Diet, Genetics and Alzheimers - Can Heredity Be Controlled?

We all know what it's like dealing with someone whose brain is not ticking over well.  The experience  becomes a true and painful reality check when that person is your own mother or father, and you can't help wondering how long before this thing nails you, too.

The whole issue of causation in dementia and Alzheimers has been much on my mind of late.  Including that big million dollar question - are the dementia diseases genetic or dietary in origin?  Is this all down to the genes or does diet have a role to play here?

I've looked at my mother's family - she had an aunt who used to wander off down the street and get lost, a father with gout, a younger sister with rheumatoid arthritis  - and I've thought, "What hope is there for me?"

As I research and read it becomes more and more clear though that while genetics may provide a predisposition towards certain illnesses, diet has the major role to play.  So take courage, caregivers, and prepare to fight back!

There is hope - if you know the causative factors, and are prepared to do whatever it takes to deal with them.  A recent article on Dr Mercola's website confirmed a big question-mark that's been flashing in my brain recently.  Read on!

Dr Mercola has just reported that recent research has been showing an overlap between the psychological and behavioral symptoms of ADHD and those of coeliac disease. On top of that is a new study which found people with ADHD who tested positive for celiac disease improved significantly after following a gluten-free diet for at least six months.

He states:

It may sound strange to you that eating a grain that wreaks havoc on your gut would manifest as symptoms related to your brain, rather than your digestion, but grains are inherently pro-inflammatory and will worsen any condition that has chronic inflammation at its root -- and not just inflammation in your gut, but anywhere in your body. Chronic inflammation in your body can wreak havoc in your brain, and the importance of reducing inflammation when dealing with mental health issues is well known. It is very common for people to experience a wide variety of mental health and emotional improvements upon eliminating gluten from their diet.

Now, if there's one thing dementia, gout, rheumatoid arthritis and Alzheimers have in common, it's the "inflammatory" factor.   Light begins to dawn ...

More next time.
Patricia

Picking Up the Threads

I would like to apologise to everyone who has been reading this blog for the long silence. I realise it is well over a year since I last posted.

My mom passed away on 23 February 2007, after several difficult months for both of us, and now I'm picking up the threads of my life..... I'd like to carry on with this though, because I realise from your comments that it struck a chord with quite a few people, and if it can be of any help to others, then the effort has been worthwhile.

At the time I last posted, I already had some entries prepared ahead, because I'd been writing things down as they occurred to me in advance, so what I'll do is carry on from my last post, and when that's up to date, then I'll finish the story and gather my thoughts.

I'd just like to say that my mom's passing brought to me an incredible peace. I haven't grieved in any distraught sense of the word, and while I feel a little ashamed of this, a friend hit the nail on the head when she said, "Well, you probably did all your grieving over the last 10 years." That would be oh so true.

In the next few days, I'll carry on with the story.

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