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Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive neurological disorder that gradually erodes memory, thinking skills, and the ability to carry out simple tasks. It is the most common form of dementia, accounting for 60-80% of all dementia cases, primarily affecting older adults, typically those aged 65 and older. Other forms of dementia include vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, frontotemporal dementia, and mixed dementia, among others.

Alzheimer’s was relatively uncommon in the 1960s, but today, it has become widespread and continues to rise dramatically. It is predicted that this trend will accelerate, as every day approximately 10,000 people turn age 65 in the United States, significantly increasing the population at risk.

Genetics contribute roughly three percent to Alzheimer’s risk, while lifestyle and nutritional factors play a far more significant role. Notably, sufficient levels of DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) in the brain have been shown to potentially reduce the likelihood of developing Alzheimer’s by up to 50 percent. Concurrently, the decline in omega-3 intake and the dramatic increase in omega-6 consumption (primarily through processed seed and vegetable oils) have closely correlated with the rise in Alzheimer’s cases.

When Was Alzheimer’s First Discovered?

Alzheimer’s was first identified in 1906 by German psychiatrist and neuropathologist Dr. Alois Alzheimer. Dr. Alzheimer observed unusual changes in the brain tissue of a patient, Auguste Deter, who had exhibited severe memory loss, confusion, and personality changes. Upon examining her brain postmortem, Dr. Alzheimer found abnormal clumps (now known as amyloid plaques) and tangled bundles of fibers (tau tangles). These discoveries became the hallmark indicators of the disease named after him.

Why Is Alzheimer’s on the Rise?

Alzheimer’s disease is increasingly prevalent, with current estimates suggesting millions more cases by 2050. Several reasons explain this surge:

1. 1. Aging Population: The most significant factor driving the rise in Alzheimer’s cases is the growing number of older adults. As medical advancements enable people to live longer, more individuals reach the ages at highest risk for Alzheimer’s.
   2. Lifestyle Factors: Modern lifestyle habits, including diets high in processed foods, lack of exercise, chronic stress, and poor sleep patterns, may contribute to increased Alzheimer’s risk.
   3. Environmental Exposure: Exposure to environmental toxins, air pollution, and harmful chemicals are increasingly investigated for their potential roles in cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s development.
   4. Dietary Influence: Growing evidence points to poor nutrition as a major contributor to Alzheimer’s. Researchers, notably Dr. Richard Johnson from the University of Colorado School of Medicine, have proposed that high-fructose corn syrup and excess fructose consumption significantly impact brain health. Dr. Johnson’s research highlights how excessive fructose intake triggers metabolic changes in the brain, promoting inflammation, insulin resistance, and the accumulation of harmful amyloid and tau proteins. Additionally, insulin resistance, exacerbated by diets rich in processed sugars and carbohydrates, is increasingly recognized as a critical factor. Rising consumption of linoleic acid, commonly found in seed and vegetable oils, is also believed by many experts to contribute to inflammation and neural damage associated with Alzheimer’s. Furthermore, neuroscientists increasingly emphasize the role of inadequate omega-3 fatty acid intake, specifically DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid). Omega-3 fatty acids are crucial for reducing inflammation, including brain inflammation, and supporting overall brain function. Shockingly, approximately 99 percent or more of adults in the United States have insufficient DHA levels in the brain, which is increasingly seen as a contributing factor to Alzheimer’s.
   5. Institutionalized Living and Nutrition: Many individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer’s reside in assisted living facilities or institutional care settings, where meals are typically prepared using seed and vegetable oils, rich in inflammatory linoleic acid. Such diets could further exacerbate inflammation and neurological damage. Additionally, dehydration is a common issue in assisted living facilities, and dehydration can significantly impair cognitive function. In some cases, symptoms associated with severe dehydration can be mistaken for dementia or Alzheimer’s, leading to misdiagnoses.

Truth Bombs: The Neglected Factor – Nutrition

A significant but often overlooked truth is that many caregivers, institutions, and healthcare systems responsible for individuals with Alzheimer’s are failing to adequately address nutritional factors. As a result, dietary choices in these care settings frequently contribute to worsening conditions. Without proactive nutritional interventions, conditions related to Alzheimer’s and cognitive decline are bound to deteriorate further. Proper nutrition, hydration, and the elimination of inflammatory foods such as seed oils and processed sugars must become central to Alzheimer’s care strategies if meaningful progress is to be made.

The Terrible 10: Foods Highest in Linoleic Acid (Omega-6)

To reduce inflammation and support brain health, it’s crucial to limit the most common sources of omega-6-rich linoleic acid:

1. 1. Safflower Oil: ~75% linoleic acid
   2. Grapeseed Oil: ~70% linoleic acid
   3. Sunflower Oil: ~65% linoleic acid
   4. Corn Oil: ~58% linoleic acid
   5. Soybean Oil: ~55% linoleic acid
   6. Cottonseed Oil: ~52% linoleic acid
   7. Sesame Oil: ~42% linoleic acid
   8. Rice Bran Oil: ~35% linoleic acid
   9. Peanut Oil: ~32% linoleic acid
   10. Canola Oil: ~20–28% linoleic acid

These oils and foods are staples in processed products, restaurant meals, and institutional kitchens. Eliminating or reducing them in your diet can help improve your omega-6 to omega-3 balance and reduce your risk of chronic inflammation and cognitive decline.

Preventative Benefits of BalanceOil+

BalanceOil+ is a clinically proven supplement that effectively improves omega-3 index levels, optimizes omega-6 to omega-3 ratios, and enhances DHA availability in the brain. By significantly reducing inflammation and supporting overall brain health, BalanceOil+ offers a proactive approach to lowering Alzheimer’s risk and improving cognitive function. Incorporating BalanceOil+ into daily nutritional strategies is an essential preventive measure, especially considering the widespread deficiency of DHA in the population.

What Do Experts Believe Causes Alzheimer’s?

While the exact cause of Alzheimer’s is not yet fully understood, experts have identified several contributing factors:

• • Amyloid Plaques and Tau Tangles: The accumulation of beta-amyloid proteins forming plaques around brain cells and tau proteins creating neurofibrillary tangles within nerve cells are believed to disrupt neural communication, causing cell death.
  • Inflammation: Chronic inflammation, potentially due to diet, infections, or metabolic issues, is increasingly recognized as a major contributor to Alzheimer’s progression.
  • Insulin Resistance: Sometimes termed “Type 3 Diabetes,” Alzheimer’s is linked to insulin resistance in the brain, impairing glucose metabolism and contributing to neuronal damage.
  • Genetics: Family history and specific genes, such as the APOE ε4 allele, significantly increase Alzheimer’s risk, though genetics alone rarely determine the disease.
  • Lifestyle and Metabolic Health: Cardiovascular health, obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and physical inactivity are known to elevate Alzheimer’s risk by affecting overall brain health and promoting neurodegeneration.

Understanding Alzheimer’s involves recognizing its multifaceted causes, emphasizing preventive measures like healthier lifestyles, managing inflammation, ensuring sufficient omega-3 fatty acid intake, reducing processed sugars and unhealthy fats, maintaining proper hydration, and promoting cognitive and physical activity. Ongoing research aims to unlock more precise interventions to delay, treat, or even prevent this devastating condition.

Take Action to Reduce Your Risk

Thank you for reading this article. I know it’s a lot of information—some of it easily understood, and some of it potentially confusing. If you’d like to learn more about how nutrition can help reduce your risk and protect those you love from this debilitating and deadly disease, email me at robert@dietfreelife.com or click here to schedule a free consultation. Discover how informed nutritional choices, including omega-3s and polyphenols, can increase your odds of maintaining cognitive health.

References

• • Alzheimer’s Association. (2024). Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures.
  • Johnson, R. J. et al. (2023). Fructose metabolism as a driver of Alzheimer’s disease. Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience.
  • U.S. Census Bureau. (2023). Aging Population Statistics.
  • NIH National Institute on Aging. (2024). Causes and Risk Factors for Alzheimer’s Disease.
  • Simopoulos, A. P. (2002). The importance of the ratio of omega-6/omega-3 essential fatty acids. Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy.
  • Zinzino Clinical Studies. (2023). BalanceOil+ and omega-3 index improvement data.
  • Barberger-Gateau, P. et al. (2007). Omega-3 fatty acids, nutrition, and Alzheimer’s disease. The Journal of Nutrition, Health & Aging.

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Robert Ferguson is a California- and Florida-based single father of two daughters, nutritionist, researcher, best-selling author, speaker, podcast and television host, health advisor, NAACP Image Award Nominee, creator of the Diet Free Life methodology, and Chief Nutrition Officer for iCoura Health. He also serves on the Presidential Task Force on Obesity for the National Medical Association and the Health and Product Advisory Board for Zinzino, Inc.

You can reach Robert via email at robert@dietfreelife.com.

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