Aluminum is thought to play a major role in most of the neurodegenerative diseases and has been a suspect in Alzheimer’s for many years as well as in the development of dementia, Parkinson’s, Lou Gehrig’s disease (ALS) and other degenerative diseases.
Experimental studies show that aluminum can produce all the same changes in the brain we see with Alzheimer’s disease. Most of us are exposed to dietary sources of aluminum including cookware, medications, baking powder, vaccinations, several foods (teas) and public drinking water.
Normally, people absorb very little of ingested aluminum, but recent studies have discovered that those with Down’s syndrome and Alzheimer’s disease absorb a lot more aluminum than normal.
In fact, Down’s children absorb 11 times more aluminum than is normally absorbed. Children with Down’s syndrome have the same pathological changes in their brains as those with Alzheimer’s disease. Ironically, several commonly consumed products dramatically increase the absorption of aluminum and increase its toxicity in the brain.
Fluoride, when combined with even small amounts of aluminum, produces dramatic destruction of the same brain cells that are destroyed in Alzheimer’s disease. In fact, as little as 0.5 ppm (parts per million) fluoride added to aluminum in water was found to produce extensive brain cell loss in the hippocampus, the memory part of the brain. Most water systems add 1 to 1.5 ppm fluoride and all add aluminum.
The amino acid glutamate, as found in monosodium glutamate (MSG), also increases aluminum absorption and deposition in the brain. MSG is added to most processed foods, usually under a disguised name such as hydrolyzed protein, soy extract, natural flavoring or even spices. As with fluoride, glutamate is even more destructive to brain cells when combined with aluminum.
Another surprising culprit is citric acid. Lemon juice is high in citric acid, as are most citrus fruits. Adding lemon to tea, for example, increases aluminum absorption from the tea (which contains very high aluminum levels) over sevenfold. This is why you should not add lemon to your tea.
Chemicals that remove toxic metals such as aluminum from the tissues and organs of the body, do so by a process called chelation, hence they are called chelators.
A study done in 1993 at the University of Toronto found that patients given aluminum-chelating drugs deteriorated at half the rate of those given no treatment. Recent studies have found that using aluminum chelation could reverse the pathological changes characteristic of Alzheimer’s dementia.
You can reduce your brain load of aluminum yourself by using the following supplements, also shown to significantly lower brain aluminum.
Magnesum citramate. Magnesium reduces brain levels of mercury and the citramate, a combination of citrate and malate, has been shown to significantly stimulate elimination of aluminum from the body.
Ascorbate (as magnesium or calcium ascorbate). A study found ascorbate to be a very effective chelator of aluminum, especially when the aluminum was bound to brain cell DNA. Taking higher doses of ascorbate with the magnesium citramate increased the removal of aluminum even more.
Malate. Malate was shown to be one of the more effective aluminum chelators for the brain.
Pyruvate (as calcium pyruvate). Pyruvate has been shown to effectively prevent aluminum absorption.
Flavonoids. Eat a lot of fresh vegetables. Supplements containing flavonoids, such as quercetin and hesperidin, also prevent aluminum absorption. Chlorella helps remove mercury and lead and may remove aluminum. These supplements are in addition to the antioxidant vitamins you normally take.
For example, most individuals with Alzheimer’s disease have low levels of vitamin C, beta-carotene, B1, B6, folate and vitamin B12. The latter three are particularly important, since they regulate a special series of metabolic steps in brain cells necessary for forming neurotransmitter chemicals and repairing DNA.
When these nutrients are deficient, a special chemical called homocysteine accumulates.
Recent studies have found that a large number of Alzheimer’s disease patients have elevated homocysteine levels. Besides being a sign of impaired metabolism, homocysteine is in a class of special brain cell toxins called excitotoxins. These toxins literally excite certain brain cells to death. They are considered a central mechanism in all of
the neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s dementia and Parkinson’s disease. Excitotoxins generate large numbers of free radicals in brain cells and brain cell connections (synapses). Vitamin E, C, the carotenoids and special antioxidants from plants called flavonoids all act together to protect the brain from free radicals and, hence, excitotoxicity.
Several studies have shown that increasing these antioxidants in the diet slows the course of
Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease and may prevent the disease in some cells we see destroyed in Alzheimer’s disease.
Numerous studies have shown that chronic activation of the brain’s immune system is closely connected to this terrifying disorder.
Many of these studies also have shown that the greatest risk is among those with impaired immunity. We know that as we age, the immune system becomes impaired, primarily because of poor nutrition.
In fact, several studies have shown that aged-related immune problems can be corrected with nutrients such as selenium, vitamins E and C, and the carotenoids.
Of even greater importance is the finding that vitamin D3 plays a major role in preventing overreaction of the immune system, as seen in these diseases.
While part of the immune system is impaired, another part is overactive. This imbalance causes the problem. Nutrition can re-establish the proper immune balance.
The Cholesterol Connection
The manufacturers of the dangerous statin cholesterol-lowering drugs were elated to announce that lowering cholesterol significantly reduced the incidence of Alzheimer’s disease.
The problem with the statin drugs is that they also increase cancer risk, lower critical levels of Coenzyme Q10 in the body and, in some cases, can lead to a fatal muscle disorder. There are safer ways to lower cholesterol. It had been know for many years that there was a connection between risk of heart attacks and strokes and Alzheimer’s dementia. We now know that high cholesterol intake is the common factor. Several recent studies have shown that those with
the highest intakes of cholesterol-containing foods had the highest risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
Connected to this observation was the discovery that persons who had inherited a special gene for a fat-carrying protein called APOE4 had a very high risk of developing Alzheimer’s dementia.
In fact, 80 percent of individuals having both of these APOE4 genes will develop the disease. Even having one of the genes for APOE4 substantially increases one’s risk. Having this gene also increases the risk of developing the “punch drunk” syndrome and even mad cow disease.
APOE4 is responsible for carrying cholesterol to the synaptic connections in the brain. The problem is that it does this less efficiently than the protective form of the carrier protein, APOE2. Those lucky enough to have both genes for APOE2 rarely develop Alzheimer’s dementia. To get some idea as to the impact of dietary choices and your risk, let us look at a recent study (Zutphen Elderly Study) that examined the diets of 476 elderly persons.
They found that those with the highest total fat intake had a 240 percent higher risk of developing dementia. High saturated fat intake increased risk 90 percent and high cholesterol intake increased risk 70 percent.
Fish consumption was associated with a 60 percent reduction in dementia risk. In another study, high meat consumption was associated with a 300 percent increase in risk. This should give some caution to those following the Atkins diet.
The good news is that reducing one’s intake of cholesterol and increasing one’s intake of vitamin E appeared to turn off this dangerous gene, thus lowering risk. This finding also may explain the significantly lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease in those eating a Mediterranean diet. This diet is very low in cholesterol and total fat content.
It is also of interest to note that high-cholesterol diets increase the activity of the brain’s immune
system, which we have seen is also connected to dementia. Statin drugs such as Lipitor lower cholesterol levels by interfering with a critical enzyme in cholesterol production called HMG-Co-A reductase. This allows the drugs to drastically lower cholesterol.
The problem with lowering cholesterol too much is that the brain needs some cholesterol. Impaired thinking is a common complication with statin drugs.
A safer way to lower cholesterol is to use a special extract of sugar cane wax called policosanol. This nutrient lowers cholesterol as efficiently as statins do, but with greater safety, primarily because it never lowers the cholesterol-generating enzyme more than 50 percent and does so indirectly. This also substantially lowers the risk of heart attacks and strokes. A dose of 20 mg a day works in most people.
Sweets and Alzheimer’s Disease
Ronald Reagan had a habit of eating jellybeans throughout the day. Knowing that high levels of sugar in the diet are harmful to the brain, I always wondered if this at least contributed to his developing Alzheimer’s disease.
New evidence makes an even stronger link. In one study of 980 elderly individuals followed for four years, it was found that those with the highest intake of calories had a 50 percent increased incidence of dementia. When high calorie intake was combined with high fat intake, the risk rose to 230 percent. This high risk occurred in those having the APOE4 gene. So, why would eating a lot of sweets and carbohydrates cause dementia? There are three reasons. Sugar dramatically increases metabolism, and high rates of metabolism are the major source of free radi-
cals. In fact, 95 percent of all free radicals come from metabolism. Second, high levels of sugar in the body cause the sugar to react with various critical proteins, including enzymes that repair DNA damage caused by free radicals. And finally, when high levels of sugar are combined with high fat levels over a long period of time, cells cannot absorb the sugar needed to produce ener-
gy — a condition called insulin resistance. A recent study found a high incidence of insulin resistance in those with Alzheimer’s dementia.
Other Factors
While the above are the major factors in the risk of getting dementia, there are many other contributing factors, some more important than others. For example, we know that women have a higher incidence of Alzheimer’s dementia and Parkinson’s disease than men do.
It now appears that this is because women lose their reproductive hormones faster and to a greater extent than men. Estrogen and to a lesser degree progesterone have been shown to protect brain cells against a number of harmful effects, including Alzheimer’s
dementia and Parkinson’s disease. Testosterone is also protective, but the levels in men fall much more slowly and less extremely.
Aluminum has been a suspect in Alzheimer’s dementia for many years. Studies of human populations point to a problem, and experimental studies show that aluminum can produce all the same changes in the brain we see with Alzheimer’s disease. Most of us are exposed to dietary sources of aluminum including cookware, medications, baking powder, vaccinations, several foods (teas) and public drinking water.
Normally, people absorb very little of ingested aluminum, but recent studies have discovered that those with Down’s syndrome and Alzheimer’s disease absorb
a lot more aluminum than normal. In fact, Down’s children absorb 11 times more aluminum than is normally absorbed. Children with Down’s syndrome have the same pathological changes
in their brains as those with Alzheimer’s disease.
Ironically, several commonly consumed products dramatically increase the absorption of aluminum and increase its toxicity in the brain. Fluoride, when combined with even small amounts of aluminum, produces dramatic destruction of the same brain cells that are destroyed in Alzheimer’s disease. In fact, as little as 0.5 ppm (parts per million) fluoride added to aluminum in water was found to produce extensive brain cell loss in the hippocampus, the
memory part of the brain. Most water systems add 1 to 1.5 ppm fluoride and all add aluminum.
The amino acid glutamate, as found in monosodium glutamate (MSG), also increases aluminum absorption and deposition in the brain. MSG is added to most processed foods, usually under a disguised name such as hydrolyzed protein, soy extract, natural flavoring or even spices.
As with fluoride, glutamate is even more destructive to brain cells when combined with aluminum.
Another surprising culprit is citric acid. Lemon juice is high in citric acid, as are most citrus fruits. Adding lemon to tea, for example, increases aluminum absorp- tion from the tea (which contains very high aluminum levels) over sevenfold. This is why you should not add lemon to your tea.
Finally, consumption of large amounts of excitotoxins adds considerably to the damage caused by the other factors. Excitotoxins, mentioned above, dramatically increase free radical generation for a prolonged period after a single exposure.
If you eat processed foods, you are consuming large amounts of excitotoxins. These excitotoxins are used to enhance the taste of foods. Some foods add three and even four forms of excitotoxins, which is particularly dangerous since studies have shown they have additive toxicity.
People with neurological diseases, the very young and the elderly are at a special risk from excitotoxins. Pregnant women should never consume excitotoxin- containing food additives. The artificial sweetener aspartame contains the powerful excitotoxin aspartic acid.
Reduce Your Risk by Following These Steps:
Watch Your Diet
Most important is your diet. You should eat low-fat foods — at least five servings of fruits and vegetables (primarily vegetables) and no more than a slice of whole grain bread a day, along
with a minimum of high-glycemic carbohydrates — and drink filtered fluoride-free water.
Carbohydrates are classified as to how fast they are absorbed and converted to simple sugars.
Those easily converted and absorbed are considered high-glycemic; others are called low-glycemic carbohydrates. The best diet is the Mediterranean diet, which is higher in protein (mainly fish), high in vegetables and extra virgin olive oil, and low in carbohydrates. Seafoods can be high in mercury (methylmercury), so caution must be exercised. It is best to get your omega-3 oils from supplements. Omega-3 oils are composed of two components, EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid). DHA is the most important for protecting and nurturing the brain.
In one study, those who consumed omega-3 fatty acid–containing foods once a week or more had a 60 percent reduction in Alzheimer’s disease. Interestingly, DHA has been shown to powerfully protect the brain from excitotoxins. The EPA component had little effect. Pure DHA can be obtained from most health supplement suppliers.
Another source of omega-3 fatty acids is from special eggs that contain high amounts of this beneficial fat. The highest contents are found in Christopher Eggs. The chickens producing these eggs are fed a special diet high in omega-3 fatty acids, which then enters the egg yolks. A single egg supplies 600 mg of omega-3 fatty acids.
Fruits and especially vegetables contain some of the most powerful chemical antioxidants found naturally. They also contain powerful anti-excitotoxic, anti-inflammatory, immune-modulating and antiviral components as well.
Eating at least five servings of vegetables a day also plays a major role in preventing these neurodegenerative diseases. A recent study found that of 1,367 people over age 65 followed for five years, those with the highest intake of flavonoids from fruits and vegetables had a 51 percent lower incidence of Alzheimer’s disease. Of particular interest has been blueberry extract.
In one study, it was found not only to slow the aging of the brain but also to reverse some of the aging changes. A more recent study found that blueberry extract could completely prevent Alzheimer’s disease in a hereditary animal model of the disease.
This means that blueberry extract might prevent the disease even in those inheriting both of the APOE4 genes. It is important to appreciate that these experiments were done using blueberry extracts and not whole blueberries. The extracts contain much higher concentrations of the blueberry flavonoids than found in a bowl of blueberries.
One of the hottest areas of research has been brain protection through caloric reduction by fasting. It has been known for almost half a century that animals placed on low-calorie diets live significantly longer than those on regular or, especially, high-calorie diets. As we have seen, high-calorie intake is especially harmful to the brain. Dr. M.P. Mattson, of the Laboratory of Neurosciences at the National Institute on Aging in Baltimore, Md., has shown how this works.
Previously, it was assumed that reducing calories reduces the number of free radicals produced by cells, which it does. Dr. Mattson and his co-workers also found that it greatly increased the concentration of two brain-protecting chemicals called nerve growth factor and telomerase.
These two chemicals can protect the brain’s cells against the beta-amyloid of Alzheimer’s disease, strengthen synapses and protect against excitotoxicity. In other words, they can protect against all the processes seen in Alzheimer’s disease.
The best results were found with fasting one day a week, exactly what was proclaimed in the Old
Testament. Weekly fasting also helped correct insulin excess, something also connected with these diseases.
Take Antioxidants
While you should increase your intake of all of the antioxidant vitamins, including vitamins C, E, D, K, carotenoids and all the B vitamins, you also should supplement with additional antioxidants.
Some of the more powerful are the flavonoids, special components isolated from plants. These include hesperidin, quercetin, green tea extract, artichoke extract, grape seed extract and bilberry, all available from natural supplement suppliers.
One supplement found to provide major protection to the brain is melatonin. Most people think of it as nothing more than a sleep aid. In fact, it is one of the brain’s most important antioxidants and actually increases the antioxidant enzyme content of the brain.
This is especially important because recent studies have shown that these antioxidant enzymes are low in people who develop Alzheimer’s dementia and Parkinson’s disease. With aging, the amount of melatonin begins to decline, one of the reasons for the high frequency of insomnia in the elderly. If you notice you no longer dream, your melatonin levels are probably low. Low levels are rarely seen below age 45.
All cells contain a very powerful antioxidant called glutathione. It is especially important for protecting the brain, especially against excitotoxicity and mercury poisoning. Low levels of this antioxidant are seen in all cases of neurodegenerative disease, including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Ironically, it is fairly easy to increase the levels of glutathione in all your cells.
The supplement N-acetyl-L cysteine (NAC) has been shown to dramatically increase glutathione levels. Magnesium, vitamin C, alpha-lipoic acid and a high intake of vegetables also increase glutathione levels. An additional benefit is that high glutathione levels also help prevent cancer. A high intake of MSG and other excitotoxins dramatically lowers brain gluta-
thione levels.
Hormone Replacement, Good and Bad
Hormone replacement is a touchy subject, primarily because of the fear of causing cancer — prostate cancer in males and breast cancer in females. You also might be aware of a study, reported recently in The Journal of the American Medical
Association and carried widely by the media, that linked hormone replacement in women with
increased risk of strokes and heart attacks and found no benefit in reducing the risk of dementia.
The general public does not realize that this was a very flawed study and never should have been
accepted for publication by the journal. The way the experiment was set up was terribly flawed, but the main problem with the study was the fact that the type of estrogen they used, Premarin, has been known for a long time to be toxic to brain cells, as is the form of progesterone they used. In fact, though Premarin breaks down in the body into a multitude of brain-toxic compounds, this is the form most often prescribed to post-menopausal women. Dozens of studies have confirmed that natural estrogens, especially the form known as estriol, are highly protective of the brain, especially against Alzheimer’s disease.
Estriol also has been shown to protect women from breast cancer. Premarin contains estradiol, a very powerful form of estrogen and one most associated with breast cancer. Brain cells contain numerous estrogen receptors, which is why estrogens are so important to brain protection from a number of assaults. Only natural estrogens can provide this protection. Before supplementing, women should have a complete female hormone study done.
Kale, which most people think of as a plate decoration, also contains a natural estrogen compound that is highly protective of the brain in both males and females. It is too weak to cause hormone stimulation in men or women, but it provides the protection of estrogens.
Men generally do not lose their reproductive hormones as rapidly or as dramatically as women. Yet, after age 55, most men have significantly lower levels of testosterone. Testosterone has been shown to be very protective of the brain, including against Alzheimer’s disease. Testosterone is derived from another hormone, called DHEA.
This hormone also has been shown to be very protective of brain cells. DHEA levels also fall with age.
One of the best ways to increase both DHEA levels and testosterone is simply to take DHEA.
I would advise men to have a male hormone lab test before supplementing with DHEA, and those with prostate cancer should not take DHEA or any male hormone.
Some men fear supplementation because of a theoretical risk of prostate cancer, but studies have shown that rather than increasing risk, DHEA may reduce the risk. Also, most men with low DHEA levels feel better with supplementation and report increased libido. I would not recommend taking more than 10 to 15 mg a day. It should be taken on an empty stomach.
A Few More Things You Should Know
When brain cells are weakened, either by disease or a lifetime of free-radical damage, they become much more vulnerable to injury by toxins of various types.
It is for this reason that you must avoid further injury by avoiding known brain toxins.
Avoid fluoride.
Fluoride is a powerful brain toxin, especially when combined with aluminum, as we have seen. You should avoid fluoridated water, fluoride toothpaste and fluoride-containing mouthwashes. Many natural brands are available.
Avoid MSG.
It is also critical that you avoid excitotoxins in food such as MSG, aspartame, hydrolyzed proteins, soy proteins, whey protein extracts, natural flavoring, textured proteins, soy extracts and related names. To do this you must avoid processed foods. If you can’t avoid processed foods, check labels for these disguised names.
Avoid pesticides.
Avoid pesticides and herbicides, especially within the home. A considerable amount of evidence links these toxins to increased risk of Alzheimer’s dementia and especially Parkinson’s disease.
Startling evidence shows that combining pesticides and herbicides greatly increases their toxicity to the brain, and in sensitive individuals even minute concentrations can result in advanced and very rapid onset Parkinson’s disease.
Nutritional supplements, as outlined above, have been shown to protect dramatically against pesticide and herbicide toxicity. Even so, I would avoid these poisons and choose natural pest-control methods.
Avoid vaccinations.
You should avoid all vaccinations, especially the flu vaccine. With the growing threat of bioterrorism, public health organizations will be offering a whole host of new vaccines. I would avoid them all.
Avoid aluminum.
Avoid all aluminum-containing foods (processed cheeses, teas with lemon, pancakes, biscuits and all foods using baking powder), cookware, medications, vaccinations and topical ointments.
Do not eat foods high in aluminum when eating or drinking citrus-containing foods and drinks (orange juice, lemon juice, grapefruit juice, etc).
Avoid mercury in fillings. Do not let your dentist fill your teeth with mercury-containing amalgam (looks like metal) or in any way manipulate your fillings (tooth cleaning, etc). If you have amalgam fillings, have them removed by a dentist trained in proper removal procedure. The International Association of Oral Medicine and Toxicology (IAOMT) trains physicians in this procedure and can give you the name of a trained dentist near you.
Exercise, but don’t overdo it.
Finally, you should exercise regularly but not aerobically.
Aerobic exercises dramatically increase free-radical generation that can lead to numerous diseases including neurodegenerative disorders. Several studies have shown moderate exercise to be protective against Alzheimer’s dementia and other neurodegenerative diseases.
It is also important that you exercise your brain. Reading, memorizing lists of facts, engaging in intellectual conversation and other intellectual pursuits has been shown to be protective. Neuroscientists call it “use it or lose it.” By following these steps, even should you have a strong family history of dementia, your risk will be greatly reduced.
Ways to Remove Aluminum From Your Body
Chemicals that remove toxic metals from the tissues and organs of the body do so by a process called chelation, hence they are called chelators. One of the most effective chelators for removing aluminum from the brain is the experimental drug Feralex-G. One advantage of this drug is that it can be taken by mouth rather than injected. When combined with ascorbate (vitamin C), it was shown to produce excellent reductions in brain aluminum levels. Unfortunately, the drug is not yet available.
A study done in 1993 at the University of Toronto found that patients given aluminum-chelating drugs deteriorated at half the rate of those given no treatment. Recent studies have found that using aluminum chelation could reverse the pathological changes characteristic of Alzheimer’s dementia.
Until the new oral chelating drug is ready for market you may want to reduce your brain load of aluminum by using the following supplements, also shown to significantly lower brain aluminum.
Magnesum citramate. Take 500 mg three times a day. Magnesium reduces brain levels of mercury and the citramate, a combination of citrate and malate, has been shown to significantly stimulate elimination of aluminum from the body. In this combination the supplements are even more effective.
Ascorbate (as magnesium or calcium ascorbate).
Take 1,500 mg three times a day on an empty stomach. A recent study found ascorbate to be a very effective chelator of aluminum, especially when the aluminum was bound to brain cell DNA. Taking higher doses of ascorbate with the magnesium citramate increased the removal of aluminum even more. This has been referred to as molecular shuttle chelation.
Malate. Take two 500 mg capsules three times a day on an empty stomach for one month, then two capsules a day thereafter. Malate was shown to be one of the more effective aluminum chelators for the brain.
Pyruvate (as calcium pyruvate). Take 500 mg with each meal to remove the aluminum from your food. Pyruvate has been shown to effectively prevent aluminum absorption.
Flavonoids. Eat a lot of fresh vegetables. Supplements containing flavonoids, such as quercetin and hesperidin, also prevent aluminum absorption.
Chlorella helps remove mercury and lead and may remove aluminum.
These supplements are in addition to the antioxidant vitamins you normally take.
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