Don’t play the VICTIM with dementia [Do THIS instead]
They’ll tell you there’s NOTHING that you could’ve done…
That we don’t know what causes dementia…
And that you’re just a VICTIM of “bad genes”… or simply BAD LUCK.
But according to the latest news, we’re NOT helpless when it comes to our dementia risk.
While there’s not a drug in the world that’s been proven to keep Alzheimer’s and other dementias at bay…
Turns out, there’s something ELSE you could do.
And it’s not some kind of EXPERIMENTAL brain therapy… an EXPENSIVE gadget… or an INVASIVE procedure, either.
It all boils down to some good ol’ common sense nutrition!
A new NIH-funded study from a research team based right here in Baltimore have discovered something that’s sure to ROCK the conventional wisdom about dementia.
It’s downright SHOCKING to the mainstream…
But I’m not surprised one bit!
All other factors being equal, it turns out that HIGHER antioxidant levels are associated with a LOWER risk of dementia over time.
GO FIGURE!
I’ve been banging the drum about oxidative stress… and its connection to neural misfiring… FOR YEARS.
And it’s about time that mainstream medicine sat up and took notice.
In the study, there were 2 standout antioxidants in particular:
- lutein and zeaxanthin (combined)
- beta-cryptoxanthin.
Both of these are considered carotenoids – or plant pigments that give certain fruits and vegetables an orange or yellowish color.
You’ve read before right here in eAlert how the combination of lutein and zeaxanthin is associated with vision improvements…
And how it could be a BOON to your cognitive health.
But beta-cryptoxanthin may be a little less familiar to you.
It’s more commonly associated with bone health… and it’s naturally found in certain types of bone broth (as well as egg yolks and certain tropical fruits).
Now, the researchers behind this latest study didn’t simply measure the amounts of these antioxidants contained within the food that the subjects ate.
Rather, they looked at their bloodstream levels.
And one does not simply follow the other.
That’s because older folks in particular may have a harder time ABSORBING the nutrients they’re getting from food…
Because of leaky gut… low digestive enzymes… or other gastric issues…
Or even because of prescription drugs they may be taking!
That’s important… because the participants’ ages ranged to as high as 90 years old at the beginning of the study…
And BOTH of these carotenoids showed significant risk reduction among folks over 65!
According to the study’s findings, even if you’re not yet 65… it’s NOT too soon to start.
Dementia risk was ALSO significantly reduced among folks in the 45 to 65 years old age range.
Now, there’s no magic recipe for staying out of dementia’s grip – at least not yet.
We don’t yet know exactly HOW MUCH of these carotenoids we need to have in our bloodstream… and over how long a period of time.
But it certainly would make sense to start supplementing now… even at low levels.
You can easily find lutein/zeaxanthin together on their own or in a vision support formula.
You may be able to find them together with beta-cryptoxanthin in a formula that contains mixed carotenoids.
Carotenoids are fat-soluble… so you’ll want to make sure you take any supplements with food.
To your healthy cognition,
Sarah Reagan
Source:
“Dementia Risk Tied to Antioxidant Levels” – MedPage Today (5/4/22)
www.medpagetoday.com/neurology/dementia/98551
