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Is Alzheimer's then a necessary end part of all of our lives? Why
does it attack some people and not others?
The brain cells get filled with plastic Amyloid, but is this always
the case?
Reduction of circulation through atrophy of ageing blood vessels and
atherosclerosis could be a contributory factor.
Diet? For the last fifty years the medical profession, beginning at
the top, has been guilty of promoting as beneficial, margarine, a
substitute food made from industrial grease, and processed dehydrogenated
vegetable oils used for cooking and which form the cheaper ingredients in
much commercially prepared food. Are these useless Trans-fats beneficial?
Or are they contributory to those Amyloid plaques in the brain? A few
physicians those fifty years ago did warn us against these.
Economy has encouraged households to buy prepared foods containng
many "ersatz" ingredients of unknown provenance and food value, discreetly
hidden in the smallest print on small labels as though already guilty of a
misdemeanour. Their Omega-6 content does not satisfy appetites and only
increases hunger.
Have our elderly patients always been fed with the best quality
foods? One wonders indeed if in old persons' homes it is the kitchen which
benefits from the butter, the cream and full cream milk. Brown sugar and
honey are better than those refined white grains.
The elderly must also have something constructive and practical to
exercise their minds and hands. Some fifty and more years ago when the NHS
was in its infancy the old persons' homes had the men and women
segregated. Though there were well-tended gardens, the men who were fit
were not allowed to work in them. The womenfolk were not allowed to help
in the kitchen or do any dish-washing, sewing or mending or help in any
way.
They had to be passive recipients of "Socialist Care" and sit
watching TV in a Parker Knowle chair.
That passivity is the beginning of the end. The little brain cells go
unused. There must be books and magazines to be read, and seen to be read,
questioned and discussed, opinions sought. Television should be minimal
and in a separate room. It usually burbles on with no-one watching or
listening as the inmates doze in their chairs. Better for someone to read
aloud to those who cannot see. Something active. The faculties of the
imagination must be stimulated and past memories recalled before those
brain cells die. Radio stories are far better than those supplied on a
screen. A weekly film show might produce more stimulation.
Diet-wise, it is important to see that the best fats are available
from organic cows, pigs and chickens. That essential fat "Myelin" is the
main component of brain cells so should be well-sourced.
Myelin is formed only with the great assistance of Vitamin B.12. This
Vitamin B.12 is formed from the combination of an "extrinsic factor" found
in good red meat and liver, and an "intrinsic factor" occurring in gastric
juice. So many medicines today inhibit the formation of gastric juice, one
thinks of Losec and Tagamet and other H2 -receptor antagonists. and there
will be others in the multiple prescriptions the elderly are persuaded are
"good for them". One tablet might counteract the benefit from another. It
takes time to find out. Should the elderly have a smaller adult dose?
Prescriptions must be reviewed often and "repeat prescriptions" not
allowed. Vitamin B.12 must be given by intramuscular injection as it is
useless when given by mouth.
Turmeric, the Indian spice, is reckoned to be good in preventing
Alzheimer's since few in India suffer from that condition. Generally
speaking they may not live long enough into an age when it occurs. On the
other hand, the majority have to keep busy and lead an active life and
create their own food daily.
Check then on Haemoglobin, and the Homocysteine level in case Folic
Acid has to be topped up. It is known that those who suffer from
Alzheimer's have a low Folic Acid.
The loss of a partner removes the need to contiue a daily routine,
and so slackness and laziness creep in. Why bother to cook a meal for
oneself? There is now in many parts of the country an excellent "home-
caring system" where the elderly are left in their own homes and "carers"
will call in at specified times of the day. Apart from someone there all
the time this cannot be bettered.
It boils down to "active" activity, not passivity. Better to get up
and "go to the cinema" in another room rather than have the film brought
to one's arm-chair. And have a superior diet of fresh green salads and
vegetables, including nutritious fresh free-range eggs, double cream, farm
butter, fresh fish, iced-cream made from dairy products and not vegetable
oils. Eliminate from the diet all white sugar, and those Trans-fats and
oils sourced from the much-lauded and advertised processed dehydrogenated
vegetable seeds. Add on Turmeric, Folic Acid and injections of Vitamin
B.12 monthly after an initial loading over the first month.
They say if you add an atom of Hydrogen to margarine you get Plastic!
"What I learned from Mom".
Is Alzheimer's then a necessary end part of all of our lives? Why
does it attack some people and not others?
The brain cells get filled with plastic Amyloid, but is this always
the case?
Reduction of circulation through atrophy of ageing blood vessels and
atherosclerosis could be a contributory factor.
Diet? For the last fifty years the medical profession, beginning at
the top, has been guilty of promoting as beneficial, margarine, a
substitute food made from industrial grease, and processed dehydrogenated
vegetable oils used for cooking and which form the cheaper ingredients in
much commercially prepared food. Are these useless Trans-fats beneficial?
Or are they contributory to those Amyloid plaques in the brain? A few
physicians those fifty years ago did warn us against these.
Economy has encouraged households to buy prepared foods containng
many "ersatz" ingredients of unknown provenance and food value, discreetly
hidden in the smallest print on small labels as though already guilty of a
misdemeanour. Their Omega-6 content does not satisfy appetites and only
increases hunger.
Have our elderly patients always been fed with the best quality
foods? One wonders indeed if in old persons' homes it is the kitchen which
benefits from the butter, the cream and full cream milk. Brown sugar and
honey are better than those refined white grains.
The elderly must also have something constructive and practical to
exercise their minds and hands. Some fifty and more years ago when the NHS
was in its infancy the old persons' homes had the men and women
segregated. Though there were well-tended gardens, the men who were fit
were not allowed to work in them. The womenfolk were not allowed to help
in the kitchen or do any dish-washing, sewing or mending or help in any
way.
They had to be passive recipients of "Socialist Care" and sit
watching TV in a Parker Knowle chair.
That passivity is the beginning of the end. The little brain cells go
unused. There must be books and magazines to be read, and seen to be read,
questioned and discussed, opinions sought. Television should be minimal
and in a separate room. It usually burbles on with no-one watching or
listening as the inmates doze in their chairs. Better for someone to read
aloud to those who cannot see. Something active. The faculties of the
imagination must be stimulated and past memories recalled before those
brain cells die. Radio stories are far better than those supplied on a
screen. A weekly film show might produce more stimulation.
Diet-wise, it is important to see that the best fats are available
from organic cows, pigs and chickens. That essential fat "Myelin" is the
main component of brain cells so should be well-sourced.
Myelin is formed only with the great assistance of Vitamin B.12. This
Vitamin B.12 is formed from the combination of an "extrinsic factor" found
in good red meat and liver, and an "intrinsic factor" occurring in gastric
juice. So many medicines today inhibit the formation of gastric juice, one
thinks of Losec and Tagamet and other H2 -receptor antagonists. and there
will be others in the multiple prescriptions the elderly are persuaded are
"good for them". One tablet might counteract the benefit from another. It
takes time to find out. Should the elderly have a smaller adult dose?
Prescriptions must be reviewed often and "repeat prescriptions" not
allowed. Vitamin B.12 must be given by intramuscular injection as it is
useless when given by mouth.
Turmeric, the Indian spice, is reckoned to be good in preventing
Alzheimer's since few in India suffer from that condition. Generally
speaking they may not live long enough into an age when it occurs. On the
other hand, the majority have to keep busy and lead an active life and
create their own food daily.
Check then on Haemoglobin, and the Homocysteine level in case Folic
Acid has to be topped up. It is known that those who suffer from
Alzheimer's have a low Folic Acid.
The loss of a partner removes the need to contiue a daily routine,
and so slackness and laziness creep in. Why bother to cook a meal for
oneself? There is now in many parts of the country an excellent "home-
caring system" where the elderly are left in their own homes and "carers"
will call in at specified times of the day. Apart from someone there all
the time this cannot be bettered.
It boils down to "active" activity, not passivity. Better to get up
and "go to the cinema" in another room rather than have the film brought
to one's arm-chair. And have a superior diet of fresh green salads and
vegetables, including nutritious fresh free-range eggs, double cream, farm
butter, fresh fish, iced-cream made from dairy products and not vegetable
oils. Eliminate from the diet all white sugar, and those Trans-fats and
oils sourced from the much-lauded and advertised processed dehydrogenated
vegetable seeds. Add on Turmeric, Folic Acid and injections of Vitamin
B.12 monthly after an initial loading over the first month.
They say if you add an atom of Hydrogen to margarine you get Plastic!
Competing interests:
None declared
Competing interests: No competing interests