Wife has a genetic predisposition towards Alzheimer's...All of these articles both fill me with hope and dread at the same time. We watched her Father and Grandfather succumb and I'm so hopeful something will be found and come to bear in time to help her if she needs it.
It's interesting to see more associations between inflammation and dementia being acknowledged.<p>My father was diagnosed with celiac disease in his late 50s but failed to adhere to the diet out of stubbornness. He suffered from much digestive pain (worth it, he said, to enjoy his much loved bread and ale) but over the course of a couple of years "independently" developed <i>vascular dementia</i> despite being mentally sharp (indeed, he was a C++ developer into his 60s) prior to this. (Long story short, he had a triple stroke in early 2021 and is now aphasic, living in a specialist care home, and seemingly lacks much connection to the world.)<p>I've read some recent papers that begin to consider the possibility of inflammation caused by lack of adherence to medically necessary diets or allergic reactions leading to brain damage and vascular dementia, but it seems we're still a ways off mainstream medicine being in a position to use this as the basis of any advice for future patients. It's not very scientific of me, I admit, but I'm convinced there's a connection here, so my interest is piqued here.
> uses pro-resolving lipid mediators to protect the brain from cognitive decline. These lipids are fatty acids, like omega-3, which are capable of easing inflammation.<p>The ol' crazy monks seemed to be onto something in the Sushruta samhita, Volume II:<p>"The term Nasya, in the specific sense, is particularly used with reference to the snuffing of any Sneha (oleaginous substance) with a view to make up the deficient oily matter in the brain in the case of a patient complaining of a sense of void or emptiness in the head or to impart tone to the nerves and muscles of the neck, shoulders and chest, or to invigorate the eye-sight."
No question Alzheimer's is a tragedy played out much too often. It's also a tremendously complex condition that's been the focus of research for decades.<p>Inflammation contributes greatly to the disease burden of many conditions. Of course people vary in terms of inflammatory status. A moderate number of studies have shown omega-3 supplementation can reduce onset of some brain conditions, e.g., schizophrenia.<p>In line with the mouse model it's well-accepted that inflammatory processes are implicated in AD. Microglial response triggers pro-inflammatory factors in turn leading to accumulation of toxic proteins in cortical neurons. Here's a succinct review of the subject: [0].<p>Anti-inflammatory agents have been associated preventative effects, e.g., NSAIDs though trials of these drugs haven't shown benefit. Omega-3 fatty acids have received a lot of study re: anti-inflammatory effects, particularly in cardiovascular disease. In AD some observational studies have shown reduction in risk of developing AD which is encouraging, however placebo-controlled studies have produced equivocal results, so the question remains open how much benefit omega-3 provides. This articles reviews the omega-3 evidence [1].<p>OTOH everyone seems to agree omega-3 intake through diet or supplementation will at least do no harm. On the whole diets higher in long-chain omega-3 fatty acids is likely to be most effective. Foods such as fish/seafood and green-leafy vegetables are good sources.<p>[0] <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6214864/" rel="nofollow">https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6214864/</a>
[1] <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6747747/" rel="nofollow">https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6747747/</a>
A self-administered nasal spray is really gonna get appreciable amounts to the brain? I'm skeptical. Why not an infusion into the cerebrospinal fluid, or a topical ultrasound guided injection through a thinner, softer area of the skull?
I am interested in follow-up on recent-ish reports...<p>One, in Taiwan, showing a strong effect of treatment for herpes reducing incidence of Alzheimers<p>Another, reported last year in Kansas City, a six-year study of tens of thousands of Veterans Administration patients over 70 showing that a recent Tdap vaccination predicts a 40% reduction in dementia diagnoses, replicated in another large, independent cohort.<p>You don't need a very good reason to get a Tdap booster. Or even a prescription.