Supplements
“If it came from a plant, eat it; if it was made in a plant, don't.”
Micheal Polan
Supplements and Alzheimer's
In the diet section of this website we discussed diet and nutrition. In many ways the last chapter and this current chapter overlap. Many of the foods that I wrote about decreases your risk of an Alzheimer’s diagnosis because of the vitamins or other compounds discussed in this chapter. For example, fish and nuts are important in your fight against Alzheimer’s because of the amount of omega-3 fatty acids they contain. Many of the beneficial vitamins and compounds found in the foods we discussed can be taken in pill form to supplement whichever diet you choose.
This section will be organized similar to the last section, meaning that I’ll mostly be exploring vitamins and supplements with an emphasis on randomized clinical trials that show the ability to fight Alzheimer’s, reduce risks of dementia or improve cognition in the cognitively impaired.
Vitamins, Minerals and Other Supplements
First, vitamins will be covered. Specific vitamins are critical in your fight against Alzheimer’s. A key vitamin deficiency for the Bredesen type 2 Alzheimer’s subtype is vitamin D, but all of the vitamins will be discussed in the vitamin section below.
There are many other types of supplements that go beyond humble vitamins. Zinc, a metal and important for a variety of biological processes, is also a common supplement which is categorized as a mineral. You can supplement your diet with omega-3 rich fish oil or with other natural compounds that promote neurogenesis and have been shown to be protective against Alzheimer’s.
Some supplements can cause side-effects, however a detailed discussion of side-effects for each supplement is beyond the scope of this book. If you decide to include any of these vitamins supplements into your anti-Alzheimer’s plan, please take the time to understand the recommended dose and any potential side effects.
Alzheimer's Supplements Sections
Alzheimer's General Info:
Alzheimer’s disease is a complicated disease and scientists are still working hard on trying to figure it all out. Click below for the current understanding of Alzheimer’s disease.