I have five aunts who have all been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Three are now deceased, and two appear to be in the later stages of the illness. According to Drs. Dean & Ayesha Sherzai, Alzheimer’s disease is likely the third leading cause of death in the United States, (the CDC currently places Alzheimer’s at number six). In fact, one out of every two Americans on a Standard American Diet (SAD), who are 85 years or older, will develop Alzheimer’s Disease or some form of dementia (statistically, 10% of the US population over the age of 65 already has dementia, as does 20-25% of people over the age of 75). While some chronic diseases are in decline, deaths due to Alzheimer’s have increased by nearly 87 percent in the last decade.
Interestingly, two out of every three people who are diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease are women. Scientists are still trying to understand the biology of the disease in a woman’s brain, and how it differs from a man’s brain (there is speculation that menopause, hormones, longevity, and cultural factors such as a frequent lack of both career and educational opportunities are likely linked), yet one in six women develop Alzheimer’s after age sixty-five, while for men the chances are only one in eleven. Women in their sixties, are also twice as likely to develop Alzheimer’s as they are to develop breast cancer.
The good news, according to “Team Sherzai”, is that a whole food, plant based diet, along with a few other lifestyle factors/changes (such as regular exercise, sleep, love, and cognitive activity), can reduce your risk of developing Alzheimer’s by 90% (and if you, or someone you know is already burdened with some form of dementia, slow its progression). So, yes, 90%! This research is truly exciting as I knew very little about Alzheimer’s and incorrectly believed that to a large extent, we were all destined to suffer the fate of whatever inherited genetic predisposition we had. Fortunately, this is not the case. Although genetics still plays a part, it turns out that our diet, and other lifestyle factors, play an even bigger role (than genetics) when it comes to gene expression, and our risk of developing Alzheimer’s. If you would like more information please pass along your email address and I will gladly share.
Sources:
Click here for more information from Team Sherzai.
Click here for more information from Plant Based Diets Rock!
Click here for PCRM.org infographic.
Click here for a link to the “The Alzheimer’s Solution” by Drs. Dean & Ayesha Sherzai.
