Prevent Brain Diseases

The orthodox medical establishment has very few tools available to treat people suffering from neurodegenerative diseases such as: • Alzheimer’s disease • Parkinson’s disease • ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease) • Huntington’s disease • Chronic traumatic encephalopathy Only a handful of pharmaceutical drugs have been approved for these conditions, but most are ineffective and have nasty side effects. Most neurologists tell patients that no one knows the cause of these diseases, and that there are no treatments. Neither of those statements is true. The sheer volume of research on neurodegenerative disease is overwhelming. In fact, we know a great deal about these disorders, and there is compelling evidence that two processes, occurring simultaneously in the brain, are the root cause of many of these conditions: immune-based inflammation and excitotoxicity (immunoexcitotoxicity). Find more details on how you can keep your brain from the ravages of dementia by reading my report "Save Your Brain." Linked to these processes is activation of the brain’s special immune cells — the microglia — which are the source of inflammatory cytokines and excitotoxins. We see this process in most neurological disorders, including strokes, brain infections, toxic metal exposure (lead, mercury, aluminum, tin, manganese, and cadmium), autoimmune disorders, autism, and the major neurodegenerative disorders. Recent evidence closely links one’s exposure to pesticides, herbicides, and/or fungicides to the development of Parkinson’s disease. These environmental poisons are known to activate brain microglia in the area damaged in Parkinson’s disease. Alzheimer’s dementia, ALS, and aluminum brain toxicity are also linked by a common activation of microglia and triggering of immunoexcitotoxicity. As we age, our brain becomes progressively more inflamed; this can lead to memory loss (mild cognitive impairment). The inflammation is especially intense in those who develop Alzheimer’s. By using what we have learned in hundreds of neuroscienctific studies, these terrible degenerative diseases can be prevented, and, if caught in time, even reversed. Substances that can stop brain degeneration include: • Curcumin • Quercetin • Baicalein • EGCG (from white and green tea) • Resveratrol For more information on how other natural supplements can improve your health, read my newsletter "Extend Your Life: 4 Supplements That Will Help You Live Longer." These substances have also been shown to prevent the pathological changes in the brain seen in Alzheimer’s disease. They can also decrease the amount of beta amyloid, the microscopic substance that accumulates in the brain with Alzheimer’s. Dr. Mark Mattson, a neuroscientist who has spent decades studying brain disorders, believes that restricting caloric intake can significantly reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s dementia. A number of his studies on animal models of Alzheimer’s disease confirm this. In the West, people consume massive amounts of unnecessary calories; this has a devastating effect on brain health. Studies have shown that by fasting just one day a week, a person could get the same beneficial effects as drastic caloric restriction. Brain degeneration is a very slow process and can go on for decades before any sign of trouble appears, such as difficulty remembering or developing a tremor. The key to brain protection is to start early in life. Change your diet now, and take protective supplements daily. However, be aware that the dose of flavonoids is critical. One can actually see the opposite results just by changing the dose. High doses of curcumin or quercetin can harm brain.