Marked by progressive mental deterioration, Alzheimer's disease causes loss of memory and cognitive function and a gradual inability to carry out daily activities.
Alzheimer's disease is thought to be caused by the accumulation of abnormal protein pieces known as "beta-amyloid" fibrils which cause oxidative stress on cells- particularly neural cells. (1,6)
Alzheimer's disease accounts for up to 70% of dementia in Australia.
There is no cure.
At best, preventative measures are only recently being partially understood and complementary healthcare products (particularly antioxidants) is at the forefront of this understanding. (1)

Orthodox treatment of Alzheimer's disease tends to focus on acetyl cholinesterase inhibitors in the brain (8) with drugs such as physostigmine. The side effects can often outweigh the benefits of the drug. (2)

Prevention tends to be a better known area than the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.
Complementary medicines, particularly antioxidants, offer exciting developments in both the treatment and the prevention of Alzheimer's disease.

The John Hopkins University School of Public Health in Baltimore, USA performed a study involving over 4700 participants. The study observed whether people over the age of 65 years developed Alzheimer's disease as well as other forms of dementia.
Assessment took place between 1995 and 1997, and again between 1998 and 2000.
It was found that those individuals who took over 400iu of vitamin E and 500mg of vitamin C daily had the least incidence of developing Alzheimer's disease.
Taking less than these amounts, say in a multivitamin supplement, did not seem to provide protection from the prevalence or incidence of Alzheimer's disease. (3)

The lead investigator, Dr. Peter P. Zandi, concluded that the study results warrant the need for further research into the effect of antioxidant supplements on the primary prevention of Alzheimer's disease.

He suggests that there may be a biological reason that the two antioxidants produce a combined benefit related to the duration of their antioxidant effects.
Vitamin E, being fat-soluble, stays in the tissues longer than vitamin C which is water-soluble and excreted more rapidly.
He suggests that vitamin C may "recharge" vitamin E and boost its antioxidant effect.

Other studies support the findings of Dr. Zandi et al.
An Italian study found that the antioxidants vitamin A, C and carotenoids were significantly lower in those with Alzheimer's disease.
In the study of 141 people, 63 had Alzheimer's disease, 25 had mild cognitive impairment and 53 people were controls.
The authors suggested that an increased intake of antioxidants could assist in lowering the conversion of mild cognitive impairment to dementia or Alzheimer's disease. (5)

Vitamin E has also been shown to be of benefit when combined with pharmaceutical drugs.
Ohio State University Department of Neurology performed a study into the long term use of vitamin E in combination with donepezil (a drug used for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease).
The daily dose of vitamin E given was at least 1000 IU whilst the daily dose of donepezil was at least 5 mg. The results showed a significant reduction in the rate at which patients developed Alzheimer's disease. (4)

Apart from vitamin antioxidants, herbal antioxidants and other natural food chemicals have provided evidence of benefit in preventing Alzheimer's disease.

Ginkgo biloba is a herb with a significant potential preventative role in dementia, particularly in Alzheimer's disease.
The herbs main active ingredients are flavone glycosides, and terpene lactones.
A combined American/Chinese study, using a standardized extract labeled EGb761 from the Ginkgo bilobatree, showed that the extract inhibited the formation of amyloid- Beta (A Beta) fibrils.
The scientists (Yuan Luo et al.) suggested that Ginkgo bilobacould be used both in the prevention and the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. (9)

The World Health Organization accepted Ginkgo biloba to be effective as an antidementia drug in January 2000 and included the herb in its ATC-Classification Index.
The herb was found to be as effective as orthodox pharmaceutical drugs with the same clinical action, however, the Ginkgo biloba was found to be safer with "an additional drug safety benefit". (8)

Resveratrol, an antioxidant compound found in red wine, has been found by Swiss scientist Dr. Egemen Savaskan of the University of Basel, to protect cells from oxidative stress caused only by beta-amyloid. This means that Resveratrol may protect against Alzheimer's disease.
As in the case of most initial research, Dr. Savakan says "we need more research on those substances". (6)

Like red wine, fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids have also been found to protect the consumer from developing Alzheimer's disease when consumed on a weekly basis.
Morris et al from the Rush Institute for Healthy Aging in Chicago studied a total of 815 residents from a select geographical area with a high risk for dementia.
After 2.3 years, 181 individuals developed Alzheimer's disease.
The researchers found that those participants who developed dementia had a significant 60% lower risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. (7)

There seems to be an interesting link between some natural substances which have been found to protect against heart disease (such as vitamin E, red wine, deep sea fish) and also protect against Alzheimer's disease.

The evidence that natural products contribute to the prevention of Alzheimer's disease is strong and with the Australian population of over 50 year olds growing so rapidly, this promises to be an opportunity for government to start reducing the escalating cost of healthcare.
Government needs to fund more research in this area as a priority- they would be dollars well invested.

(1) www.alzheimers.org.au
(2) Murray and Pizzorno, The Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine
(3)"Reduced Risk of Alzheimer's Disease in Users of Antioxidant Vitamin Supplements- The Cache County Study". Zandi, P. et al. Arch Neurol. Vol.61, Jan 2004
(4)"Combination therapy of donepezil and vitamin E in Alzheimer's disease". Klatte ET, et al. Alzheimer Dis Assoc Disord 2003 Apr-Jun; 17(2):113-6
(5)"Plasma antioxidants are similarly depleted in mild cognitive impairment and in Alzheimer's disease." Rinaldi P, et al. Neurobiol Aging. 2003 Nov; 24(7): 915-9
(6)"Red wine ingredient resveratrol protects from beta-amyloid neurotoxicity". Savaskan E et al.Gerontology. 2003 Nov-Dec49 (6) 380-3.
(7)"Consumption of fish and n-3 fatty acids and risk of incident Alzheimer's disease." Morris MC et al. Arch Neurol. 2003 Jul; 60(7): 940-6.
(8)"Value of Ginkgo biloba in treatment of Alzheimer dementia." Loew D. Wien Med Wochenschr. 2002; 152(15-16):418-22
(9)"Proof of efficacy of the Ginkgo biloba special extract EGb761 in outpatients suffering from mild to moderate primary degenerative dementia of the Alzheimer type or multi-infarct dementia." Kanowski S. Pharmacopsychiatry.1996 Mar 29(2):47-56