| As people enter their middle years, they | | | | |
| start to notice more and more frequent lapses | | | | At present there is no known cure for |
| of memory, particularly their short-term | | | | Alzheimer's disease. Scientists are racing |
| memory. | | | | to learn the cause, or causes of Alzheimer's, |
| | | | and to find a way to stop the destruction of |
| They may enter a room to do something, and | | | | the brain once it starts. |
| forget what it is. They may be unable to | | | | |
| recall the name of someone who used to live | | | | There is some evidence that people who have a |
| next door. And they may start to worry that | | | | diet high in antioxidants have lower rates of |
| their forgetfulness is not just a harmless | | | | getting Alzheimer's. Fresh fruits and |
| incident, but the first indication of | | | | vegetables, particularly those that have |
| something far more sinister-the onset of | | | | strong, bright colors tend to be high in |
| Alzheimer's Disease. | | | | protective antioxidants. |
| | | | |
| Alzheimer's is the name given to a very | | | | People who consume greater levels of cold |
| serious brain disease in which brain cells | | | | water fish such as salmon, tend to have lower |
| are killed by microscopic plaques and tangled | | | | rates of Alzheimer's. There are also |
| fibers. The parts of the brain crucial for | | | | vitamins, minerals and herbal supplements |
| laying down and accessing recent memories are | | | | that seem to have a protective effect on the |
| usually destroyed first. Brain cell | | | | brain. Higher intakes of Folic acid are |
| destruction spreads to other parts of the | | | | associated with a lower incidence of |
| brain, causing progressive loss of function. | | | | Alzheimer's disease. |
| Death eventually follows. | | | | |