Dementia-Sufferer Regains Her Memory Thanks To Diet

[naomi24]

A pensioner with dementia has made a remarkable recovery after switching to a Mediterranean-style diet high in blueberries and walnuts.
Sylvia Hatzer, from Prestwich, Greater Manchester, could no longer recognise her son and had to be kept in hospital for her own safety because her dementia had become so severe.
But her son, Mark, was determined not to lose another parent and so helped his mother switch diets after realising Mediterranean countries have lower rates of dementia.
She is now being held up by charity the Alzheimer's Society as an example of how the disease can be - if not be completely beaten - arrested significantly.

Wonderful! Instead of concentrating on what we do eat, perhaps we should really think about what we don’t eat on a regular basis?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5644745/Dementia-suffering-mother-REGAINS-memory-thanks-Mediterranean-style-diet.html

[woofgang]

Avatar Image spathiphyllum Talking about neurological affects did you know gut bacteria can affect things from depression to memory?

https://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/News/Question1603675.html


Spath there is not yet evidence of this as I said on your other thread....for one thing, correlation is not causation and for another it could be the other way around and the illness could be affecting the gut bacteria. So far as the experiments on mice are concerned, I would want to be assured that all other aspects of the lives of both sets of mice were exactly the same......I am not saying its not true, only that there is insufficient evident right now.

[ummmm]

Naomi - I get very weak, tired, wobbly/unsteady and nausea. I also suffer with low blood pressure which doesn't help either. But it's definitely the nausea that's the worst.

[naomi24]

ummmm, Has the B12 stopped it?

[ummmm]

It certainly helps.

I have an ulcer in my upper intestine and the medication I'm on to control that prevents the body from absorbing vitB. That's why I'm on 3 lots (folic acid is part of the VitB group of meds). I certainly don't feel sick as much.

[naomi24]

Pleased it's helping.

[ummmm]

Luckily I work for my cousin and because I can have bad days he lets me do it from home.

[dunnitall]

Naomi, these are some of the symptoms which if untreated will get worse, especially the neurological ones. As ummmm says they aren't pleasant. My OH suffers more than me to where he's on virtual collapse at times so I have first hand experience of what it can do.

Fatigue - Breathlessness - headaches - palpitations - depression - unsteady on the feet - falls - disturbed vision - memory loss - and more.

You don't have to suffer all of course as some people don't have the neurological symptoms but if they do then they can really do harm. My opinion is that if anyone can identify that they could be suffering the symptoms is first to ask to be tested for the B12. IF you are told "all is normal" you must ask for the actual figures, for B12 and folate. They will have the info when they receive results.

As said before, doctors don't put much store in lack of vitamins and minerals as I've found out personally and from what I've read from others. If you start taking the supplements before you are tested then your results will go up and give docs the reason to say they are in range even if low range. Best to get tested first and see the results.

[naomi24]

dunnitall, thanks. This is all very interesting.

[youngmafbog]

It's an interesting claim but I dont think it is very wise to hold up one, very unscientific, case.

Don't get me wrong having seen the effects of dementia first hand I would welcome a fix but these days we see so many "wonder cures" that are usually proved false shortly after.

I would be very surprised if no research has been carried out though as a Mediterranean diet is often held up for the cure of many things.

[naomi24]

YMF, //a Mediterranean diet is often held up for the cure of many things. //

Perhaps it is ... but moreover perhaps it's a preventative.

[youngmafbog]

Maybe, but it needs scientific proof would you not agree?

[dunnitall]

@ymf I agree but if no one is advocating it as a cure, it might give some an incentive to try it just to see if it works for them. My opinion is, if it's not dangerous try it and if it works all well and good.

[ummmm]

After I started on my medication last year I had what I thought was rare side effects. It was joint pain. Every single joint in my body hurt. I went to the GP and she thought the medication was throwing up something else deficient. She was right, I was put on a course of VitD and the pain went within days.

Lack of vitD throws up similar issues to lack of vitB but you can't take VitD long term. My course of VitD finishes just before I go on holiday for two weeks...so my stocks should be replenished. Then I must make a real effort to go out in the sun.

[ummmm]

You can't take too much VitB. Your body will just excrete any extra that it doesn't need with no ill effects.

[naomi24]

YMB, scientific proof would definitely be an advantage, but I don't see that harm can come from eating what is essentially a far healthier diet than many people in this country currently eat.

[ladybirder]

I have been reading this with interest. I suffer from 5 of the symptoms dunnitall lists and my question is if I start taking B12 tablets roughly how long before I can expect to see an improvement?

[Bathsheba]

I am same as Ladybirder.
~Baths~

[ummmm]

LB - with me I started feeling better within a few day. I am on 3 types though. If just B12 I would guess within a week.

[ladybirder]

OK thanks Ummmm. Nothing to lose then. I'll give it a go.

[ummmm]

Absolutely nothing to lose. Read up on any other vitamins you might want to take though. VitB is safe. Some others need to be limited.