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Hope For The Prevention Of Senile Dementia And Alzheimers

By: Robert William Locke, Posted on: 2007-11-17

Breaking News on the prevention of Alzheimer's disease and senile dementia suggests that our diet will play a key role in preventing these debilitating diseaseas. A recent study shows that people who ate lots of omega-3 rich foods reduced their chances of developing their disease by about 60%. This follows a recent report where carrots and other beta-carotene foods were found to also reduce the chances of developing dementia.

The American Academy of Neurology published the report which detailed a study over several years based on 8,000 men and women. All the subjects of the research were 65 years or over. They found that those who consumed more Omega-6 foods such as sunflower oil and other oils used in the preparation of food were at greater risk of developing these diseases.

Omega-6 is one of the essential fatty acids (EFA) and is therefore crucial for our good health and should be an integral part of any diet.The problem is that the ratio of Omega-6 foods in Western countries (America and Israel) to the Omega-3 foods is far too high. Experts recommend that the ratio of Omega-6 to Omega-3 should be only one in five.

Oily fish such as tuna, mackerel and salmon are rich in Omega-3 and should be included in our diet. The American Dietetic Association states that we should eat at least two servings (4 ozs) a week. The other Omega -3 foods are walnuts, flaxseed and cod-liver oil.

Mnay people are not sure about Omega-6 foods but the main culprits are sunflower oil, cottonseed oil, egg yolks, red meat and margarine. We should be aiming to reduce these foods and increae the Omega 3 ones. If your salad dressing contains some of the above oils, then it may be time for a change.

In another study recently, apparently the maternal link in Alzheimers disease is significant. Nobody knows yet why this should be so but those people whose mothers are or have been diagnosed with dementia or Alzheimers have a greater chance of developing the illness. There is no greater risk for those whose fathers have been diagnosed with the disease.

A vaccine has been developed for Alzheimers disease but it is still in the very early stages although the results seem to be promising. If successful, it will slow down or prevent the disease. However human testing will not take place until three years time. The idea behind the vaccine is to stimulate our immune system so that it can fight dementia in the brain.

Which diet has the correct balance between Omega -3 and Omega -6 foods ? It is the Mediterranean Diet which has been studied the world over as an ideal healthy diet. you will find lots of whole grains, fish, olive oil, garlic and tons of fruit and vegetables. Meat is consumed in small quantities. This could be the way forward in defeating debilitating mental diseases in old age.

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