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| Alzheimer's Disease |
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Review
Summary |
As people get older it may seem natural that they become more forgetful from time to time, perhaps names or phone numbers don’t come as quickly to mind as they used to. When this starts to happen, some people wonder about their cognitive health and start researching natural ways to help augment brain health and cognitive function. In fact, there are some really effective holistic adjuncts available that may help bolster cognitive function and perhaps even reverse memory loss.
But when it is more complex some people are diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease. In fact, at this very moment it is estimated that 5 million Americas are dealing with this illness, in varying degrees. Some may have already seen the devastating affects of this illness on a family member or a friend. While others may have a general idea of what it is, but many people have no idea why it occurs, what the progression is like or what treatments are available, so let’s take a look.
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| Illness at a Glance |
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Alzheimer's Disease is one of the most common forms of dementia, and it is currently incurable. It is a progressive illness that eventually results in death. The average life expectancy when diagnosed is between 7 and 14 years, but some individuals may have it for up twenty years.
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| Illness in Focus |
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Alzheimer's Disease is often not the first thought that enters individuals minds when they or a family member start to see early symptoms, and in fact these signs are often simply thought to be age related cognitive issues. However, as the symptoms become more pronounced, which may include problems learning, communicating and reasoning, then Azheimer's Disease is often suspected. There are no definitive tests for this disease, as there are for illnesses like cancer or diabetes, so doctors usually put patients through a battery of tests that may include behavioral testing, cognitive tests and brains scans.
Many patients begin to experience a certain set of issues as this disease progresses, including general confusion, irritability, violence, mood issues, inability to communicate, long term memory loss and withdrawal. While there are many commonalities in patients with Alzheimer’s Disease, there are many issues and manifestations that are unique to the patient. As the disease progresses the body in general begins to fail, which leads to the individual’s eventual death.
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| Lifestyle |
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While the research continues on Alzheimer's Disease, scientists are still not certain why the brain cells begin to decline, but some equate it with computer breakdowns, which may result for a variety of reasons ranging from memory board failure to system shorts. Recently, it was shown that individuals with Alzheimer's Disease tend to have very high levels of homocysteine, and that simple B Vitamins, like Folic Acid and Vitamins B6 and B12, may help regulate this issue. This emerging data has made cognitive enhancers that contain these vitamins very popular. That said, to date there is no treatment for Alzheimer’s Disease, but drugs have emerged that may help some individuals improve mental function and stave off the more debilitating issues for longer.
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| Positives |
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• Research is under way
• Holistic extracts and drugs are available to help reduce cognitive decline
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| Negatives |
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• Progressive fatal illness
• Significantly reduces the individuals cognitive function
• No cure as of yet
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| Final Thoughts |
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Alzheimer's Disease is a condition that may have a significant impact not only on the individual’s social and family life, but also on their family and friends’ lives as well. As we saw above, this is a fatal and progressive disease that may significantly limit the individual’s quality of life, but we also saw that there are some ways to help manage it, and that there is research currently being conducted to help find a cure for this disease.
For those who have not been diagnosed with this disease, there are many ways to maintain and boost brain health, including using holistic supplements to like Alpha GPC to boost Choline levels, thereby augmenting short and long term memory; Vinpocetine to increase cerebra blood flow; and B Vitamins like Folic Acid and Vitamins B6 and B12 to help balance the high homocysteine levels that are often seen in Alzheimer’s patients. To learn more about this disease and how to boost your cognitive health and function, we suggest continuing research on some of the well known review sites. Such sites may be able to provide you with some great information on what may and may not be beneficial in this arena.
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| Our
Editors Choice:
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Week
of: Tue Nov 17th, 2009 |
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Neurostin® -
Neurostin™ is a blend of non-prescription ingredients that were carefully formulated to reverse and prevent the depletion of the nutrients your brain needs to perform optimally. This is a very well received product that customers speak highly of. The unique formula of Neurostin™ provides your body with all the necessary building blocks to make choline which is the most vital component needed by the cells that comprise both short and long term memory. The formula has also been proven to produce both oxygen and blood flow to the brain which decrease and reverse the effects of deterioration. Neurostin is one of the few formulas that regulates the levels of homocysteine which is key in preventing both long term memory loss and Alzheimer’s. This is an awesome overall formula that enhances overall brain function, sharpness and clarity Click Here to read our full review. |
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