Alzheimer Disease And High Blood Pressure

One of the most disturbing aspects of Alzheimer Disease is that there is no cure and is the most common form of dementia.  But recently, Dr. Rudolph Tanzi, a Harvard University Neuroscientist states there are promising developments on the road to a cure.  Below are some of his findings.

Dr. Tani build a genetic map of chromosome 21 that is most associated with individuals of Down syndrome.  All individuals who are affected by it tend to develop the plaques and neurofibrillary tangles that kills brain cells that's associated with Alzheimer's.

He and his research team were able to create a model of Alzheimer in a petri dish made up of human nerve cells.   They discovered that inflammation plays a major role.  

Because of this discovery they are now much closer to finding a cure or a drug as a preventive measure.   But read below on the new findings on what may contribute to this disease and of a possible cure.

My Family Experience With Alzheimer

It is heartbreaking when someone you love has Alzheimer.  I know this first hand.  My Grandmother and two of my sisters all had Alzheimer.  I don't know if my Grandmother had blood pressure that was in the 1960s, but my two sisters had blood pressure.  They are all deceased.

My Grandmother was diagnosed when she was ninety.  My two sister started their journey just after turning sixty-five. One died three years after being diagnosed at age sixty-eight.  My other sister died when she was seventy-two, a seven year decline with four years of complete disabilities, she also had a stroke.

Symptoms Of This Disease

Since some of the symptoms of early-onset of Alzheimer's can include forgetfulness, and trouble focusing many of us worry every time we forget something.  I know I do....

But one of my sister said this "Why worry Donna you won't know when you have it".  That saying has cured me of that worry, because its true I won't know.  I am living my life to the fullest.

These memory lapses do occur at any age, but we tend to get more upset as we age because we fear it may be a sign of dementia or a loss of mental acuity.  Most of these concerns are often nothing to worry about. In fact most of these fleeting memory problems are normal changes in the structure and function of your brain as you age.

I am sure you have gone into your bedroom and do not remember why, or you cannot recall a familiar individual name during a conversation and have even missed appointments because it slipped your mind.

That's not to say you should ignore all symptoms, but you know your own mind and can tell when something is off. So here are some facts to consider as your brain age and shrinks over time and have asked yourself the question?

Could this be a sign of Alzheimer Disease?

Alzheimer Disease - New Discovery

Researchers at the University of Southern California states that age-related blood vessel leaks in the brain may contributes to the development of Alzheimer's disease and other types of dementia.

After doing brain scans they found that the brain's protective blood barrier becomes leaky with age.  This leakage begins in the memory center, the hippocampus an important learning area.  Why and when this damage start is still unclear but this is a light at the end of tunnel.

This is a significant discovery in understanding how your vascular system effects the health of your brains.

So to prevent or possibly cure Alzheimer, the most common type of Dementia they are looking for ways to reseal the blood-brain barrier and prevent the brain from being flooded with toxic chemicals in the blood.

The exciting news is it may be possible to use brain scans to find the leaks within the brain and then repair them in order to prevent any more damage to the blood vessels that may lead to Dementia.

Sleep In This Position And Eliminate Brain Waste

Getting seven to eight hours of sleep every night can help in the prevention of Alzheimer Disease.  Dr. Tanzi said when you cycle into the deepest stage of sleep after REM several times every night, it is then and only then you stop making amyloid and clear out the plaque and other debris from the brain.

Read more of Dr. Tanzi report here.

As part of the continued new discovery on the different ways in slowing or probably preventing Alzheimer disease, The Stony Brook Researchers published an experimental findings in The Journal of Neuroscience:

• Researchers found that individuals who slept on their side was able to eliminate brain waste.  The draining waste matter was the chemicals build-up over time that potentially caused neurological disorders.

• Hedok Lee, PhD, Helen Benveniste, MD, PhD, and colleagues imaged the brain's lymphatic pathway that clears wastes and other chemical solutes from the brain to confirm their findings.

I urge you to read more on this experimental study of eliminating chemical waste matter from your brain.

High Blood Pressure And Your Brain

One of the hazard of high blood pressure is the increased risk of Alzheimer Disease.  

The adverse effects of high blood pressure on mental functioning have been verified in several large-scale studies where researchers discovered that elevated systolic blood pressure in midlife was a significant predictor of diminished mental function in later life.

Make some of the supplements listed below part of your daily consumption in maintaining a healthy brain.

Your Magnificent Brain

Your brain weights only three pounds, is only 2% of your body's weight, and uses 20% of its oxygen supply, as well as 20% of blood flow. Protected by the skull and cerebrospinal fluid it controls countless tasks every minute of the day.

Your magnificent brain contains approximately 100 billion nerve cells known as neurons that switches on/off shooting an electrical signal through an axon carrying message to other cells to help you accomplish tasks.

• Your brain regulates your body's temperature, blood pressure, heart rate and breathing.


• It constantly processes data so that you can reason and make appropriate decisions.


• Organizes and files away your memories so you can retrieve them later.


• It allows you to communicate through speech.


• Also, it directs your muscles and nerves to walk, stand and sit.

At any given moment these neurons that are sending messages to various parts of your body, though normally works well, can sometimes go awry, with the early-onset of Alzheimer Disease.

This is usually due to low levels of certain neurotransmitters like dopamine, epinephrine, nor-epinephrine or serotonin. When this occurs it affects your mood and your ability to think.

The Effects of Dopamine

Neuroscientists used to think that you were born with a certain number of neurons and as you got older you brain ages and memory loss were thought to occur because neurons died or stopped functioning.

Now new research shows that dopamine controls the formation of new neurons deep in the center of your brain and because of this regeneration the normal aging process leaves most of your mental functions intact.

As you age your brain loses weight which is normal, but because of bad lifestyle choices, chronic health conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, and smoking accelerates the shrinkage of your brain.

Factors That Can Shrink Your Brain

• High blood pressure - reduces the flow of blood to your brain. Causing your brain to utilize oxygen and protein less efficiently.


• Cigarette smoking


• Obesity

Whatever the cause, Alzheimer disease is a growing concern and affects one in eight people over the age of 60. Researchers predict that it could strike 14 million individuals by 2050.

While an unhealthy lifestyle may increase your chances there is much you can do to reduce the odds of becoming one of the statistics by giving your body the nutritional tools it needs.

Warning Signs of Alzheimer's Disease

• Asks the same questions over and over again.


• Repeats the same story over and over again, word for word.


• Gets lost in familiar surroundings.


• Neglect to bathe and wears the same clothes daily.

Nutritional Supplements

Acetyl-L-Carnitine: This amino acid provides your brain with much needed power by preserving mitrochondria - the tiny energy factories found within your brain cells. It improves blood flow and effectively treats mild cognitive impairment, and may even help with early-onset of Alzheimer disease.

It is an unique form of L-Carnitine that provides antioxidant protection throughout your nervous system.

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Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA): This powerful nutrient protect your brain cells by enhancing other detoxifying agents such as glutathione, which contributes to metabolic functions that affects your brain including glucose metabolism.

ALA is so effective, studies show that it can halt the oxidative damages that occurs as your brains age.

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Magnesium: This mineral enhances the brain's plasticity, increase the number of brain synapses that can be switched on making it essential for a healthy nervous system.

Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology states that extra magnesium increased memory recall by an impressive 56% thanks in part to a 142% growth in synaptic ends, which boosted the speed of brain transmission by 160%.

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Vitamin B3 better known as Niacin, foster the growth of new blood vessels and neurons after a stroke.  Also help to guard against age-related memory loss.  It also work in concert to protect cognitive function.

Since the B Vitamins family works together it is best to take a B Complex that provides at least 50 mg of the major Bs.

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Lion's Mane: Used throughout Asia as an immune-stimulating tonic has found to also stimulate your brain. There are specific compounds called erinacines that enhances cognition and memory by speeding myelination and the production of nerve growth factor - a protein that plays a key role in the maintenance and regeneration of neurons.

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So to avoid or to slow down Alzheimer Disease, sharpen your mental powers by giving your brain what it needs to fire on all cylinders.

Read this article by The National Institute on Aging and educate yourself more on this disease.

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