Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer’s disease currently affects about 4 million Americans and is the 8th leading cause of death, accounting for about 50,000 deaths per year in the U.S. The chance of having Alzheimer’s disease doubles every 4 to 5 years after the age of sixty. Although the risk at age 60 is low (1%), by the age of 75 this reaches almost 10%, and by age 85 between a third and half of Americans have some form of dementia (of which about 75% are the Alzheimer’s type of dementia). Estimates place the risk at about two-thirds of Americans age 90 and above.

This is particularly disturbing news for all of us, since the average American lifespan has been steadily increasing – most women will live to be over 80, and men now average over 75, which means that more than one in ten of us will develop Alzheimer’s disease in our lifetimes.

Despite the many millions of dollars being spent on Alzheimer’s research, the treatment options remain extremely disappointing. Even with earlier, more sensitive diagnostic tests, no effective therapy to has been shown to halt or reverse the disease. The four FDA-approved drugs on the market for Alzheimer’s disease (Aricept®, Exelon®, Reminyl® and the seldom-prescribed Cognex®), only marginally improve function in less than half of patients.

Because of recent research we have gained substantial insight into how, when and why Alzheimer’s disease develops. This provides tremendous ability to identify people at risk and to PREVENT Alzheimer’s from occurring. Particularly when the brain is concerned, once injury and damage has occurred it is quite difficult to reverse that damage. But we now have greater insights into what causes that injury and how to avoid it.

Last July (2002) in Stockholm, the 8th International Conference on Alzheimer’s and Related Disorders was the largest-ever gathering of researchers studying Alzheimer’s. The research results that were presented were very consistent and compelling. Researchers consistently found that the same risk factors for cardiovascular disease (heart attack and stroke) were also risks for Alzheimer’s. The same factors that lead to atherosclerosis (“hardening of the arteries”) also sharply increased the risk of Alzheimer’s. This is great news, since we already have effective means of identifying people at risk, measuring, preventing and reversing the risk factors for cardiovascular disease.

Thankfully, the same measures that protect us from heart attack and stroke are also protective from Alzheimer’s. Here is a listing of the steps we feel are most important to prevent Alzheimer’s from developing:

Keep blood pressure under control – The older prevailing wisdom of keeping blood pressure at 140/90 or below is no longer felt to be ideal. We now feel that lower blood pressure readings, even for older Americans should be targeted. Blood pressure should be no higher than 130/80. There are many means of controlling blood pressure other than medications. Maintaining a healthy weight, avoiding salt and salty foods, exercising regularly, eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables and low in saturated (animal) fat, and supplementing with calcium, magnesium and potassium-rich foods or vitamins can all help to control blood pressure.

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