A group of world-leading brain health scientists has come together to launch Alzheimer’s Prevention Day. Taking place on May 15th the day aims to raise awareness of the scientifically proven ways Alzheimer’s can be prevented.
If you ask the average person what causes Alzheimer’s they’ll probably say ‘it’s in the genes’. In reality, only about one in a hundred cases are caused by genes.
“It may be possible to prevent up to 80% of dementia cases if all known risk factors, including homocysteine lowering B vitamins and omega-3, found in oily fish, were targeted.” says China’s leading prevention expert Professor Jin-Tai Yu from Fudan University in Shanghai.
“With no clinically effective drugs, and minimal role of genes our focus must be on making diet and lifestyle changes that reduce risk of developing dementia.” says Professor David Smith, former Deputy Head of the University of Oxford’s Medical Science division. His research has shown up to 73 percent less brain shrinkage in those given B vitamin supplements with sufficient omega-3.
Josh Miller, Professor of Nutritional Science at Rutgers University, New Jersey agrees: “We could certainly prevent a significant percentage of dementia cases if all known nutrition-related risk factors were targeted.”
They are members of an expert group of 30 world leading brain health scientists across the US, UK, China and Japan, who are launching Alzheimer’s Prevention Day on May 15th with a website https://alzheimersprevention.
“I watch my sugar intake. Fructose, high in fruit juice and hidden in so many processed foods, is a primary driver of Alzheimer’s. If you want to prevent Alzheimer’s save your sugar for dessert.” says Dr Robert Lustig, Emeritus Professor of pediatrics from the University of California.
Harvard-trained psychiatrist Dr Georgia Ede also recommends cutting carbohydrates. “Alzheimer’s is sometimes called ‘type 3 diabetes’ because 80% of cases show insulin resistance, which makes it difficult for the brain to use carbohydrate for energy. A ketogenic diet improves insulin resistance and generates ketones from fat to help energize the brain.” she says.
Canada’s Professor Stephen Cunnane’s research has shown that in people at the start of Alzheimer disease, the cognitive benefits of a ketogenic drink are directly due to better energy levels in the brain.
“In the US 61 million people binge drink. Heavy alcohol use is the strongest modifiable risk factor for developing early dementia.” says psychiatrist Dr Chris Palmer also from Harvard Medical School.
Like Professor David Smith from Oxford, prevention expert Dr Atsuo Yanagisawa from Japan, eats fish and supplements B12 every day.
Dr Bill Harris, leading expert in omega-3 says “I supplement omega-3 and eat the ‘smash’ fish (Salmon, Mackerel, either Anchovies or Albacore tuna, Sardines, Herring) high in omega-3. My advice is to get your omega-3 index up into the healthy zone and keep it there.”
“An active lifestyle is a key prevention step for Alzheimer’s. In particular, improving muscle mass and strength is strongly linked to less dementia risk and better brain health, with significant benefits even if we start exercising later in life.” says Tommy Wood, assistant professor of neuroscience at the University of Washington. “Getting enough sleep is also essential to help the brain recover.”
New York Times best-selling author and neurologist Dr David Perlmutter points out that “By virtue of the simple lifestyle choices we make on a daily basis, we are the architects of our brain’s destiny. This is true empowerment.”
Each expert has recorded a 3- minute film of a single action anyone can take to prevent Alzheimer’s. The website https://alzheimersprevention.
“Alzheimer’s takes several decades to develop and we largely know what’s driving it.” says Patrick Holford from the prevention charity foodforthebrain.org which is spear-heading the campaign. “We need to change the paradigm towards making prevention a reality. That’s what Alzheimer’s Prevention Day is all about.”
The experts supporting and advising this initiative are:
Professor Emeritus Robert Lustig, paediatrics and nutrition, University of California
Professor Emeritus David Smith, pharmacology, University of Oxford
Professor Michael Crawford, Institute of brain Chemistry and Human Nutrition, Imperial College, London.
Professor Stephen Cunnane, ketotherapeutics, Usherbrook University, Canada
Professor Peter Garrard, neurologist, Neuroscience and Cell Biology Research Institute at St George’s, London, UK
Professor Jin Tai Yu, Director of the Institute of Neurology, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
Professor William Harris, founder of the Fatty Acid Research Institute, USA
Professor Richard Johnson MD, University of Colorado
Professor Josh Miller, Chair of Department of Nutritional Sciences, Rutgers University
Associate Professor David Vauzour, molecular nutrition, Norwich Medical School
Assistant Professor Christopher Palmer MD, psychiatry, Harvard Medical School
Assistant Professor Tommy Wood, paediatrics and neuroscience, University of Washington
Dr David Perlmutter MD, neurologist and New York Times bestselling author
Dr Dale Bredesen MD, Buck Institute for Research on Aging and adjunct professor at UCSF.
Dr Umadevi Naidoo MD, nutritional psychiatry, Harvard Medical School faculty member
Dr Georgia Ede MD, nutritional and metabolic psychiatry
Dr Sara Gottfried, MD
Dr Hyla Cass MD, psychiatry, retired assistant clinical professor, UCLA
Assistant Clinical Professor James Greenblatt MD, Tufts University School of Medicine
Dr Sabine Donnai, medicine, founder of Viavi
Dr Josh Turknett MD, neurology, founder of Brainjo
Dr Atsuo Yanagisawa MD, founder of the Japanese Society of Orthomolecular Medicine
Dr Andrew McCaddon, former GP and researcher
Dr Rhonda Patrick PhD, biomedical science, founder of FoundMyFitness
Dr Simon Dyall PhD, nutritional neuroscientist, University of Roehampton.
Louisa Nicola, neurophysiologist, founder of Neuro Athletics
Patrick Holford, nutrition and psychology, founder of FoodfortheBrain.org
