A Most Disturbing Statistic: Women and Alzheimer’s

SHELLIE FRADDIN ♦ January 27, 2012 ♦ Leave a Comment

January 26, 2012

ScienceDaily (Mar. 18, 2008) — “Researchers from Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) have estimated that one in six women are at risk for developing Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in their lifetime, while the risk for men is one in ten. These findings were released March 18 by the Alzheimer’s Association in their publication 2008 Alzheimer’s Disease: Facts and Figures.”

In the past year, I have been introduced to groups of women with Alzheimer’s disease, living in assisted living facilities. Some with bracelets on their ankles to track their location, some with companions and some who can still live somewhat independently. The Activities Directors of several facilities invited me to lead Chair Zumba Fitness Classes in Memory Care Centers around Virginia Beach, Chesapeake and Norfolk, VA.

I have read about the disease. I know of families who have experienced the disease of a loved one. I have never personally met anyone with the disease, since my Health & Wellness practice focused on ‘disease prevention’, educating women to strengthen body, mind and spirit. I teach classes, write articles and present lectures to people to improve brain function, to increase energy, to improve skin, nails and hair, to understand nutrition labels, to cook healthy meals, to maintain healthy joints and muscles with Zumba Fitness classes.

I’m disturbed about the incidence of Alzheimer’s in women. I am determined to do something about it, to educate women in preventing the disease from developing, to research the cause, the development and the progression. Living with Alzheimer’s is not the way I see women living out the rest of their lives. I have the vision that women can make a difference throughout their lives, no matter their age; that women can have a meaningful quality of life, way into their 90′s. Women like Grandma Moses, Kathryn Hepburn, Gloria Swanson, did. What can we do to prevent the disease of Alzheimer’s?

RESEARCH QUESTION: Are there any natural treatments for Alzheimer’s Disease and is there a way to prevent its development?

Nutrition Week, May 2, 1997;27(17):7/New York Times, April 24, 1997;A22.

“Alzheimer’s disease patients were given 2000 IU of vitamin E daily, which is 60 times the RDA, resulting in a significant delay in the progression to 1 of 4 major milestone symptoms: inability to perform basic daily activities, admission to a nursing home, progression to severe dementia or death. Patients taking vitamin E did not experience these events for another 230 days compared to placebo patients. “

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“Alzheimer’s is a woman’s disease that’s dramatically changing the way we live as families,” Maria Shriver said. “Sixty percent of people with Alzheimer’s are women, and 60 percent of the caretaking is done by women.”

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Ascorbic Acid in Cerebrospinal Fluid- A Possible Protection Against Free Radicals in the Brain“

Barabas, Judit, et al, Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics, 1995;21:43-48.

Ascorbic acid and dehydroascorbate levels in the plasma and CSF of 12 patients with senile dementia of moderate grade Alzheimer’s type were found to be significantly lower than 15 young, healthy volunteers. An intravenous infusion of 2 gm of ascorbic acid in 5 of these patients showed an active transport process for vitamin C from the plasma through the blood-CSF barrier. The study confirmed the free radical scavenging function of ascorbic acid in the central nervous system. Monitoring ascorbic acid levels in the plasma of demented patients is recommended because of its protective role in the free radical process that occurs in dementia. The amyloid precursor proteins aggregate only in the presence of free radicals.

Vitamin C may reduce the harmful effects of free radicals in the brain.

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Plasma Concentrations of Vitamins A and E and Carotenoids in Alzheimer’s Disease”

“Zaman, Z., et al, Age and Ageing, 1992;21:91-94.”

This study of Alzheimer’s and multi-infarct dementia patients, compared to nondemented elderly controls, found that in the 20 Alzheimer’s and multi-infarct dementia patients there were significantly lower levels of vitamin E and beta-carotene than controls. Vitamin A was significantly reduced only in Alzheimer’s disease patients. Vitamins A and E and the carotenoids act as free radical scavengers and their deficiency may increase the degenerative neurologic process in the brain and thereby exacerbate dementia.

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ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE – THIAMIN, VITAMIN B1

“Thiamine and Alzheimer’s Disease: A Pilot Study”

Blass JP, Gleason P, Brush D, et al, Arch Neurol, August, 1988;45:833-835.

Seven females and 4 males who were between 59 and 83 years of age with Alzheimer’s disease participated in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study evaluating the effects of 3 g/day of oral thiamin hydrochloride for 3 months compared with a placebo, 3 times daily. Results showed that the Mini-Mental State Examination was higher during the 3 months with 3 g/day of oral thiamin hydrochloride than with the placebo. These patients were not thiamin deficient in the conventional sense, malnourished or alcoholics.

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ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE AND INOSITOL

“Inositol Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease: A Double-Blind, Cross-Over Placebo Controlled Trial”

Barak, Yoram, et al, Prog. Neuro-Psychopharmacol. and Biological Psychiatry, 1996;20:729-735.

In a double-blind crossover study, inositol at 6 grams per day versus glucose for 1 month each was carried out in 11 Alzheimer’s disease patients. There was an overall improvement in the Cognitive Subscale of the Cambridge Mental Disorder of the Elderly Examination (CAMDEX) with inositol but it was not significant. Language and orientation improved significantly more with inositol than the placebo. There were no serious side effects. The authors feel that higher doses of inositol should be studied in Alzheimer’s disease patients for longer periods of time.

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More to follow.

A BLESSING IN DISGUISE

SHELLIE FRADDIN ♦ December 13, 2011 ♦ 1 Comment

Monday, 12/12/2011 @4:40pm

I was on my way to the Verizon Fios store, in Virginia Beach, to confirm my order. I was parked at a red light, feeling really happy and peaceful, grateful for a wonderful life: family, friends, health and career. I was peaceful. My life was unfolding and moving in a beautiful direction. I was deeply content.

My Beautiful Toyota Prius

Suddenly, my car was hit hard from behind. My glove compartment flew open and all the contents were strewn everywhere. My handbag and mail on my seat were thrown to the floor. I felt my neck and head go forward and back hitting the headrest. When I looked into my rear view mirror, I saw a big SUV, a dark blue Ford Explorer, had barreled into my beautiful red Toyota Prius. He pulled along side me and we motioned to get off the road to handle the details.

Fortunately, I have never been in an accident in 52 years of driving, from coast-to-coast and many roadtrips in between. Therefore, I wasn’t savvy about whether I should be calling the police or what information we were to exchange. My instinct guided me not to call the police. When I asked for his driver’s license, registration and insurance information, he was evasive and verbally gave me the information, rather than the documents.

He appeared to be extremely agitated and nervous, while an overwhelming feeling of calm came over me. Despite the fact that he had no damage to his SUV and all the damage was in the rear of my Prius, I was centered and calm. The trunk of my Prius was pushed in and the bumper/fender that wrapped around the rear and sides were crushed and separated from the body.

He apologized for hitting me, stating that it was all his fault, that he was distracted, preoccupied. He took his eyes off the road for a moment, the  moment of impact. He was on the way to the hospital where his wife was having a seizure and being treated for congestive heart failure. It was at that precise moment, that I felt an overwhelming feeling of gratitude that my life was blessed; that I could be there for him and his family.

He was distraught and disturbed and with the light of Spirit coming through me, I became even more calm and peaceful. As a student of metaphysics, I know that there are no such things as ‘accidents’. There’s a reason for everything that occurs in our lives. For us,  there is always a lesson if we look for it, a deeper meaning. My thoughts were, ‘why was I there on impact and not another car? Why did the other driver crash into me and why did our paths cross the way it did?

He said he was preoccupied, deep in thought and possibly trance-like, unaware of the cars stopped at the red light. In retrospect, I wondered how often we drive unconsciously, angry, worried, sad or otherwise preoccupied, inattentive to the road and other cars. How often have we arrived at our destination and don’t remember even driving there?

Why did this  ‘accident’ occur?  Why did we ‘crash’?  I would soon discover the reason.

I called my insurance company and his insurance company to file claims. The number he gave me was incorrect and the name of the company was incorrect. Hmmm! What’s going on here? I called him several times to get the correct number and his insurance policy number, left 5 or 6 messages. I went to sleep feeling uneasy and even suspicious that he gave me incorrect information. I prayed that divine intervention resolve the situation for our highest good and handed the situation over to Spirit.

When the driver of the SUV called me the following day, he acknowledged that he was driving without insurance. His policy lapsed and he never renewed. I thought, ‘Oh Boy!! Now what?’

He proceeded to tell me that his wife recently lost her job because of her health. They lost their health insurance associated with her job. They lost their home because she was the one earning the higher income and they couldn’t afford the mortgage payments. They have 3 kids and struggling to make ends meet on his salary.

I wasn’t angry that he had no auto insurance to repair my car, I felt compassion for him and his family. I admired his integrity, courage and strength for not hitting my car and running away,  for telling me the truth, not knowing who I was or what I would do with this new information.

I am a Prayer Chaplain with Unity Renaissance, Chesapeake, VA and was divinely guided at that moment to ask him if he wanted me to pray with him.  I was extremely sensitive to his pain and suffering, and the’ crash’ brought us together for the purpose of healing.

I asked him if he wanted me to pray with him. He was so moved that a healing was occurring, instead of a punishment.  My feelings of compassion came through me from Spirit. When I think about it, it’s a miracle that we can feel compassion for one another despite the circumstances.

One of my spiritual colleagues said that she believes my car was in front of him to save his life. That my car stopped him from going through the light..perhaps injuring himself and others. That by being involved in this ‘crash’, our paths crossed for something good. He is a religious man and said that he wanted to tell me the truth, rather than to run away or lie…that he had no auto insurance. He was so grateful for our connection and for our praying together for healing, that he said he will stand up in church on Sunday to express gratitude for our connection.

Later that day, he called to tell me he called Geico and bought auto insurance.  He is no longer driving around without auto insurance. It does not solve the dilemma of my car repairs, but I  trust that divine intervention will help me repair my car.

And so it is. Amen