A new study has suggested that a history of concussion involving at least a momentary loss of consciousness could be related to the onset of Alzheimer's-associated plaques in the brain.
Study author Michelle Mielke, PhD, with Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, said that in people with a history of concussion, a difference in the amount of brain plaques was found only in those with memory and thinking problems, not in those who were cognitively normal.
For the study, people from Olmsted County in Minnesota were given brain scans; these included 448 people without any signs of memory problems and 141 people with memory and thinking problems called mild cognitive impairment.
Participants, who were all age 70 or older, were also asked about whether they had ever experienced a brain injury that involved any loss of consciousness or memory.
Of the 448 people without any thinking or memory problems, 17 percent reported a brain injury and 18 percent of the 141 with memory and thinking difficulties reported a concussion or head trauma.
The study found no difference in any brain scan measures among the people without memory and thinking impairments, whether or not they had head trauma.
However, people with memory and thinking impairments and a history of head trauma had levels of amyloid plaques an average of 18 percent higher than those with no head trauma history.
The research has been published online in journal Neurology.
Spinach: In a new study, researchers have discovered that the serum-concentration of the antioxidants vitamin C and beta-carotene are significantly lower in patients with mild dementia than in control persons.
Their findings suggest that antioxidant rich fruit and vegetables like spinach, carrots and apricots could help fight the disease's devastating symptoms. It might thus be possible to influence the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's Disease (AD) by a person's diet or dietary antioxidants. Berries: According to a study berries seem to promote autophagy, the brain's natural housekeeping mechanism, thereby reducing the toxic accumulation.The protective effect of berries against inflammation has been documented in many studies. Diets supplemented with blueberries and strawberries have also been shown to improve behavior and cognitive functions in stressed young rats.Walnuts: Eating walnuts everyday can help, say scientists. In the study, Dr. Abha Chauhan and his team from the New York State Institute found that mice deprived of walnuts suffered a dramatic loss in learning, memory and physical and emotional control.“Walnuts may have a beneficial effect in reducing the risk, delaying the onset or slowing the progression of Alzheimer’s disease,” the Daily Express quoted Chauhan as saying. According to the results, vitamin E and flavanoids in walnuts helped destroy harmful free radical chemicals that cause dementia.Coffee: A cup of strong coffee a day could protect against Alzheimer's disease, a research has found. A daily dose of caffeine blocks the disruptive effects of high cholesterol that scientists have linked to Alzheimer’s disease, earlier studies have shown.The current study, by researchers at the University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences, has found that caffeine equivalent to just one cup of coffee a day could protect the blood-brain barrier (BBB) from damage that occurred with a high-fat diet.Omega 3: Consumption of foods that contain omega-3 fatty acids, such as fish, chicken, salad dressing and nuts, may lead to lower blood levels of a protein related to Alzheimer's disease and memory problems, a study has suggested.The study found that the more omega-3 fatty acids a person took in, the lower their blood beta-amyloid levels. Consuming one gram of omega-3 per day (equal to approximately half a fillet of salmon per week) more than the average omega-3 consumed by people in the study is associated with 20 to 30 percent lower blood beta-amyloid levels.Chocolate: Regular intake of chocolate could help protect against Alzheimer's disease, according to an expert. Dr Robert Williams, a biochemist at Kings College London, says that chocolate contain chemicals called flavonoids that may also help existing dementia sufferers. Flavonoids are naturally occurring antioxidants, which help beat cancer and the ageing process by protecting cells from damage. They also mop up potentially harmful oxygen molecules in the body. New research is emerging that suggests flavonoids do not act only as antioxidants but exert their effects in other ways. Red Grape Seeds: A study has found that red grape seeds extract may offer a new treatment option for Alzheimer's patients. Researchers from Mount Sinai School of Medicine have found that a compound known as polyphenolics derived from red grape seeds may be useful agents to prevent or treat Alzheimer’s disease.Scientists believe that the new find would help in developing ‘wine mimetic pills’ that would replace the recommended beneficial glass of red wine a day for AD prevention.Turmeric: A study has revealed that supplements derived from apple skins, red wine and turmeric might someday help slow the onset and progression of Alzheimer’s and related diseases. In scientists’ view, a group of chemicals called type-2 alkenes, which are widespread in both the environment and the brains of Alzheimer’s patients, act as major drivers of the disease.The researchers drew inspiration from a group of well-studied chemicals made by some plants, including resveratrol in grapes, curcumin in tumeric, and phloretin in apple skins. These compounds, which are all similar in chemical structure, have promising characteristics, but the human body does not easily absorb them, and they can be toxic at very high doses.
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