Alzheimer’s: The Epidemic Continues
Scotland saw a 33.4% increase in deaths from Alzheimer’s and other dementias over the course of one year (“‘Alarming’ rise in Alzheimer’s Disease deaths in Scotland”, 2017)! This statistic is unnerving, especially as the rising rate isn’t just affecting Scotland. Since 2000, there has been a 145% increase in Alzheimer’s related deaths in the United States (Alzheimer’s Association, 2019). The disease isn’t simply affecting those in old age anymore either; younger and younger people are finding themselves afflicted with Alzheimer’s disease. If we lose our memories, we lose ourselves. The cost to society and to caregivers is enormous, and the loss of wisdom is incalculable.
What is Alzheimer’s? In reality, it is an extremely rare genetic disorder leading to brain loss, dementia, and early death. Today, it is used as a blanket term for all dementia; however, what we are seeing today is not classic Alzheimer’s. Something has fundamentally changed in our world to see such a colossal rise in dementia.
The one thing that links us all is food. We are all eating from the same grocery stores, and therefore ingesting the same food no matter where we live in North America. That was not the case 100 years ago, when all food came from local farmers or—more likely— your own farm. Our food today is very grain-centric, loaded with pesticides and herbicides. Healthy fat made up 70% of our calories a mere 100 years ago; today, our healthy fat content has dropped to just 30%. As the brain is made of fat, these dietary patterns were bound to have an effect, and now we are seeing the consequences.
A recent study shows that the biggest difference between brains with dementia and those without is the level of cholesterol, in addition to the amount of linoleic acid (the essential omega-6 fatty acid) they contain (Zamroziewicz et al., 2017). We are literally waging war on our brains with our current dogma of attacking cholesterol and reducing the amount of omega-6 in our diet.
Pure Form Omega® contains essential omega-6, in its pure, organic form, which is cold processed under a blanket of nitrogen to prevent damage. Each capsule contains a bubble of nitrogen, so no antioxidants or preservatives are needed. Do your brain a favour and try it today!
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REFERENCES
Alzheimer’s Association. (2019). 2019 Alzheimer’s disease facts and figures, Alzheimer’s & Dementia, 15(3), 321-387. Doi: 10.1016/j.jalz.2019.01.010
“‘Alarming’ rise in Alzheimer’s Disease deaths in Scotland”. (2017). Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-41256219.
Zamroziewicz, M., Paul, E., Zwilling, C., & Barbey, A. (2017). Predictors of Memory in Healthy Aging: Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Balance and Fornix White Matter Integrity, Aging and Disease, 8(4), 372-383. Doi: 10.14336/AD.2017.0501.