Avoid Animal Protein
The next most striking aspect in a review of studies published
during the past two years sheds significant light on another central
risk factor in Alzheimers -- high levels of a blood substance called
is an amino acid, and amino acids are the building blocks of proteins.
The only source of homocysteine for use in our bodies is that which
is formed by the liver after the ingestion of another amino acid,
methionine. Methionine is found in protein foods -- and animal
protein contains two to three times the amount of methionine as
does plant protein.
Among recent studies looking at the significance of elevated homocysteine
levels and Alzheimer's are:
1) Miller JW; Homocysteine and Alzheimer's disease.
Nutr Rev, 1999 Apr, 57:4, 126-9
2) Clarke R, et al; Folate, vitamin B12, and serum
total homocysteine levels in confirmed Alzheimer disease Arch Neurol,
1998 Nov, 55:11, 1449-55
"In a recent case-control study of 164 patients with clinically
diagnosed Alzheimer's disease (AD), including 76 patients with
the AD diagnosis confirmed postmortem, mean total serum homocysteine
concentration was found to be significantly higher than that of
a control group of elderly individuals with no evidence of cognitive
3) McCaddon A, et al; Total serum homocysteine in
senile dementia of Alzheimer type Int J Geriatr Psychiatry, 1998 Apr,
"Elevated homocysteine levels were associated with Alzheimer's
"Senile dementia of Alzheimer type patients have significantly
This study, also confirming the link between homocysteine and
Alzheimer's, was done in the UK.
4) Gottfries CG, et al; Early diagnosis of cognitive
impairment in the elderly with the focus on Alzheimer's disease.
J Neural Transm, 1998, 105:8-9, 773-86
"We found serum-homocysteine to be an early and sensitive
marker for cognitive impairment. In patients with dysmentia (mild
cognitive impairment), no less than 39% had pathological serum-homocysteine
This study, conducted in Sweden, not only showed blood levels
of homocysteine to correlate strongly with Alzheimer's disease --
but showed elevated levels of homocysteine were useful in *predicting*
who might get Alzheimer's.
In another study,
reported at the World Alzheimer's Congress in July 2000, researches
looked at 5,395 individuals aged 55 and over who were free from dementia. After examining subjects in 1993 and again in 1999 researchers reported
"On average, people who remained free from any form of dementia
had consumed higher amounts of beta-carotene, vitamin C, vitamin
E and vegetables than the people in the study who developed Alzheimer’s
The researchers also noted that in this study, family history or
the presence of a genetic marker called the ApoE4 allele (both considered
risk factors for Alzheimer's) did not alter their findings. In other
words, high consumption of vegetables appeared to offset one of
the other known risk factors for Alzheimer's.
So How Can You Lower Your Risk for Alzheimer's?
In addition to avoiding dietary and cosmetic sources of aluminum,
maintain a low homocysteine level by greatly reducing consumption
of the homocystein- producing amino acid methionine -- through minimizing
or avoiding meat and dairy consumption.
And if you're eating one of those high-protein fad diets, just
be aware that along with the extra pounds you may temporarily lose,
you may just lose your mind, too, by setting the later stage for
becoming an Alzheimer's casualty.
We already know from a 1993 study that subjects who ate meat, including
poultry and fish, were nearly three times as likely to become demented
as their vegetarian counterparts. [Neuroepidemiology, 12:28-36,
Another recent study showed that subjects who adopted a vegan diet
had their homocysteine levels drop between 13% and 20% in just ONE
WEEK. [Preventive Medicine 2000;30:225-233.]
Recent research has found that statin drugs -- which reduce the
blood level of cholesterol from animal foods -- appear to significantly
lower the risk (by 73%) of Alzheimer's and dementia risk. [Archives
of Neurology 2000;57:1439-1443]
In another report, researchers observed the dietary habits of nearly
8,000 men and women free of dementia upon enrolling in the study.
When re-examined six years later, those who ate foods rich in vitamins
E and C (plant foods) were less likely to have developed Alzheimer's
disease. [Mulnard RA, Cotman CW, Kawas C, et al. Estrogen replacement
therapy for treatment of mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease: a
randomized controlled trial. Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study.
The clear message if you're concerned about Alzheimer's? Lose the
meat and dairy, eat fruits and veggies.
Marker for Heart Disease, Too
Several large, well designed studies have shown a clear association
between homocysteine levels and heart attack and stroke. Not only
does meat and dairy consumption raise cholesterol, it raises homocysteine,
which is now widely seen as a separate risk marker for heart disease.
Vitamins and supplements are not as effective as diet in lowering
homocysteine levels. This led the American Heart Association last
year to make the following statement: "Fresh fruits and vegetables,
rather than vitamin supplements, are the best line of defense against
raised homocysteine levels, an indicator of heart disease."
Help Prevent Heart Disease, Cancer -- and Alzheimers -- via Diet
We'll wait to see if any further research materializes to back
up the one curious study purporting to show a relationship between
Alzheimers and soy consumption.
In the meantime, the available scientific data are already plentiful
to show that you can reduce your risk of being an Alzheimer's victim
the same way you can lower your risk of certain cancers and heart
disease -- by eating a healthy plant-based diet, rich in fresh fruits
and vegetables, whole grains and legumes.
See related study: Veg
Diet Gives Protection Against Alzheimer's