Dementia

If you have a family history of dementia, there are some simple ways you may be able to delay the onset of your own dementia, this protocol should only be used after discussion with your doctor:

Diet Lifestyle & over the counter preparations:

Gingko ( 2000-3000mg/day)

Vitamin E ( natural is best with alpha and gamma components) 200 IU/day

Sage Oil - there is a rediscovery that indicates Sage may help prevent dementia, this was known in ancient herb manuals and appears to be regaining credence.

Diet high in fresh fruit & vegetables ( five serves per day). Blueberries and strawberries should be prominent in this diet.

High soy and fish diet with low saturated fat and little transaminases. (high dose concentrated soy tablets are available - the more isoflavones the better, fish oil ideal dose is 3000mg/day)

Keep mentally active - read , puzzles, crosswords, talk to people, do a course.

Have regular medical check ups - have your doctor check your thyroid, vitamin B12 and red cell folate levels and check for chronic urine infection in the elderly.

Keep your cholesterol and homocysteine levels low

Do not smoke or drink to excess.

Prescription Medications:

HRT has been shown to delay Alzheimers disease; avoid long term synthetic combined preparations, and you need to weigh the risk of possible increases in breast cancer, thrombosis and heart disease especially with Premarin and Provera. Bio identical HRT is the way to go.

Testosterone replacement in men & women may significantly boost mental function.

Non steroidal anti-inflamatory medications have been shown to delay dementia in women; This has been shown with Indocid (indomethacin) but is probably a class effect. The newer Cox-2 inhibitors may also have this effect especially if they cross the blood brain barrier ( Mobic appears to cross the blood brain barrier at least in rats; Celebrex probably doesn't and thus theoretically may be less effective) . These medications may be associated with an increase risk of gastric and GIT bleeding, so these risks must be weighed up before use. They should always be taken with food.