Daily High-dose Vitamin E Might Delay Alzheimer’s

A new study suggests that a large daily dose of vitamin E might help slow the progression of the memory-robbing illness we know as Alzheimer’s disease.

Alzheimer’s patients who were given a pharmacological dose of vitamin E experienced slower decline in thinking and memory, and required less caregiver time than those given a placebo, or one of the popularly used Alzheimer’s medications.

Experts stress though, that vitamin E doesn’t seem to fight the underlying cause of Alzheimer’s, and in no way is a cure.

The vitamin E dose used was 2000 IU of alpha-tocopherol.  There are eight isomers of vitamin E, and this is one of those isomers.  Most multivitamins contain about 1000 IU of this vitamin E isomer.

In practical terms, the vitamin E group in the research enjoyed a more than six-month delay in the progression of Alzheimer’s.

This delay could mean a lot to patients, because the decline experienced by the placebo group could translate into the complete loss of the ability to dress or bathe independently.

Experts aren’t sure how the vitamin E helps slow mental decline.  Vitamin E is a fat-soluble antioxidant.

The most important comment comes at the end of the study.  “This research into treating Alzheimer’s might not be as potentially beneficial as studies that focus in preventing the disease altogether”.

Another clinically proven nutritional food available in Australia is called Souvenaid.  Your local caring pharmacist will keep it, and details are also available on the Souvenaid website.  This product is a small drink, taken once a day, and it nourishes the synapses, or nerve junctions, in the brain.  Efficient transmission of nerve activity in the brain is an aspect of Alzheimer’s which affects the quality of life of the patient.

Whatever way, we need to reduce the risk of this insidious disease, which robs the individual of their mental function but not their physical function.

Keep socially active, keep well hydrated, and eat plenty of the so-called Mediterranean dietary components like fish, vegetables, olive oil and the most enjoyable – moderate amounts of red wine.