MEDICATION & RESEARCH
effects, including death from brain bleeding and swelling, especially in those with a history of stroke.
Perhaps the most convincing reason why the new blood marker hunt is “misguided” is that there is something very cheap and very safe that can prevent the accumulation of p-tau tangles in the brain – B vitamins.
“High doses of B vitamins given to people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and high
homocysteine, slowed the rate of brain cell death by up to 73%.”
If you are not taking in enough B6, folate or B12, which becomes harder to absorb as you get older, blood levels of a toxic amino acid called homocysteine rise. This increases the level of p-tau and inhibits the brain from clearing it.
According to pharmacology professor David Smith, a member of APEG: “Homocysteine is not a diagnostic marker for dementia, but it is a modifiable risk factor. Raised levels of homocysteine account for some 20% of dementia cases and homocysteine testing is relatively inexpensive and available.”
Smith, who was second in charge at Oxford University’s School of Medical Sciences, ran the VITACOG trial which found that high doses of B vitamins given to people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and high homocysteine, not only slowed the rate of brain cell death by up to 73% but also arrested cognitive decline.
He, and his APEG colleagues, favour using a Cognitive Function Test, which is free, to identify those at risk then testing risk factors and biomarkers such as homocysteine to be included in the research funds being made available for testing blood biomarkers, because this is one thing you can actually do something about.
Other useful tests for risk factors include omega-3 and vitamin D levels, since low levels of these nutrients also increase risk; and HbA1c, the standard measure used to diagnose diabetes, since lower levels help protect the brain and high levels indicate those who need to reduce their intake of sugar and processed foods.
These tests are corroborative rather than diagnostic but importantly they identify prevention actions that people can take. This two-step paradigm of testing cognitive function early then having further blood tests, such as homocysteine, omega-3, vitamin D and HBA1c for glucose control, help guide diet and lifestyle prevention. And they are available right now. The charity
foodforthebrain.org offers a free cognitive function test, plus a home test kit that measures all these risk factors with a pin prick blood test.
https://foodforthebrain.org https://foodforthebrain.org/apeg
x.com/TomorrowsCare
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