Can a vegan diet, exercise and meditation halt Alzheimer's disease?

With your elevated chances of dementia post stroke,  your competent? doctor is responsible for preventing that! Have they taken on that responsibility? Or are they DOING NOTHING?

With your chances of getting dementia post stroke you need solutions. YOUR DOCTOR IS RESPONSIBLE FOR PREVENTING THIS!

1. A documented 33% dementia chance post-stroke from an Australian study?   May 2012.

2. Then this study came out and seems to have a range from 17-66%. December 2013.`    

3. A 20% chance in this research.   July 2013.

4. Dementia Risk Doubled in Patients Following Stroke September 2018

 

Send me hate mail on this: oc1dean@gmail.com. I'll print your complete statement with your name and my response in my blog. Or are you afraid to engage with my stroke-addled mind? I need an explanation of when you'll actually solve stroke.

 

Can a vegan diet, exercise and meditation halt Alzheimer's disease?

People with early-stage Alzheimer's disease may be able to slow their cognitive decline through diet and exercise, according to a new study.

Participants who adhered to a daily mix of aerobic exercise and a mostly plant-based diet slowed cognitive decline, however, memory and thinking worsened for members of a control group who didn't change their habits, according to the study published Friday in Alzheimer's Research and Therapy. The study was conceptualized by Dean Ornish, a physician and researcher whose rigorous diet and lifestyle recommendations to combat chronic disease have generated debate over the years among medical researchers.

Researchers cautioned that the results must be replicated before broader conclusions can be drawn. The study enrolled just 51 people, in part, due to difficulties posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.Start the day smarter. Get all the news you need in your inbox each morning.

But the small-scale multi-state study suggests lifestyle changes might be another way to combat Alzheimer's, a mind-robbing disease that afflicts 6.9 million Americans, they say. The disease has stymied researchers and drug companies that have poured billions into developing drugs targeting beta-amyloid protein that accumulates in the brains of Alzheimer's patients.

After all that investment, only two drugs, Leqembi and Aduhelm, have won Food and Drug Administration approval, and the maker of Aduhelm halted sales and relinquished ownership of the drug. An FDA advisory committee next week will evaluate donanemab, an anti-amyloid drug made by Eli Lilly.Dr. Rudy Tanzi, director of the McCance Center for Brain Health at Massachusetts General Hospital and co-author of the diet and exercise study, said the new research suggests a vegetarian diet and regular exercise reduced amyloid in patients."It's almost like a mini-Leqembi result," said Tanzi, referring to the amyloid-clearing drug that won FDA approval last year. "So it's pretty astonishing."Researchers not involved in the study say while the results are promising, they'd like to see larger studies into the effects of diet and exercise on people with Alzheimer's."It was a very small sample," said Laura Baker, a Wake Forest University School of Medicine professor of gerontology and geriatric medicine. "This does not provide definitive answers yet."Vegetarian diet, aerobics and supplementsThe study included 51 people in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease who were randomly assigned to a group that adopted regular exercise and dietary changes or a control group whose members did not take such actions. The researchers measured the cognition and function of the two groups using several commonly used tests in Alzheimer's research. The study found that lifestyle changes "may improve cognition and function" after 20 weeks. The control group had worsening signs of disease, the study reported.The participants were shipped 21 plant-based meals and snacks each week consisting of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, soy products, seeds and nuts. They were asked to follow the diet strictly and take eight supplements and vitamins. Participants also took daily 30-minute walks, did strength-training movements three days per week and sought to manage stress through meditation, yoga or stretching for one hour each day.To reinforce those actions, participants and their spouses or caregivers joined four-hour Zoom sessions three times each week to complete one hour of supervised exercise, one hour of stretching, one hour of a support group and a one-hour lecture on lifestyle changes.Those who participated in the diet and exercise regimen all reported better scores on four common Alzheimer's tests when compared to individuals in the control group. Three of the tests yielded scores suggesting participants showed "improvement in cognition and function" and a fourth test revealed the participants in the regime showed less cognitive decline than the control group.The study also said a measure of beta-amyloid in the blood favored those who dieted and exercised compared to the control group.The lifestyle proponent behind the study Ornish, a physician who has long supported lifestyle medicine as a means of combating chronic disease, secured research funding and was the study's principal investigator. He describes lifestyle medicine as including a plant-based diet, moderate exercise, meditation and support groups to prevent, slow or reverse the effects of heart disease and other chronic conditions. Using those same principles on Alzheimer's patients, he said, has the potential to combat the effects of the disease.

Ornish said decades ago, mainstream medicine thought that heart disease was irreversible. But lifestyle changes and medications have shown that heart disease often can be slowed or reversed, he said.

He believes this study shows Alzheimer's disease can be slowed similarly.

Despite the small number of participants, Ornish said the study was rigorous and backed by data.

"There's a common misconception that if it's not 1,000 people, then it's not a valid study," Ornish said. "But you can actually argue the other way around, that if it takes 1,000 people to show statistical significance, then it's not really a very powerful intervention."

He said the beta-amyloid levels, cognitive scores and other biomarker measures led researchers to conclude that lifestyle interventions worked.

The study reported two-thirds of patients in the control group worsened and none improved over 20 weeks. But 17 of 24 patients completing the diet and lifestyle changes either stabilized or improved their cognition and function scores.

"Looking through the lens of all these different measures, overall, these patients are, on average, clearly getting better in one group and worse in the other," Ornish said.

Study lacked racial, ethnic diversity

The study noted it had limitations, including a lack of racial and ethnic diversity among study participants. Participants also knew they were undergoing the diet and lifestyle regimen, and therefore, they might have anticipated positive results. To guard against a placebo effect, researchers told participants they did not know whether the lifestyle changes would work.

Baker, at Wake Forest, has also researched whether regular exercise from light stretching to rigorous aerobics, can help slow memory and thinking decline. Her research team expects to report results from a large study of more than 2,000 participants next year.

Baker said her research and Ornish's studies underscore the importance of heart health and potential benefits to long-term brain health.

However, she does not believe there is enough evidence to suggest Alzheimer's disease or other dementias can be reversed through diet and exercise. Such a claim would need to be bolstered by several large-scale studies, evidence that does not yet exist, she said.

"The idea that lifestyle intervention can reverse dementia or cognitive impairment – I just don't think there's enough evidence for that," Baker said. "And I think that's creating false hope right now."

A longevity expert shares 3 tips for a nutritious anti-aging breakfast

How long before your competent? doctor gets the dietician to incorporate this into your hospital diet protocol?  NEVER? Then you don't have a functioning stroke doctor. I don't know what you have but it's not a stroke doctor you want to have.

A longevity expert shares 3 tips for a nutritious anti-aging breakfast

• Longevity expert Valter Longo developed the longevity diet, which is essentially "vegan plus fish."
• Here, he offers tips on putting together a longevity-boosting breakfast.
• He recommends including lots of food groups and getting creative with ingredients.

An expert in longevity told Insider his three tips for making healthy, enjoyable breakfasts with anti-aging benefits.

Valter Longo is a professor in gerontology and director of the USC Longevity Institute who developed the longevity diet — a diet that he says is essentially "vegan plus fish." The longevity diet is rich in legumes, whole grains, nuts, and seeds, and relatively low in protein. The diet's principles are based on Longo's own research on populations around the world that live especially long lives.

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A doctor who wrote a book on the Mediterranean diet shares his 4 favorite snacks©Dr. Simon Poole

• The Mediterranean diet is widely considered the healthiest way to eat.
• Dr. Simon Poole, a dietary expert, shared his favorite Mediterranean snack ideas with Insider.
• He said to try simple foods such as olives, skin-on nuts, and chocolate (but make sure it's dark).

The Mediterranean diet is widely considered the healthiest way to eat.

It prioritizes eating vegetables, legumes, seafood, and olive oil with minimal amounts of processed and fried foods, red meat, refined grains, sugar, and saturated fat.

Dr. Simon Poole, a dietary expert based in the UK, told Insider that there was a "very considerable amount of really good, high quality scientific research to show that it reduces the risks of really so many chronic diseases, from heart disease and stroke through to many cancers and even Alzheimer's disease."

It's also associated with longevity, better mental health, and maintaining a healthy weight, so it can improve quality of life in many areas as well, Poole said.

He shared four of his favorite Mediterranean diet snack ideas with Insider, following on from his favorite breakfasts, lunches, and dinners.

It also includes periods of fasting, and encourages as much walking as possible to mimic the habits of centenarians living traditionally active lifestyles.

Here are Longo's tips for making nutritious breakfasts to help improve longevity.

Eat a breakfast that contains multiple food groups

First of all, "you have to have breakfast," Longo said.

A healthy breakfast on the longevity diet might contain whole grains, nuts, and fruit.

Longo himself likes to have friselle, a whole-grain bread from Italy, with a nut spread containing almond and cocoa, as well as an apple.

Related video: Top 5 Foods That Seniors Should Incorporate Into Their Diet (Saving Advice)

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Almond butter is one of the healthiest nut butters as long as it doesn't contain added sugar, dietitian Allison Childress previously told Insider, because it contains vitamins and minerals such as vitamin E, magnesium, and calcium.

Make sure you eat things you enjoy

You shouldn't put pressure on yourself to eat things that you won't enjoy just because they are good for you; Longo said that whatever you eat should "be a version of what you like based on the general rules" of the longevity diet, not necessarily what he would eat.

For example, Longo's fig, nut, and cornmeal "cookies," or baked oats with fruit and nuts, could be good options.

Dietitian Danielle Smith previously told Insider that there's no point trying to force yourself to eat something if it doesn't make you feel good or you just don't like it, as this will make it harder to maintain the switch to a healthy diet over time. It's much better to "focus on other nutrient dense foods" that you do like, she said.

Don't be afraid of making changes to get more nutrients in your breakfast

In the same vein, Longo makes changes to his breakfasts to get more nutrients in without sacrificing taste.

He makes his morning cup of tea with two tea bags: one green tea bag and one black. This is because "the green doesn't taste as good as the black," he said, but he can still reap the nutritional benefits of the green tea.

Green tea has been linked to better brain function and heart health, lower cholesterol, improved bone strength, and even anti-aging skin effects.

Insider previously reported on healthy alternatives to popular breakfast items that you can easily switch out to make your favorite breakfast more nutritious

4 gym-free ways you can stay strong and active so you can live longer, according to Super Agers

 Are you getting this information from your doctor? WHY NOT?

Do you prefer your doctor  and hospital incompetence in this NOT KNOWING? OR NOT DOING?

4 gym-free ways you can stay strong and active so you can live longer, according to Super Agers

Residents of Blue Zones, areas where people live the longest, rarely go to the gym.They get the benefits of exercise unintentionally through walking, dancing, and socializing.Making fitness social and enjoyable can help you stick to it for a long-term health boost. You don't need a fancy fitness studio, or even any workout equipment at all, to live a long, healthy life.

Tech execs like Bryan Johnson and Sam Altman are optimizing their diets to live longer. Here's what experts say to eat to expand your lifespan, from pomegranates to red onions.

• As a quest for longevity sweeps the nation, people are taking supplements and prescription pills to reverse aging.
• Research shows that diet also plays a role in determining — and even increasing — a person's lifespan. 
• Here's a list of fruits, vegetables, spices, and drinks that experts say can lead to a longer life. 

Some billionaires, like Elon Musk, opt for a donut for breakfast and barbecue for dinner.

Others, like biotech entrepreneur Bryan Johnson, methodically prepare smoothies with compounds like creatine, spermidine, collagen peptides, and consume copious amounts of vegetables Tech billionaires clearly don't have similar diets, or even goals for their health. Still, those like Johnson aren't abiding by fastidious nutrition plans simply to stay healthy — they're aiming to live longer. 

And though there's certainly an overlap between eating for general health and eating for longevity, Dr. Anant Vinjamoori, chief medical officer of longevity-focused healthcare company Modern Age, told Insider there are also a few key differences.  

Mind your protein intake

Vinjamoori suggests looking at protein intake as an example. 

"Protein is essential for building and maintaining muscle mass, and having adequate muscle mass is important for healthy aging." At the same time, Vinjamoori said, "protein intake is also known to work against some of the beneficial, restorative pathways in our body."

That idea is corroborated by the work of Dan Buettner, who founded the longevity brand Blue Zones. Buettner spent years studying the habits of those in what are called "Blue Zones," regions of the world where people tend to live to the age of 100. 

Across all five Blue Zones — Loma Linda, California; Nicoya, Costa Rica; Sardinia, Italy; Ikaria, Greece; Okinawa, Japan — Buettner and his team found that people consume less protein (especially animal protein) than the rest of the world. 

Go vegetarian or vegan

David Sinclair, a Harvard Medical School professor and longevity researcher, takes the argument against animal protein one step further, contending that the best way to live longer is by dropping meat entirely.In an interview with The Knowledge Project Podcast last December, Sinclair said that high animal protein diets may help people look and feel great, but only in the short term.

"I'm convinced, and the data shows it from population studies, that a carnivorous diet is not a longevity producing diet in the long run," he said. 

Several powerful figures in the tech industry don't eat meat either. OpenAI's Sam Altman is vegetarian while Twitter co-founder Biz Stone is vegan.

Breaking it down to the cellular level 

Vinjamoori said that it can also be helpful to think about eating for longevity from the cellular level. "I start with the question of what cellular processes I want to optimize, determine which compounds have been shown in research to optimize those processes, and then to find foods that have high concentrations of those compounds," he said. 

Insider set out to figure exactly which foods would optimize those processes, and ultimately, help you live longer. Read more, below. 

Simple activities like walking, climbing stairs, and dancing keep the Blue Zones' Super Agers strong, vital, and healthy into their 80s, 90s, and even past 100 years old. 

Walking is one of the simplest ways to improve your health

Walking is a natural part of daily life for many residents of Blue Zones. In places like Singapore where using a car is expensive, it's easy for people to rack up more than 10,000 steps a day, which is about four miles or an hour and a half of walking. 

"They don't even know it, but they're exercising. They're moving naturally all day long," Buettner said. 

For those of us who spend most of the day moving from our cars to our desks to the couch, it may seem like a lot. But thankfully, you don't have to sell your car or move to another country to get the benefits of walking. 

Research shows that adding just a thousand more steps to your day can stave off early death and illnesses such as heart disease.

10 Things to Stop Doing If You Want to Live a Long LifeHigh elevations in Blue Zones like Sardinia, Italy have been linked to longer lifespans, in part because the people there routinely walk up and down stairs or hills as part of their daily routines. 

"If we want to live longer, instead of paying for an expensive gym membership, maybe start by skipping the elevator and taking the stairs," Buettner said. 

A recent study found that doing one minute of exercise that raises your heart rate, like climbing the stairs or carrying groceries, can reduce the risk of early death if you do it a few times a day. 

That's a major boost for longevity in significantly less time (and sweat) than it would take to complete a HIIT class.

Playing a group sport can help you be consistent with exercise 

A major downfall of many workout routines is that people may try them for a while, but don't stick to them long term, according to Buettner. 

"In the United States we spend billions on gym memberships that go largely unused. We're well-intentioned, we just can't seem to keep exercise routines going long enough to make a difference," he said. 

Residents of another Blue Zone, the city of Loma Linda in California, have found a solution in making exercise a community event, whether they're meeting up on the pickleball court or at the swimming pool. 

Research suggests that finding a workout buddy is one of the best ways to stay motivated to exercise for the long haul, according to Harvard paleoanthropologist Daniel Lieberman.

Making exercise social helps hold you accountable, promotes social bonding, and increases your odds of being consistent, he said. That's true whether you're signing up for your local rec center kickball tournament, or just walking in the park with a friend. 

Dancing is a fun, social way to boost heart health 

Combining some of the best of the Blue Zones fitness strategies like being social and finding unintentional ways to get moving, a region in Greece called Ikaria demonstrates how to make partying a workout. 

People in the area hold traditional events called panegyris that last for hours. 

"They are dancing all night long. And you might say 'big deal, they're at a party,'" Buettner said. "Actually, an hour of running or an hour of dancing are about equal when it comes to caloric burn. But an hour of dancing is a blast."

At the same time, the dancers are also socializing, appreciating music, and yes, enjoying wine — also linked to potential longevity benefits.  

This Greek approach to activity highlights how too many of us associate exercise with suffering, in contrast to people in Blue Zones who find ways to make it an enjoyable and consistent part of everyday life, according to Buettner. 

"We're learning that physical activity can be joyful," he said.