Alzheimer's
Disease and Folic Acid
One of the highlights of my teaching
is to help nursing students feel comfortable when
looking after patients with Dementia, be that
Alzheimer's, Huntingdon's Chorea, etc.
But these conditions don't necessarily
have to happen or they can be held back. There is a lot
of research going on now, trying to relate the oxidative
stress process with these conditions. Many patients are
given "optimum" doses of anti-oxidants with almost
unbelievable results. Here is another study, but this
time using folic acid, a trace mineral. I want to
recognize the research work of Joan Baumann,
jwbaumann@sprint.ca
in Ontario, Canada, for keeping a sharp eye out for very
helpful relevant research material. She always adds her
"lay comments", which helps us all to connect the
importance of the study findings to our own needs.
Joan writes:
Another piece to the puzzle of Alzheimer's Disease has
been put into place. According to this report from the
New England Journal of Medicine, a simple, economical
prevention might be FOLIC ACID! The 1000mcgs of Folic
Acid in our 3 Mega Antioxidants per day provides health
benefits in so many areas.
Kind regards, Joan E. Baumann:
THE NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE
Volume 346, Issue 7: February 14, 2002
Plasma Homocysteine and Alzheimer's Disease
A cohort of 1092 elderly subjects who
were free of dementia were studied prospectively. After
a median of eight years of follow-up, dementia had
developed in 111 subjects. Even after adjustment for
other known risk factors, an elevated plasma total
Homocysteine level at base line was an independent
predictor of the development of clinical dementia, most
cases of which were caused by Alzheimer's disease. The
risk of Alzheimer's disease was nearly doubled for those
with the highest plasma Homocysteine levels.
This prospective, observational study
greatly strengthens the evidence for an association
between the plasma Homocysteine level and the risk of
dementia. Since folic acid supplementation can reduce
plasma Homocysteine levels, this report suggests an
intervention that may help prevent dementia.
June 2 /02
Karin.
If you would like more
information on this topic, or if you would like to know
if we could help you get some relief, please
use
this link to ask your health question or
request more information on getting some help.
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Karin Henderson British Columbia, Canada (604) 463 8666
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