It’s scary to think that one day all of our memories that we have gathered throughout our lives could be gone. Memories could be so easily washed away by Alzheimer’s as if they had never been experienced – who you are, your family, your past. What if there was a pill that could delay the progression of Alzheimer’s at your local drug store?
Well now there just may be. Recent studies have shown that taking a supplement of Vitamin E could delay the progression of mild to moderate Alzheimer’s.
Studies have shown that taking a Vitamin E supplement may be beneficial to prolonging the effects of mild to moderate Alzheimer’s.
What is Vitamin E?
The key to getting the proper nutrients into our body is a healthy diet. Vitamin E is found naturally in many foods that we eat on a daily basis, such as eggs, leafy green vegetables, meat, nuts, poultry, and fortified cereals. Vitamin E can also be taken as a supplement which can be purchased in your local drug store.
According to Discovery Health, “The majority of vitamin E’s benefits stem from its antioxidant qualities. That means it combines with oxygen and destroys free radicals. It protects polyunsaturated fats and other oxygen-sensitive compounds such as vitamin A from being destroyed by damaging oxidation reactions.”
Positive Findings
The study, which was published recently in the Journal of the American Medical Association, found that with a daily dose of 2,000 IUs of Vitamin E over the span of 6 months, patients with Alzheimer’s were able to reduce their functional decline by about 19%. Taking the Vitamin E supplements also improved their quality of life.
With less time spent with caregivers, patients are able to do ordinary tasks by themselves such as using the telephone, keeping track of their checkbook, and other daily activities. In turn, this allowed caregivers to provide 2 less hours of assistance each day, which benefited both patient and caregiver. With the proper dosage of vitamin E, this preventative method of prolonging the effects of Alzheimer’s and dementia is becoming more and more attractive to many people.
Know the Risks
As with any pill or supplement you need to know the risks that are involved. Every pill and every supplement is an experiment and can have different effects on different people. Always be sure to ask your doctor what is best for you before trying out new pills and supplements that involve your health. Here are some of the risks:
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Safety is always a concern when trying a new pill, so be sure to speak with your doctor first
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Higher rate of death associated with high doses of Vitamin E. Make sure you are considering the dosage
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No research shows a correlation with Vitamin E and reduction of memory loss
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Taking vitamin E is a preventative measure, not a treatment for Alzheimer’s
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Research is still being done to determine if daily doses of vitamin E benefit people dealing with dementia and if it is safe
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