Many of the risk factors associated with Alzheimer’s disease are well-managed using naturopathic medicine.
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia.
It is caused by protein build-up in the brain that forms amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles, causing death of brain cells and brain shrinkage.
Early symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease include mild memory loss, but as memory loss becomes more serious it affects a person’s ability to complete everyday tasks, and can ultimately lead to death.
Seek professional healthcare if you or a loved one is experiencing loss of memory or have other concerns about cognitive decline.
Symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease
Possible symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease include:
- Memory loss (e.g., forgetting the names of family members, getting lost in familiar places)
- Difficulty concentrating and thinking, particularly with abstract concepts such as numbers (e.g., difficulty managing finances)
- Difficulty making decisions and judgments (e.g., declining social skills)
- Behavioural changes (e.g., loss of interest in activities, wandering, paranoia)
Prevention of Alzheimer’s Disease at Toronto Centre for Naturopathic Medicine
At Toronto Centre for Naturopathic Medicine, the goals of Alzheimer’s disease prevention are to implement a lifestyle plan that is consistent with lowering Alzheimer’s disease risk and correct underlying health concerns which are associated with increased Alzheimer’s disease risk (e.g., obesity, heart disease, high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, insomnia, smoking).
There are no long-term conventional treatments for Alzheimer’s disease.
For this reason, you may choose to try natural treatment as to minimize your Alzheimer’s disease risk.
Naturopathic treatment of any chronic health concern must be recognized as a process that involves:
- Identifying specific treatment goals
- Development by your naturopathic doctor, of a thorough understanding of all factors affecting your health, including physical, psychological, emotional and lifestyle factors
- Development of a comprehensive treatment plan
- Implementation and maintenance of that plan through periodic monitoring and adjustment
At Toronto Centre for Naturopathic Medicine, a typical approach to preventing Alzheimer’s disease may be to:
- Identify and address underlying factors in your lifestyle (e.g., stress, poor diet, sedentary lifestyle, disrupted sleep) that are associated with development of all disease
- Address or prevent Alzheimer’s disease-related health conditions (e.g., obesity, heart disease, high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, insomnia, smoking)
Where appropriate, a number of therapeutic options are available, to be used alone, or more often in a complementary fashion, including:
- Nutritional counseling
- Nutritional supplements
- Metabolic detoxification protocols
- Herbal (phyto) medicines
- Acupuncture
- Homeopathy
- Bowen Therapy
- Hydrotherapy
- Exercise prescription
- Relaxation (meditation) training
- Lifestyle medicine and counseling
Treatments provided by naturopathic doctors are covered by most extended healthcare plans.