Recent research claims that Alzheimer's disease may be similiar to diabetes. In this Medical Monday segment, Dr. Morgan Sauer from The Longevity Center at St. Vincent discusses this study.
Research is showing that increased levels of insulin in the body causes increased release of amyloid into the brain. Amyloid is very sticky and forms plaques in the brain which is what researchers look for as the hallmark sign of Alzheimer's disease.
"Some amyloid is always released in our brains, but there are mechanisms that out brain uses to destroy the amyloid," says Dr. Sauer. "Higher levels of insulin not only cause more release of amyloid, but also prevent the brain from eliminating this toxic substance. There are studies that have shown increased amyloid in the fluid of the brain in people who are given insulin but are not diabetic."
Insulin is made by the body to take sugars and burn it as fuel. When you eat things that are lower in sugars, the body does not have to release as much insulin. When you eat or drink things that release a lot of sugar into the body in a big burst instead of a slow release over time, the body has to release a lot more insulin to keep the blood sugars normal. That extra insulin may be damaging our brains over time.
Dr. Sauer recommends avoiding concentrated sugars like processed sugar and high fructose corn syrup as well as avoiding high processed foods like white breads and processed flour.
Instead choose whole grain breads and pastas and decrease your intake of extremely starchy products like potatoes. Instead choose fruits and vegetables that have a lot of color like green, blue, purple, and red. Also, avoid fats and grease as much as possible. Substitute vegetable oil and shortening for items like olive, almond, or walnut oil.
As always, it's important for everyone to get more exercise.
"Exercise burns these sugars while exercising but causes the body to burn more calories when you are resting," says Dr. Sauer. "Building muscle along with walking can help because muscle burn sugars."
These recommendations are very similiar to the heart healthy diets and diabetes prevention diets that doctors have been recommending for years.
"As we learn more about Alzheimer's, we learn more about how different systems of the body work together to promote better health. As Americans, we weight much more than we did in the past, and we are seeing more complications of this from increased heart disease, strokes, diabetes and Alzheimer's."
The Alzheimer's Association has information on their website at www.alz.org for those interested in learning more.