When They Can’t Remember You!!
I watched a dear Aunt care for her mother who had Alzheimer’s disease. I sometimes dropped by to help. It was disheartening to see her disappear right in front of all of us. Years later, that same Aunt developed Alzheimer’s. It was too much for me to handle up close. It was like the lights were on, but no one was home. She couldn’t remember me…….her husband or daughter…..and others who loved her so much.
In case you hadn’t heard, today, September 21, is World Alzheimer’s Day!! Researchers at Trinity College, Dublin, have determined that “a hormone called corticotrophin is released when a person is under pressure or stress. These hormones trigger the production of chemical fragments called amyloid beta that clump together to form proteins known to cause memory loss in patients suffering from dementia.” Many of those same researchers join countless others to develop pharmaceuticals that can address Alzheimers from a variety of perspectives and ward off this deadly disease.
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, African-Americans are two times more likely to develop late-onset Alzheimer's disease than whites and less likely to have a diagnosis of their condition, resulting in less time for treatment and planning. This seems to follow the same trend of the development of other chronic diseases among African-Americans…..later diagnosis…..worse outcome.
Imagine my surprise and sheer joy when I came across an article on Alzheimer’s disease that saw improvement in diagnosed patients when they changed their lifestyle!! (UCLA-Buck Institute). That’s right, a small study of patients (10 patients) in various stages of Alzheimer’s (disoriented, depending on staff to remember, becoming forgetful mid-sentence, had to quit jobs) participated in an intervention that included these and other lifestyle choices:
Eliminating all simple carbohydrates, gluten and processed food from the diet
Eating more vegetables and fruits
Meditating twice a day
Fasting for a minimum of 12 hours between dinner and breakfast
Nothing to eat for a minimum of 3 hours between dinner and bedtime
Exercising at least 30 minutes for 4-6 days per week
Six of the ten who participated were actually able to return to work and maintain productivity.
The late Agatha Thrash, MD, lifestyle expert, also prescribed time outdoors, exercise, a plant based diet as part of the treatment for Alzheimer’s. In addition, she recommended herbal remedies include ginkgo, hawthorn berry tea, ginseng, and mistletoe, and Vitamins B3 and E. There is mixed opinion on Coconut Oil, but it certainly will not harm.
Soooo, seems like there’s nothing that can beat what you can do for yourself. Embrace a healthy lifestyle…..especially if there is history of Alzheimer’s in your family tree…..and if a loved one has been diagnosed…..help to reduce your risk and help a loved one remember who you are!! Choose a Lifestyle for Better Health!!
Improve Your Memory!! Fight Off Alzheimer’s!! It’s Wellness Wednesday Yawl!!
I’m Still Shoutin’ Ova Here!!
Donna
#Alzheimers #memoryloss #herbs #vitamins #exercise #fast #remember #plantpowered #healthylifestyle #cookinupgoodhealth #wellnesswednesday #mentalhealthmatters #meditation #fasting #intermittentfasting #worldalzheimersday