THE TOP 10 LEADING CAUSES OF DEATH IN THE UNITED STATES: ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE
INTEGRATIVE HEALTH
Howard F. Loomis
Jr., DC
This series of articles has discussed the ten leading causes of death in the United States as documented by government statistics. I have attempted to discuss how chiropractors may be useful in early recognition and perhaps even prevention of these disease processes. This article discusses Alzheimer’s disease, which arguably could have been excluded from the series, as I did with suicide and accidents. Instead, I am going to limit my remarks to the two most important aspects of dementia that I believe are relevant to our profession: the accumulation of amyloid plaques in brain tissue and the lymphatic drainage of the brain.
Amyloid Plagues
Scientists agree that damage to the brain starts a decade or more before memory and other cognitive problems appear. During this preclinical stage of Alzheimer’s disease, people seem to be symptom-free, but toxic changes are taking place in the brain. The most common markers of Alzheimer's disease are abnormal deposits of protein (tau) that form amyloid plagues and neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs), which cause the protein to aggregate in an insoluble form. Their presence causes once-healthy neurons to stop functioning, lose connection with other neurons, and die.
Damage initially appears to take place in the hippocampus, which is the part of the brain essential for forming memories. As more neurons die, additional parts of the brain are affected, and they begin to shrink. By the final stage of Alzheimer’s, damage is widespread, and brain tissue has shrunk significantly.
Early Onset Symptoms
The onset of damage to the brain begins about ten years before the onset of symptoms, which should be a signal to consider early or potential causes that may prevent damage to brain tissues.
Reducing your risk of cardiovascular disease
Many of the factors that increase the risk of cardiovascular disease have also been connected to an increased
^Scientists agree that damage to the brain starts a decade or more before memory and other cognitive problems appear. JJ
risk of Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia. In fact, results of autopsies have revealed that 80% of people with Alzheimer's have cardiovascular disease.
The risk of developing cardiovascular disease, as well as stroke and heart attacks, may be reduced by improving cardiovascular health using steps such as:
• Stopping smoking.
• Avoiding excess alcohol intake.
• Eating and adequately digesting a healthy, balanced diet.
• Regular exercise.
• Checking and managing blood pressure through
regular health tests. You do check each patient’s blood pressure on each visit, don’t you?
Remember the 60/60 rule that if the patient is at least 60 years old and the pulse pressure (systolic minus diastolic) is 60 mmHg or more, then there is increased intracranial pressure.
• Carefully managing the onset of metabolic syndrome, prediabetes, and type 2 diabetes. (See the previous article in this series.)
Lymphatic Vessels Discovered in the Central Nervous System
Scientists at the University of Virginia discovered that the brains of mice contain functional lymphatic vessels that can carry fluid and immune cells from cerebrospinal fluid. It is hoped that further work will explore whether problems in this system might play a role in neurological disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease, meningitis, and multiple sclerosis.
The brain, until now, has been thought to lack lymphatic vessels, as they had not previously been found. This system, managed by the brain’s glial cells, was termed the glymphatic system. It moves cerebrospinal fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord, quickly and deeply throughout the brain, remov-
ing waste.
Scientists made the discovery while searching for structures associated with the meninges that cover the brain and contain blood vessels and cerebrospinal fluid. They noticed vessel-like patterns that contained markers of the lymphatic system. By injecting dye into anesthetized mice and tracking its path, they found that the vessels carried fluid and immune cells from the cerebrospinal fluid, along veins in the sinuses, and into nearby deep ceivical lymph nodes. The researchers surmise that these vessels may seive as a second step in the drainage of fluid from the brain after it’s drained into the cerebrospinal fluid through the glymphatic system.
The discovery of a pathway for immune cells to exit the central nervous system raises the question of whether disruption of this route may be involved in neurological disorders that are associated with immune system dysfunction, such as multiple sclerosis, meningitis, and Alzheimer’s disease. (New Brain Cleaning System Discovered, National Institutes of Health, September 17, 2012.)
While you may not be directly involved with the treatment of diseases such as Alzheimer’s, it would be helpful to recognize the early warning signs of this insidious disease process and possibly refer the patient for medical treatment. After all, it has long been in the realm of the practice of chiropractic to
restore normal body functions and maintain health. While we may not be able to assist in the treatment of this condition once it becomes obvious, that doesn’t mean you can’t be helpful.
Hopefully what I have discussed will suggest possible chronic or recurring structural patterns associated with involuntary muscle contractions emanating from stressed or energy-deficient visceral organs and tissues. The possibilities are numerous and perhaps may spark the interest of chiropractic colleges to begin clinical outcome studies.
At this point, it may be prudent to mention terminology, occurrence, and symptoms of this devastating disease to emphasize the importance of prevention since authorities are certain cure is out of the question.
Dementia is the general term used when a decline in cognitive function is recognized because it affects a person's ability to perform daily activities. Dementia is caused by damage to nerve cells in the brain. Neurons no longer function normally, and this leads to the inability to think clearly, changes in behavior, and loss of memory.
Alzheimer’s disease is a specific type of dementia characterized by vascular changes to the blood vessels that supply circulation to the brain. For people with Alzheimer's disease, the damage and death of neurons eventually impair the abil-
ity to carry out basic bodily functions, such as walking and swallowing.
An estimated 5.4 million Americans have Alzheimer's disease currently, including approximately 200,000 individuals younger than 65 who have early-onset Alzheimer's.
Alzheimer's disease is one of the most expensive conditions in the nation and is the only cause of death in the top ten that cannot currently be cured, prevented, or slowed. Some authorities fear it has already reached the third cause of death behind cancer and heart disease.
The occurrence of Alzheimer's is expected to rise, in part, because of improved rates of early detection, treatment, and prevention of other major causes of death. As more people survive into older age, when the occurrence of Alzheimer's disease is greatest, the number is certain to increase.
Signs and Symptoms of Alzheimer's Disease
Following are common signs and symptoms that become evident when Alzheimer's can no longer be prevented:
• Memory loss that disrupts daily life.
• Challenges in planning or solving problems.
• Difficulty completing familiar tasks at home, work, or in leisure.
• Confusion with time or place.
• Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships.
• New problems with words in speaking or writing.
• Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps.
• Decreased or poor judgment.
• Withdrawal horn work or social activities.
• Changes in mood and personality, including apathy and depression.
I hope you have found this article to be helpful in suggesting possible clinical approaches for prevention of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. My next article will discuss the fifth leading cause of death in the United States—stroke.
HowardF. Loomis, Jr., DC, has an extensive background in enzymes and enzyme supplements. He is the founder and president of the Food Enzyme Institute. His extensive knowledge of physiology, biochemistry, and enzymology has made him a sought-after speaker and a prolific writer. The Food Enzyme Institute offers seminars to healthcare practitioners around the country.
Dr. Loomis published ENZYMES: The Key to Health in 1999. He also co-authored and published The Enzyme Advantage: For Healthcare Providers and People Who Care About Their Health in 2015, and The Enzyme Advantage for Women in 2016, with respected medical journalist Arnold Mann.
Contact info: 6421 Enterprise Lane, Madison, WI53 719 customer service(xffoodenzymeinstitute.com, 800-662-2630.
