Alzheimer’s Disease & Dementia

Kelsey ConrowShelby LubbersMicca HenryRachel Turley

Dementia vs Alzheimer’s Disease•Dementia is a general term for a decline

in mental ability severe enough to interfere with daily life.

•Alzheimer’s Disease is a type of dementia that causes problems with memory, thinking, and behavior.

Alzheimer’s Disease•The most common form of dementia: 50-

80% of dementia cases•Progressive disease where the symptoms

worsen over time•Symptoms become severe enough to

interfere with daily life

Who gets it?•Greatest risk factor is age.

▫Majority of people are >65 years•5% people have early onset Alzheimer’s in

their 40’s•Other risk factors: Family history &

Genetics

Causes of Dementia •Diseases that affect blood vessels•Nutritional deficiencies•Infections that affect the brain and spinal

cord•Diseases that cause degeneration or loss

of nerve cells in the brain- Alzheimer’s Disease

Early Stages of AD•Before symptoms, plaques begin to form

in brain areas involved in:▫Learning & memory▫Thinking & planning

•May begin 20 years or more before diagnosis

Mild to Moderate AD•Plaques spread to areas involved in:

▫Speaking & understanding speech▫Your sense of where your body is in relation

to objects around you•Generally last from 2 to 10 years

Severe AD•Most of the cortex is severely damaged•Brain shrinks dramatically due to cell

death•Lose ability to communicate, recognize

family, and care for themselves•May last 1-5 years

Cortex shrivels upVentricles grow larger (fluid filled spaces)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eq_Er-tqPsA

So what is the proposed underlying metabolic cause of

Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease?

Metabolic•Aging is the most common risk factor for

the development of neurodegenerative disease.

•Oxidative stress may also contribute to the pathophysiology of neurodegenerative disorders.

•Oxidative stress may lead to mitochondrial failure and problems with the ETC.

Proposed protective mechanism

Conventional Medicines•Cholinesterase inhibitors

▫Prevent breakdown of acetylcholine a key chemical messenger for nerve cells

•Memantine▫Regulates the activity of glutamate▫All these drugs come with side effects such

as headaches, constipation, confusion and dizziness

Can we stop or delay this terrible

disease with nutrition?

Micronutrients?

Micronutrients of Interest•Vitamin D•Ginkgo biloba

Vitamin D•Fat soluble vitamin•Key micronutrient in calcium absorption

and mineral homeostasis•Vitamin D receptor (VDR) interaction also

involved in modulation of transcription•Growing evidence of VDR activity

Vitamin D•Provides an antioxidant like protection via

up regulation of glutathione•May protect the structure and integrity of

neurons via detoxification and neurotrophin synthesis

Ginkgo biloba•One of the oldest living tree species•Dried leaves used to make plant extract•Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory

properties•Protect cell membranes & regulate

neurotransmitter function

Ginkgo biloba•Amyloid beta triggers mitochondrial

dysfunction through elevation of ROS•Increased ROS can inhibit protein import

& damage cellular structures•EGb761 has antioxidant effects and targets

amyloid beta, thereby reducing ROS and preventing mitochondrial dysfunction

•Amyloid beta is the main component of amyloid plaques found in AD

Conclusion•What is the moral of the Alzheimer’s

Disease/Dementia Story?•Age and Genetics are primary

contributing factors and largely unalterable

•Key prevention seems to be a well rounded diet, plenty of key micronutrients and antioxidants

•USE YOUR BRAIN!! Learning and staying sharp provide some of the greatest protective action.

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intake is associated with lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease: a 7-year follow-up. J Gerontol 67(11):1205-1211, 2012. • (3) Bowden, J. The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth. Fair Winds Press: Singapore, 2007. pp. 267-287. • (4) Buell, JS and B Dawson-Hughes. Vitamin D and neurocognitive dysfunction: preventing “D”ecline? Mol Aspects

Med 29(6):415-422, 2008.

•  (5) Chun, S, J Liu, F Wu, DT Yew. Ginkgo biloba extract in Alzheimer’s disease: from action mechanism to medical practice. J Mol Sci 11(1): 107-123, 2010.

• (6) Mazza, M, A Capuano, P Bria, and S Mazza. Ginkgo biloba and donepezil: a comparison in the treatment of Alzheimer’s dementia in a randomized placebo-controlled double-blind study. J Neurology 13:981-985, 2006.

 • (7) Murray, M and J Pizzorno. Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine. Three Rivers Press: New York, NY, 1998. pp. 221-

232. • (8) Schaffer, S, H Asseburg, S Kuntz, WE Muller, and GP Eckert. Effects of polyphenols on brain ageing and

Alzheimer’s disease: focus on mitochondria. Mol Neurobiol 46:161-178, 2012. • (9) van Arnim, CAF, U Gola, and HK Biesalski. More than the sum of its parts? Nutrition in Alzheimer’s disease.

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