Polyphenols for Alzheimer’s Disease
Alzheimer’s Disease: “I have no idea where I put that thing… I must be getting old!”
How many times have you said that to yourself? We probably all have at some point. It’s kind of frightening to really think about forgetting things to the extent that we sometimes do.
If you have IBS you likely feel a lot more forgetful than the general population. Brain fog is no joke for a spoonie of any kind. It might be comforting to know that everyone does forget things (even if it doesn’t seem to happen as frequently to them as it does to you).
One of the scariest things about getting old is forgetting the things that mean the most to you. Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease seem to be viewed as part of the “normal parts of aging.”
With June being National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month, we wanted to shed some light on this myth. We want to debunk this thought that allows us to settle for getting diseases that break the hearts of the people who mean the most to us. We also want to provide you with some tips to help you avoid this devastating illness.
Basic Rundown of Alzheimer’s Disease*
You’ve probably known someone who has suffered from Alzheimer’s disease somewhere along the way. But you might not know everything that it encompasses.
First of all, Alzheimer’s disease and dementia are not synonymous, although they are commonly used in place of each other. Alzheimer’s disease is one of the leading causes of dementia, but they are not the same.
Dementia is the loss of the ability to perform normal cognitive (thinking, remembering, and reasoning) and behavioral tasks. There are several forms of dementia and people can have more than one at the same time.
Alzheimer’s disease is a neurodegenerative disease that presents with the formation of beta-amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. This pretty much means that you get messy deposits on your brain that doesn’t allow it to function or send signals properly.
You know the days that your brain fog is extra thick and the littlest tasks take the majority of your energy? That’s pretty much everyday life for those with Alzheimer’s disease. Except energy isn’t really an issue for them.
The most common symptoms that Alzheimer’s patients deal with include:
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Decline in memory
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Inability to make well-informed decisions
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Speech impairment
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Hallucinations/Delusions
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Mood swings
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Bodily dysfunction (incontinence, inability to walk, etc.)
The Infectious Aspect of Alzheimer’s Disease*
As you probably know, we at Atrantil are a gut health company. So most things we inform about pertain to gut health.
Something you may not have known is that Alzheimer’s does have microbiome disturbances, as many diseases do.
You know how your doctor told you when you were diagnosed with IBS that sometimes it’s because of a previous infection that IBS symptoms were triggered? This is one of the reasons that Alzheimer’s seems to be ignited as well.
Bacterial, viral, and microbial infections can be a precursor to Alzheimer’s disease. The same systemic inflammatory response that may be responsible for your IBS could be one of the initiating circumstances of Alzheimer’s disease as well.
The systemic inflammatory response causes inflammation throughout the body — including the brain. This brain inflammation can lead to cognitive decline and the beginning of beta-amyloid plaque build-up.
The Microbiome and Alzheimer’s Disease*
So now that we know that infections can be a potential origin of Alzheimer’s disease let’s talk about how the microbiome is linked to that.
Systemic inflammation always seems to lead to dysbiosis and that isn’t any different when it comes to Alzheimer’s disease.
It has been shown in studies that in elderly Alzheimer patients that anti-inflammatory bacteria types like E. rectale and B. fragilis are relatively low. While inflammation-inducing bacteria types like Escherichia and Shigella are abnormally high in this same group.
Certain diets have been proven to help with Alzheimer’s disease. The top three that seem to help include:
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The MIND Diet — specifically created for Alzheimer’s disease
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The Mediterranean Diet — high in plant products and whole grains and low in unhealthy fats
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The DASH Diet — originally created for high blood pressure also seems to help
All three of these diets have a commonality and that’s that they’re all high in plant products meaning they’re crammed with polyphenols!
The prebiotic effects that polyphenols have release short-chain fatty acids(SCFA) to help our bodies repair themselves.
Polyphenols and Alzheimer’s Disease*
We know polyphenols are serious powerhouses when it comes to our health. They help with a multitude of tasks ranging from anti-aging to free radical disposal. They’re little superheroes fighting the horrible things our bodies are exposed to.
Polyphenols have been found to slow down the progression of Alzheimer’s disease and potentially protect those who are at high risk of getting it.
Some of the most potent polyphenols for Alzheimer’s disease include resveratrol (found in wine — you’re welcome), ECGC (found in tea), and curcumin (found in turmeric). All of these polyphenols helped to prevent and reduce neuroinflammation that is commonly seen with Alzheimer’s disease.
Berries are a fantastic source of flavonols (another polyphenol). They help to improve the function of neurons (nerve cells) and reduce the decline in learning and memory capabilities in the aged brain.
Some other foods that are extremely high in polyphenols and are found in the diets that specifically help Alzheimer’s patients include:
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Olives/Olive oil
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Nuts
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Seeds
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Green, leafy vegetables
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Beans
Protecting your brain health from devastating diseases like Alzheimer’s disease is so important. Eating a healthy, well-balanced diet can help you to achieve that goal.
Starting with what you eat, you change your gut microbes and help to promote body health by fighting systemic inflammation. Focus on getting plant-based foods in your diet, cutting unhealthy fats, and exercising regularly and you’re on the right track to avoid terrible diseases like Alzheimer’s and cancer.
Atrantil is a great source of polyphenols if you don’t feel like you’re getting enough in your diet. It helps to nourish your microbiome and keep your bacteria happy and balanced. The polyphenols in Atrantil are also an excellent way to help reduce inflammation all throughout your body.
We are not claiming that Atrantil will prevent or reverse Alzheimer’s disease, and you should always consult with your physician before adding new supplements to your routine. However, Atrantil is a great way to help improve your overall body health especially those who experience dysbiosis.
What ways do you intend to incorporate more polyphenols in your diet? Let us know in the comments section below!
https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/alzheimers-disease-fact-sheet
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29233677/?from_term=polyphenols+for+alzheimer%27s+disease&from_pos=8
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2896035/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25681666/?from_term=MIND+diet&from_pos=2
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28427563/?from_term=polyphenols+and+alzheimer%27s+disease&from_pos=3