Alzheimer’s is Preventable Conference

Why does brain function decline in so many and how can you make sure you’re not one of them? We are supporting the Alzheimer’s is Preventable campaign with our partners Food for the Brain Foundation who kick off the campaign on November 1st with an unprecedented group of world experts on Alzheimer’s giving an on-line 4 hour masterclass to show that 99 per cent of Alzheimer’s is not caused by genes but is the direct result of diet and lifestyle factors – and is predictable from as early as age 35. “It is largely a preventable disease and we know quite a lot about what people need to do to help prevent it.” says Professor David Smith from the University of Oxford, whose research has shown up to 73 percent less brain shrinkage¹, and no further memory loss², giving B vitamins. He is one of eight experts talking at the masterclass. it’s only £20/$20 to attend. Other speakers are Professor Robert Lustig (sugar), Tommy Wood (active lifestyle), Jeremy Spencer (antioxidants & polyphenols) and Dr David Perlmutter. Drs David Vazour and Dr Simon Dyall are covering the gut-microbiota-brain axis and omega-3 fats and phospholipids.

The hottest recent discovery in Alzheimer’s is that B vitamins don’t work without omega-3 fats and omega-3 doesn’t work without B vitamins. Professor Smith’s research at Oxford in people with pre-dementia found 73 per cent less brain shrinkage compared to placebo2 and no further memory decline³ in those given B vitamins but only as long as they had sufficient omega-3. Thirty per cent of the trial’s participants ended the year with a clinical dementia rating of zero. Four other studies, in Sweden ³, China ⁴, France ⁵ and The Netherlands⁷, have recently reported the same finding – that you need both sufficient B vitamins and omega-3. This discovery explains why some earlier trials failed. But B vitamins and omega-3 are but two out of eight effective ways to protect your brain. Others are sugar, antioxidant rich fruit and veg, vitamin D, exercise, cognitive stimulation, gut health, sleep and stress.⁷ Having a high blood sugar level from age 35 predicts Alzheimer’s risk.⁸ Being diabetic or having high insulin levels, which is a consequence of eating too many refined sugar and carbs, doubles risk.⁹ Having a high carb intake is associated with increasing amyloid plaques in the brain – so why not tackle the upstream causes? One study reported that “Those who ate the healthiest diet had an 88% decreased risk of developing dementia and a 92% decreased risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.”¹⁰ Increasing lean muscle mass with resistance exercise is associated with better cognitive function and brain volume.¹¹

The charity foodforthebrain.org have a free, validated online Cognitive Function Test, followed by a Dementia Risk Index questionnaire, that not only measures your cognitive function, but also shows you exactly what your risk is and how to reduce it by targeting your ‘weakest links’ in these eight known prevention steps.

REFERENCES

1. Jernerén F, Elshorbagy AK, Oulhaj A, Smith SM, Refsum H, Smith AD. Brain atrophy in cognitively impaired elderly: the importance of long-chain ω-3 fatty acids and B vitamin status in a randomized controlled trial. Am J Clin Nutr. 2015 Jul;102(1):215-21. doi: 10.3945/ajcn.114.103283. Epub 2015 Apr 15. PMID: 25877495.
2. Oulhaj A, Jernerén F, Refsum H, Smith AD, de Jager CA. Omega-3 Fatty Acid Status Enhances the Prevention of Cognitive Decline by B Vitamins in Mild Cognitive Impairment. J Alzheimers Dis. 2016;50(2):547-57. doi: 10.3233/JAD-150777. PMID: 26757190; PMCID: PMC4927899.
3. Jernerén F, Cederholm T, Refsum H, Smith AD, Turner C, Palmblad J, Eriksdotter M, Hjorth E, Faxen-Irving G, Wahlund LO, Schultzberg M, Basun H, Freund-Levi Y. Homocysteine Status Modifies the Treatment Effect of Omega-3 Fatty Acids on Cognition in a Randomized Clinical Trial in Mild to Moderate Alzheimer’s Disease: The OmegAD Study. J Alzheimers Dis. 2019;69(1):189-197. doi: 10.3233/JAD-181148. PMID: 30958356.
4. Li M, Li W, Gao Y, Chen Y, Bai D, Weng J, Du Y, Ma F, Wang X, Liu H, Huang G. Effect of folic acid combined with docosahexaenoic acid intervention on mild cognitive impairment in elderly: a randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Eur J Nutr. 2021 Jun;60(4):1795-1808. doi: 10.1007/s00394-020-02373-3. Epub 2020 Aug 28. PMID: 32856190.
5. Maltais M, de Souto Barreto P, Bowman GL, Smith AD, Cantet C, Andrieu S, Rolland Y. Omega-3 Supplementation for the Prevention of Cognitive Decline in Older Adults: Does It Depend on Homocysteine Levels? J Nutr Health Aging. 2022;26(6):615-620. doi: 10.1007/s12603-022-1809-5. PMID: 35718871.
6. van Soest APM, van de Rest O, Witkamp RF, Cederholm T, de Groot LCPGM. DHA status influences effects of B-vitamin supplementation on cognitive ageing: a post-hoc analysis of the B-proof trial. Eur J Nutr. 2022 Jun 15. doi: 10.1007/s00394-022-02924-w. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 35704085.
7. https://foodforthebrain.org/8-ways-to-upgrade-your-brain/
8. Zhang X, Tong T, Chang A, Ang TFA, Tao Q, Auerbach S, Devine S, Qiu WQ, Mez J, Massaro J, Lunetta KL, Au R, Farrer LA. Midlife lipid and glucose levels are associated with Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimers Dement. 2022 Mar 23. doi: 10.1002/alz.12641. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 35319157.
9. https://foodforthebrain.org/is-sugar-killing-your-brain/
10. Eskelinen MH, Ngandu T, Tuomilehto J, Soininen H, Kivipelto M. Midlife healthy-diet index and late-life dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Dement Geriatr Cogn Dis Extra. 2011 Jan;1(1):103-12. doi: 10.1159/000327518. Epub 2011 Apr 27. PMID: 22163237; PMCID: PMC3199886.
11. https://foodforthebrain.org/exercise-and-keep-physically-active/