From HealthNewsDigest.com

Alzheimer Issues
Can You Prevent or Halt the Onset of Alzheimer's Disease?
By
Jul 20, 2016 - 10:20:07 AM

(HealthNewsDigest.com) - San Francisco, CA, July 20, 2016 - An estimated 5.2 million Americans over the age of 65 have Alzheimer's disease, a number that may nearly triple in the next thirty years as the population of older Americans continues to grow dramatically. Growing older is the greatest known risk factor for Alzheimer's; the disease currently affects 1 in 9 Americans over the age of 65 and 1 in 3 over the age of 85.

"The prevalence of Alzheimer's is startling and frightening for older Americans and their families," says functional medicine specialist Dr. Marsha Nunley, founder of H.E.A.L. Medical. "As a society and as individuals, we are more health-conscious than ever before and yet the threat of Alzheimer's looms over our 'golden years'. As researchers continue to pursue treatment and prevention solutions, we want to do everything we can ourselves to ward off the disease and maintain our physical and cognitive vitality as we age."

Despite the prevalence of Alzheimer's disease among older people, it is not necessarily a natural consequence of aging. The memory loss that characterizes Alzheimer's disease is associated with a well known formation of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in the brain. Top researcher and California neurologist Dr. Dale Bredesen, director of UCLA's Center for Alzheimer's Disease Research, believes that an intensive program of hormone replacement, diet, proper sleep, key supplements, strategic fasting and stress reduction can reduce and even reverse Alzheimer's disease. Dr. Bredesen  has developed a program that functional medicine specialists, including Dr. Nunley, are using to look at a person's genetics, nutrition and lifestyle and to create a plan for helping them to delay and even eliminate the chances of them developing Alzheimer's.

While scientists don't yet know precisely what triggers damage to the nerve cells, they know that the changes that typify Alzheimer's occur first in the cerebral cortex, which is the seat of learning. That's why the first sign of the disease is usually the inability to remember newly learned information. As damage spreads to other parts of the brain, other symptoms appear and the disease becomes progressively more severe. "

While risk factors for Alzheimer's include those that cannot be changed - age, family history, and genetics - there is increasing evidence that there are factors that are under our control and things we can do to mitigate risk or delay the onset of symptoms," says Dr. Nunley. "We can modify our behavior and lead a 'brain-healthy' lifestyle that will help keep our brains healthier longer." Dr. Nunley identifies important factors in maintaining brain and body fitness:

In conclusion, good general health supports good brain health. Stop smoking; maintain a healthy weight, exercise at least 150 minutes a week, sleep 7-8 hours a night; and drink alcohol only on special occasions. "Alzheimer's disease is not an inevitable result of aging. While there is currently no cure for Alzheimer's, there are ways of minimizing its effects and forestalling or minimizing its development," says Dr. Nunley. "People who feel that they are at risk for Alzheimer's or who are concerned with symptoms they are experiencing should seek out the advice of a functional medicine doctor who will take a comprehensive look at their risk factors, lifestyle and diet and put them on a program to minimize and potentially stop the onset of the disease," adds Dr. Nunley.

Marsha Nunley, M.D., founder of H.E.A.L. Medical is board-certified in internal medicine, geriatric medicine, and palliative care. Dr. Nunley specializes in functional medicine, a systems-based approach to treating the whole person. www.marshanunleymd.com


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