Alzheimer disease: protective factors.
Approximately 6-8% of all persons aged >65 y have Alzheimer disease and the prevalence of the disease is increasing. Any intervention strategy aimed at decreasing risks or delaying the onset of the disease will therefore have a substantial effect on health care costs. Nutrition seems to be one of the factors that may play a protective role in Alzheimer disease. Many studies suggest that oxidative stress and the accumulation of free radicals are involved in the pathophysiology of the disease. Several studies have shown the existence of a correlation between cognitive skills and the serum concentrations of folate, vitamin B-12, vitamin B-6, and, more recently, homocysteine. However, nutritional factors have to be studied not alone but with the other factors related to Alzheimer disease: genetics, estrogen, antiinflammatory drug use, and socioeconomic variables. The objective of this article was to review recent studies in this field.
Nourhashemi
F
F
Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Gerontology, University Hospital, Toulouse, France.
Gillette-Guyonnet
S
S
Andrieu
S
S
Ghisolfi
A
A
Ousset
P J
PJ
Grandjean
H
H
Grand
A
A
Pous
J
J
Vellas
B
B
Albarede
J L
JL
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy; D004967:Estrogens / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009747:Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D014803:Vitamin B Complex / Q000097:blood
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D004967:Estrogens; D014803:Vitamin B Complex