Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Having cut way down on carbs, I was glad to read in today's story in Forbes that low-carbing is one of the ways to stave off Alzheimer's disease. Unfortunately, the author of "The Anti-Alzheimer's Prescription" also ties hot flashes and estrogen depletion to memory loss. Still, the story's worth a once-over...
I'll try to snag a review copy of Dr. Vincent Fortanasce's book, and an interview with the good doctor himself, but in the meantime, here are the highlights:
Too much tofu can increase the risk of dementia in old age. (Who knew?)
Cut back on carbs. "Bad carbs" (the white stuff, mostly - potatoes, bread, white rice...) cause your insulin levels to spike, causing an insuling-degrading enzyme in your brain to spend itself out removing the insulin, rather than toxic proteins that contribute to Alzheimer's disease.
Hot flashes, bad. The more flashes you have, the less you tend to remember names, places and other vital information.
Don't smoke, period. It's almost as bad for your brain as it is for your lungs.
Cholesterol-lowering statin drugs have been shown to lower insulin levels in the brain and thus help prevent dementia. Look for more research on this soon.
Memory loss could be a sign of thyroid problems. Have yours checked out to be sure.
Depression, anxiety and chronic pain conditions are all major disrupters of attention and memory.
Tuna or other high omega-3 fatty acid fish, eaten three times a week, does your body - and brain - good.
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