Guest guest Posted January 10, 2007 Report Share Posted January 10, 2007 U appreciate you posting this, GB. I joke about my high chances of getting Alzheimers since both my grannies and an aunt all suffered from dementia, but I've been so forgetful recently I was getting rather worried. I shall be sure to get myself some apples, blueberries and apple juice tomorrow. Christie , " Guru K " <greatyoga wrote: > > An Apple a Day Keeps Alzheimer's Away > Courtesy : Daily Health News. > > Until recently, it was generally assumed that fate determined who > developed Alzheimer's disease (AD) and there was no way to change it. > But evidence is mounting that, as with so many other illnesses, > healthful life choices can improve the odds against AD. The latest > research is from the University of Massachusetts, Lowell, and focuses > on the impact of antioxidants and that yummy childhood standby -- > apple juice. > > In the study, mice -- some of which were susceptible to cognitive > decline -- were given one of three diets. The first was a nutritious > diet, while both the second and third were nutritionally deficient > diets. But the third diet was supplemented with apple juice -- the > equivalent of two 8-ounce glasses of pure apple juice or two to three > apples daily. Thomas B. Shea, PhD, the study's lead author, explained > to me that the poor diet was to create oxidative stress because this > would better isolate their response to apple juice. Dr. Shea, who is > the director of the University of Massachusetts, Lowell Center for > Cellular Neurobiology and Neurodegeneration Research, described the > sub-standard diet the mice had as akin to the way most people eat. > > After a month (equivalent to a year in human life), the mice were put > into a maze to test their cognitive performance. The mice on a > nutritious diet tested in the 70% to 75% correct range. Mice on a > deficient diet without apple juice performed at just 50%, but the mice > that had a poor diet and apple juice rose to the 75% level, > establishing the value of the juice. > > Further evidence: Dr. Shea says when they tested mice on apple juice > and a nutritious diet, they achieved a 90% level, higher than any he > had seen before. The researchers also found that acetylcholine, a > brain chemical, increased in mice that had apple juice compared with > those on a deficient diet without the juice. This is critical because > acetylcholine plummets in people with AD. In fact, the activity of > several current AD medications is to prevent the breakdown of > acetylcholine. > > Dr. Shea says that the value here is definitely the antioxidants in > apples, not a boost from the fruit's natural sugar. But most of these > antioxidants aren't specific to apples, he says. You can also get them > from blueberries, spinach and probably cranberries as well (though not > from diluted or sugar-sweetened cranberry juice cocktail). If you > prefer apple juice, though, be sure to get pure apple juice, not apple > juice cocktail, which is loaded with sugar and contains less juice. > For those who prefer the fruit, any kind is fine, but always eat the > skin, the richest store of antioxidants. Be sure you wash it > thoroughly before eating to reduce pesticides. > > This is extremely valuable research. It underscores the probable role > of a nutritious diet in combating the risk of AD. As Dr. Shea points > out, having a weakened form of certain genes likely increases the risk > of AD in a person. Antioxidants alone aren't powerful enough to > strengthen those genes, but having antioxidant- rich foods as part of > a sound diet appears to make a big difference in reducing risk of AD. > > Be well, > > Carole Jackson > Bottom Line's Daily Health News > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 10, 2007 Report Share Posted January 10, 2007 Christie, Both of my grandmas died of Alzheimer's also. Wait! where am I? They did this study on apples but I suspect that almost any if not all fruits and veggies have an antioxidant effect on brain cells. Also eating an alkaline diet. Cheers, GB , " christie_0131 " <christie0131 wrote: > > U appreciate you posting this, GB. I joke about my high chances of > getting Alzheimers since both my grannies and an aunt all suffered > from dementia, but I've been so forgetful recently I was getting > rather worried. I shall be sure to get myself some apples, > blueberries and apple juice tomorrow. > Christie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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