| At the present time, one out of ten adults have | | | | against Alzheimer's disease, it is probably because |
| some form of Alzheimer disease. According to Dr. | | | | they reduce what is called 'oxidative stress' in cells." |
| Greengard, Director of the Fisher Center for | | | | He went on to say that his team believes free |
| Alzheimer's Research at the Rockefeller University, | | | | radicals are the culprit of oxidative stress in cells |
| that number is expected to strike up to three times | | | | caused by the inappropriate consumption of some |
| as many in the coming decades. Alzheimer's is | | | | foods such as those in high fat content. In this study |
| considered a disease of the elderly and with the | | | | Friedland is recommending a "to-do" list for those |
| average lifespan of the US population rising to 74, a | | | | who want to improve their chances of maintaining a |
| solution to the medical problem is being sought.For | | | | healthy brain. He suggests:Eat a diet high in |
| Scientists the largest concern is what causes | | | | antioxidantsEat fishTake vitamin ETake B |
| Alzheimer's and how can it be eradicated. For possible | | | | vitaminsTake folic acidBe mentally and physically |
| victims and their families it is how do we prevent the | | | | active throughout lifeAvoid head injuriesWhen |
| dreaded affliction or stop it in its tracks once it is | | | | addressing the reduction of free radicals it is essential |
| diagnosed.Scientists are in agreement and have | | | | to recognize the importance of Oligomeric |
| narrowed down the contributing factor causing | | | | Proanthocyanidins (OPC's) as the most powerful |
| Alzheimer's disease. Most researchers agree that | | | | antioxidant known in scientific studies. OPC's are |
| Beta-amyloid is one of the agents thought to cause | | | | products commonly derived from a combination of |
| damage to the brain in Alzheimer's disease. The | | | | grape seed extract, red wine extract and/or pine |
| research is attempting to find a deterrent and is | | | | bark extract. They are very powerful bioflavanoids |
| recognizing antioxidants to be significant in protecting | | | | used as a natural food supplement ready to be |
| at risk patients.According to the Harvard Medical | | | | absorbed into the body and begin to attack the free |
| Center, continuing research and studies are being | | | | radicals.OPC's are safe and have been used for over |
| conducted with some positive results. Even though | | | | 20 years throughout Europe. Extensive studies and |
| some studies by the French point to wine as a | | | | laboratory testing reveal no evidence for human |
| protectant, the results are considerably controversial. | | | | toxicity, allergic reactions, birth defects, or |
| The component in the wine that was indicated to be | | | | carcinogenicity. OPC's work synergistically with other |
| responsible for the protectant agent is still somewhat | | | | antioxidant vitamins, regenerating the antioxidant |
| ambiguous.Recent studies, including the study on | | | | properties of vitamin C and vitamin E.However, Bill |
| wine, point to antioxidants for Alzheimer and | | | | Thies, PhD, vice president of medical and scientific |
| Dementia risk reduction.In an Italian study conducted | | | | affairs for the Alzheimer's Association says although |
| by A. Russo, et.al., it was found that black grape skin | | | | Friedmand's recommendations are probably useful and |
| extract protected cells in a test tube from oxidative | | | | that he agrees with all of them, he wants to "be |
| damage and DNA fragmentation when exposed to | | | | very clear that the association is not making any |
| beta-amyloid. An even more recent study by E. | | | | recommendations about ways to prevent Alzheimer's. |
| Savaskan, et.al, examined the red wine ingredient | | | | Thies is, however, involved in reading and learning |
| resveratrol, and found it to be neuroprotective | | | | about all studies concerning Alzheimer's Disease.A |
| against beta-amyloid oxidative stress, again | | | | study conducted in Rotterdam, Netherlands, Dr. |
| supporting an antioxidant mechanism.What these | | | | Monique Breteler with the Eras UM Medical Center, |
| studies point to is, red wine may have an effect that | | | | found the antioxidants beta-carotene, vitamin C, and |
| could provide some protection against Alzheimer's | | | | vitamin E appear to be equally protective as a |
| disease, but indication says it is the antioxidant factor | | | | reducing factor in the fight against Alzheimer's. Her |
| that is the hero. This is consistent with the fact that | | | | results of the 5,000 volunteers over the past 14 |
| other antioxidants, most notably vitamin E, are being | | | | years, confirmed some earlier studies that point to |
| studied with great interest as potential protective | | | | antioxidants as a way to lower risk of dementia. She |
| agents against Alzheimer's disease. According to Dr. | | | | also said the protective effect of antioxidants was |
| Steve Seiner, of Harvard Medical School, "While the | | | | "more pronounced among smokers and among those |
| results of these studies do not necessarily suggest | | | | who are carriers of the Alzheimer's gene."It was also |
| that people should drink wine in order to lower their | | | | pointed out that diets rich in antioxidants are helpful, |
| risk of Alzheimer's disease, they do support the | | | | but in order to consume the necessary requirements, |
| potential role of antioxidant treatment in preventing | | | | a person would have to triple, or more, their current |
| or delaying Alzheimer's disease.In another study by | | | | consumption, which Breteler says, is most unlikely. |
| Robert P. Friedland, MD chief of the neurogeriatrics | | | | Recommendations for proper amounts of ingestion |
| laboratory at Case Western Reserve University | | | | are through antioxidant supplements including OPC's, |
| School of Medicine, "If antioxidants prove to protect | | | | vitamin E and vitamin C. |