Alzhimers
Although there is no strong evidence that any way of life change can avoid Alzhimers disease, studies recommend that certain behaviors may help protect against mental decline. In particular, medications and lifestyle choices that keep the heart may be of specific importance. A variety of preventive drugs are under research, including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory therapies. How you suppose that the drug can be as healing for people with Alzhimers? But this factual reality! Believe it or not..Let’s start with first ways to prevent Alhimers Disease
1) Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) as Prevention
In 2004, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) halted a large clinical trial that was investigating the use of anti-inflammatory drugs in preventing Alzhimers disease. While previous data had confirmed that NSAIDs were not helpful in treating AD (refer to Alzhimers Disease), research continued to explore these drugs' potential preventive benefits.
The Alzheimer's Disease Anti-Inflammatory Prevention Trial (ADAPT) investigated whether long-term use of naproxen (Aleve) or celecoxib (Celebrex) could decrease the risk of developing AD. The NIH suspended this trial due to evidence that the NSAID naproxen was associated with increased incidence of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events among participants. (The evidence is not uniform; other research has not concerned naproxen as a cardiovascular risk.) No adverse effects appeared during this trial for the COX-2 inhibitor celecoxib. However, safety concerns about this drug had been raised in other trials. Investigators did not consider that celecoxib's potential benefits outweighed its risks.
2) Heart-Protective Medications and Behaviors
The same lifestyle and medical choices that reduce risk factors for heart disease and diabetes may be important for reducing the risk for Alzheimer's disease. The following are some heart-protective medications that may also protect the brain.
Blood Pressure Drugs. Because high blood pressure is associated with increased risk of Alzheimer’s, researchers have been studying whether blood pressure medication can reduce this risk. In a 2006 study of patients who took high blood pressure drugs, researchers found that potassium-sparing diuretics reduced the risk of developing Alzheimer’s by 70%. Beta-blockers and certain calcium channel blockers also helped to a lesser extent. ACE inhibitors appeared to offer no protection.
Statins. Statins are common drugs used to lower cholesterol levels. In past years, a number of studies reported a significantly lower risk for Alzheimer's disease in patients who took statins. However, newer studies have failed to prove that statins can help prevent Alzheimer's disease. In these recent studies, large numbers of elderly people had their dementia evaluated at baseline and then monitored over several years. The results indicated that statin use did not predict onset of AD. In the meantime, the NIH is conducting a clinical trial to investigate whether simvastatin can slow the progression of Alzhimers Disease.
Male and Female Hormone Replacement Therapies
Hormone Replacement Therapy. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) has been studied for years for health effects after menopause, including its effect on mental decline. A number of studies, including a major 2003 analysis, have found no differences in mental performance and no protection from Alzhimers disease in women taking HRT compared to non-users. The 2003 trial, called the Women's Health Initiative Memory Study (WHIMS), enrolled 4,500 women over 65 years of age. The WHIMS study showed that older postmenopausal women who took combination HRT (estrogen plus progestin) had twice the risk of developing dementia than similarly aged women who received placebo pills. In addition to increasing the risk for dementia, (including Alzhimers disease), combination HRT failed to prevent the development of mild cognitive impairment. Based on these results, the researchers from the National Institute on Aging (NIA) recommended against prescribing combination hormone therapy to older women for maintaining or improving cognitive function. The NIA continued to research whether estrogens-only therapy could prevent or delay the onset of Alzheimer's disease. Results released in 2004 indicated that women ages 65 years and older who took estrogens-only HRT had a slightly increased risk of developing dementia.
Testosterone. Some testosterone converts to estrogen, which may be why older men appear to have a lower risk for Alzheimer's disease than older women. Animal studies have suggested that testosterone may help reduce levels of beta amyloid. There is also some evidence that low testosterone levels may be a particular risk factor in men with the APOE4 gene. Some experts believe that giving testosterone to elderly men and combinations of testosterone and estrogen to older women may prove to be protective. Side effects of testosterone in women include increased body hair, acne, fluid retention, anxiety, and depression. Long term benefits or serious adverse effects are unknown.
DHEA. Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is a male-like hormone in the body that declines with age. Some evidence suggests that it may help reduce mental decline in older women, but not in older men. Studies are under way. The hormone may, however, reduce HDL (the so-called good cholesterol) when taken in higher doses and its effect on cancer-cell growth is unknown. Some evidence indicates that high levels may increase cancer risk. In any case, DHEA is not regulated and brands vary widely in their content.
We will be continue in our next lesson that include Dietary Factors and other Health Behaviours......
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Alzhimers
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