Understanding Alzheimer’s: The Role of Diet, Prevention, and Treatment

It’s not easy at all to take care of a senior loved one who suffers from dementia. Every day feels like a challenge you need to face, especially when you have to deal with meal preparation. Diet plays a crucial role in managing Alzheimer’s disease. Some food can worsen symptoms or even contribute to the progression of the disease.

Choosing the right ingredients and products is important to control and prevent the disease from developing. Since Alzheimer’s is a progressive neurological disorder it leads to a decline in cognitive abilities, seriously affecting the quality of life and daily activities. So, Here are some foods that should be avoided:

Forbidden Foods for Alzheimer’s Patients

1. Margarine

Diacetyl is an ingredient found in margarine. A study conducted by the University of Minnesota found that there might be a link between this ingredient and Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). Researchers are showing how diacetyl may contribute to the formation of the same type of protein clusters associated with AD.

So, here are some alternatives for margarine to include in your diet:

• Olive Oil or Coconut Oil (for cooking)
• Greek Yogurt or Pumpkin Puree (for baking)
• Pureed Avocado (for toast)

Many seniors find it challenging to prepare healthy meals, for those who suffer from dementia it’s even harder. For example, in Arlington, in-home care providers are doing everything they can to benefit aging adults. Dedicated caregivers at Home Care Assistance are available 24 hours a day and 7 days per week and they can cook nutritious meals and offer timely medication reminders.

If you have a friend or a loved one who can’t take care alone of himself or herself, make sure you contact this kind of association. It will improve their health and make their life easier. Having someone by your side when you are not doing well is crucial for your mental health. ‘Cause once you lose that too… there’s no way of turning back.

2. Fried Foods

Normally, no matter your age, you should strictly avoid fried foods for a healthy diet. But we already know how popular these kind of foods are in the United States and how hard it can be to stay away from them. However, the chemicals found in fried food, tend to make cells age faster, including ones in the brain. If you or a loved one already deal with dementia, fried foods consumption will only make things worse.

3. Soda & Other Sugary Beverages

As you already may know, soda and sugary drinks have been linked to diabetes, which, according to the Mayo Clinic, is considered a risk factor for vascular dementia. Lab animals’ brains were tested recently to see what kind of changes occur in the body after sugary beverage consumption. So, after a month of being fed sugary water, researchers have found that the animals’ cognitive functions were seriously affected. Make sure you encourage dementia-suffering patients to strictly avoid sugary beverages consumption and opt for these alternatives instead:

• herbal teas
• homemade smoothies
• sparkling water
• coconut water
• green tea

Remember that caregivers are essential and can improve the sick person’s lifestyle. So, if your senior loved one needs help with meal preparation and transportation or bathing, make sure you contact Home Care Assistance, a leading provider of home caregivers.

4. Foods Containing MSG

Monosodium Glutamate is usually found in frozen dinners and salad dressing, being really dangerous for human health. This food additive is extra dangerous for dementia patients because it can intensify the symptoms. The additive was also linked to an increase in nervous system sensitivity and elevated levels of beta-amyloid protein. Aging is a real challenge for those who suffer from dementia, but in some cases, they can still live independently at home with the help of dementia care. Caregivers are just a call away. So, in case of emergency is important for the suffering person to have easy access to an emergency number.

5. Processed Meats

In processed meats are found compounds called nitrosamines. Ham, hotdogs, salami, and sausages, must be strictly avoided! Nitrosamines are dangerous for our health since they can cause the liver to produce fats that are considered toxic. These fats can also damage brain cells and worsen dementia symptoms.

6. Processed Cheese

Nitrosamines can be also found in processed cheese. So, you already know how bad they can be for an Alzheimer’s patient. Seniors must seriously limit their intake of processed cheese to keep them healthy. If consumed regularly, cheese can contribute to creating protein deposits that can make their way to the brain and destroy healthy synapses. American cheese, Mozzarella sticks, and canned cheese should be strictly avoided.

7. White Breads

Researchers keep demonstrating how bad processed white flour is … but we keep consuming it. White flour seriously affects our body and mind since it can cause energy boosts and can harm our cardiovascular system. Seniors should stay away from white rice, processed pasta, and sweetened baked items.

8. Microwave Popcorn

Popcorn is a healthy snack, don’t get us wrong! However, seniors should be very careful when choosing the brand. Also, it’s very important to avoid consuming microwave popcorn. Many brands contain a chemical that stimulates the production of brain plaques, and those plaques are a major factor risk for Alzheimer’s.

9. Fast Food

There are numerous reasons why seniors should avoid fast food. One of the most important ones is that fast food is filled with sodium and saturated fats. A study from 2014 shows that trans fats increase the risk of Alzheimer’s disease, memory loss, and cognitive decline.

10. Fish With Mercury

Fatty fish should stay far away from Alzheimer’s patients since it is extremely unhealthy. Nowadays, a lot of fish types are filled with mercury that can seriously damage the brain. Here are some healthy choices when it comes to seafood: shrimp, light tuna, catfish, and albacore.

Preventing Alzheimer’s

Alzheimer’s Disease can be prevented by adopting a healthy lifestyle and, most importantly, a balanced diet. Mental health is also very important in keeping ourselves healthy, so having our friends and family around us and doing what we love daily is crucial.

How to Treat Alzheimer’s Patient

The disease can’t be cured, but there are several approaches to managing the symptoms and improving the quality of life for patients:

• Medical Treatment: medication is crucial since it can help manage symptoms, such as memory loss or confusion
• Supportive Care: supportive care is essential for Alzheimer’s patients for daily activities like dressing, eating, or bathing
• Therapy: therapy helps patients maintain their independence

On Amazon, you can find a groundbreaking plan to prevent and reverse Alzheimer’s Disease that fundamentally changes how we understand cognitive decline. The book is called “The End of Alzheimer’s: The First Program to Prevent and Reverse Cognitive Decline”, and it was written by Dale E. Bredesen. In this book, the author gives hope to anyone looking to prevent and even reverse Alzheimer’s Disease. So, we recommend you read this book if you or a family member is having a hard time dealing with AD. Or, maybe you can purchase it and offer it as a gift. We promise that is a life-changing book that truly deserves your attention.

Before leaving, make sure to check out another related article: Neurologists Share 9 Foods They Never (or Rarely) Eat.