There is strong evidence that the Western-pattern diet increases your risk of Alzheimer’s disease. When the Western diet became popular in Japan, the rate of Alzheimer’s rose from 1 to 7 percent in a little under twenty-five years. It is now estimated that every citizen of the United States has a 4 percent chance of developing Alzheimer’s. That’s downright scary.
Meat, or the saturated fat in meat, is believed to be a major culprit, alongside trans fat and sugar. Saturated fats raise the level of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in the blood. LDL cholesterol is not only bad for the heart, but it’s also terrible for the brain. Cholesterol and fat, researchers think, speed up the formation of plaque in the brain, which may cause the damage associated with Alzheimer’s. A study in Annals of Neurology tested the cognitive functioning of female subjects with various diets. Those who consumed the most saturated fats performed worse on exams.
Exercise, smoking cessation and weight loss also reduce the risks, and there are quite a few dietary approaches too. Doctors have recommended the Mediterranean diet because it is low in red meat and eggs but high in fish, vegetables, fruits, legumes, whole grains and olive oil. This diet doesn’t combat the disease directly, but instead protects the blood vessels. Heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes are all risk factors, so a balanced
diet provides holistic protection.
Vitamin K along with other nutrients like lutein—found in ample amounts in AIM products like BarleyLife, GinkgoSense and LeafGreens— have been shown to slow rates of cognitive decline, according to a 2015 report by the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology. They examined nearly 1,000 elderly adults for a five-year period and found that those who consumed two servings of vegetables daily had the cognitive ability of a person eleven years younger than those who consumed none! The researchers believe that vitamin K, folate, beta-carotene and lutein were likely responsible for the benefits.
Ginkgo biloba, like that found in AIM’s GinkgoSense, has been used in Europe to treat dementia because it may protect nerve cells damaged by Alzheimer’s. Other research indicates ginkgo’s positive effects on memory and thinking in those afflicted with either Alzheimer’s or dementia. Ginkgo has also been proven effective at improving blood flow, which affects overall health. See how the AIM products can help you reduce your risk of Alzheimer’s and dementia.
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