the major sources of mercury, however you should be healthy prior to having them removed.
Although nearly any dentist is technically qualified to replace your amalgam fillings far less than 95 percent have any clue on how to do it properly so your risk of mercury exposure is minimized. Please avoid the mistake I have seen THOUSANDS of patients make and have your fillings replaced by a non-qualified dentist. I made this mistake myself nearly 20 years ago. Do it right the first time and save yourself the expense and grief. If you don't personally know a qualified biological dentist, many people find one by contacting several of the health food stores in their area and asking the employees who they know. This is typically an excellent resource as they are usually networked quite well in the local health community. Other sources of mercury include most seafood, thimerosal-containing vaccinations and flu shots.
Avoid aluminum. Aluminum has been widely associated with Alzheimer's disease. Your main sources of exposure are likely through drinking water, antiperspirants and perhaps aluminum cookware (though aluminum pots are probably less problematic than the other mentioned sources, I personally would not use aluminum cookware).
Challenge your mind. Mental stimulation, such as traveling, learning to play an instrument or doing crossword puzzles is associated with a decreased risk of Alzheimer's. Researchers suspect that mental challenges helps to build up the brain, making it less susceptible to the lesions associated with Alzheimer's disease.
Try Wild Blueberry IQ. This is an all-natural, whole fruit softgel made from wild blueberries, which have high anthocyanin and antioxidant content that are known to guard against Alzheimer's and other neurological diseases.
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