One thing you can do to protect yourself from Alzheimer’s starting today
In the November 27th e-Alert, I told you about three promising findings in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease (AD). One of them involved a small study which reported that elderly patients with elevated homocysteine levels were more likely to show a decline in key mental assessments over a five-year period.
Now, there’s even more reason to believe that high levels of this amino acid could be a significant marker. New research is strongly supporting the homocysteine-AD link – and doing so through a much larger, much more comprehensive trial.
What does YOUR homocysteine level say about your risk?
This study, conducted at the Boston University School of Medicine, drew 1,092 participants from the landmark Framingham Heart study group. All of the participants had been assessed eight years earlier, during one of the regular Framingham Heart Study follow-up visits. At that time, all were determined to be free of dementia, and all had their homocysteine levels measured.
The researchers then assessed the group’s current status, both in terms of mental state and homocysteine levels. A committee of neurologists and neuropsychologists examined each participant; 111 were diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia. And when they compared prior and current homocysteine levels against those diagnoses, they came up with some very useful data.
Homocysteine is an amino acid that can be measured in a simple blood test. Most doctors consider a level of 12 micromoles per liter or less to be “normal.” In this study, the researchers found that for every five micromoles per liter increase in homocysteine levels, the risk of developing Alzheimer’s increased 40 percent. When homocysteine levels climbed in the highest quartile (greater than 14 micromoles per liter), the risk of developing AD or some other form of dementia DOUBLED.
The strongest association was found in participants who had high homocysteine levels at the earliest reading – a full eight years before dementia or AD was diagnosed – AND in the current reading as well. As the authors comment, “[these findings] suggest that the elevation in the homocysteine level preceded the onset of dementia.” So keeping your homocysteine levels in check now may protect you from developing Alzheimer’s in the future.
What you can do NOW to lower your homocysteine level and decrease your risk of AD
You may remember that HSI first wrote about homocysteine way back in 1996 – a full year before it was “discovered” by any of the mainstream medical journals. Now, it’s considered one of the most important markers for cardiovascular disease – and more and more research is linking it with other diseases as well, including fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, and, as this study supports, Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
We were also among the first to tell you how to lower your homocysteine level – through supplementation with B6, B12 and folic acid. Since the beginning, HSI has recommended a product called CardioSupport (formerly Cardiocysteine). This unique formulation, designed specifically to address homocysteine levels, is available from Advanced Nutritional Products. For more information and to order CardioSupport, you can call Advanced Nutritional Products directly at 1-888-436-7200.
If you haven’t already, have your homocysteine levels checked NOW. If you find that your level is high, take steps immediately to correct it. We’ve known for awhile that it was a great step to protect your heart – now we know it’s a great way to protect your mind, as well.
Source: New England Journal of Medicine 2002;346:476-483
Copyright 1997-2002 by Institute of Health Sciences, L.L.C.
