Because world wide people live longer, the elderly population is growing increasingly, so is dementia as a public health dilemma Dementia is the most typical cause of cognitive impairment. It's prevalent in 5% of individuals over the age of sixty five and up to 50% of folks over the age of 85.
The damage to cognitive skills for instance impairment of memory along with planning, organizing and abstract thinking skills slowly diminish in the individual with Dementia. Dementia is brought on by a number of reasons. Dementia syndrome is totally reversible, but the vast majority of dementias like Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia aren't reversible.[1]
The commonest type of dementia is Alzheimer's disease. Vascular dementia, sometimes known as multi-infarct dementia, is deterioration in mental function brought on by strokes. "Multi-infarct" implies that multiple areas in the brain are injured due to inadequate blood supply. Pick's disease, Huntington's disease and Parkinson's disease can additionally lead to dementia. The other widespread explanation for dementia is excessive alcohol consumption, due both to the direct neurotoxic effects of alcohol and to the consequences of alcohol on nutritional status. A vital correlation has been found between the danger of dementia and high plasma levels of certain amino acids (which are the building blocks of proteins) and low levels of some vitamins like folic acid, vitamin B6 and vitamin B12. By having high blood levels of amino acids, which is called homocysteine breakdowns in various fundamental processes take place in the body. Additionally information has been suggesting as of lately that a correlation between homocysteine metabolism and cognitive function exists, from mild cognitive decline (age-related memory loss) to vascular dementia and Alzheimer's disease. Significant deficiencies in vitamin B12, folic acid and vitamin B6 are commonly seen in the elderly population, with a resultant increase in homocysteine with advancing age Indirect and direct vascular injury can be attributable to homocysteine, which has been implicated in vascular dementia, with an increased risk of multiple brain infarcts and dementia as homocysteine levels rise.[2]
Nutrition plays an necessary role within the aging process, and information regarding nutrition-connected risk factors in cognitive impairment is accumulating. Before the manifestation of cognitive impairment occurs nutrition-related risk factors that include sub-clinical deficiencies in essential nutrients -- antioxidants like vitamins C, 3, and beta-carotene, vitamin B (12), vitamin b(6), folic acid -- and nutrition-related disorders, including hypercholesterolaemia, hypertriacylglycerolaemia, hypertension, and diabetes are going to be present for a very long time. A curative treatment of cognitive impairment is currently not possible, however drug therapy if started early may slow down the progression of the disease. However, there's a possible link between nutrient intake and cognitive impairment which will inhibit or delay the onset of dementia.[3]
Patients with dementia are in danger of developing protein-energy malnutrition because of poor food intake and increased energy requirements. Diet might play a necessary role within the prevention of multi-infarct dementia through effects on blood pressure and other risk factors. Management of risk factors could also forestall further progression of the dementia. Patients with multi-infarct dementia often have difficulty in swallowing (dysphagia).
In the already demented elderly folks who're unable to consume food alone can without doubt benefit from dietary supplements that contain proteins like whey and casein, in an endeavor to fight malnutrition. Casein is really a milk protein and has the ability to create a gel or clot in the stomach. The ability to create this clot makes it incredibly proficient in nutrient supply. This clot slows down the discharge of pragmatic amino acids into the body that can be diminished by many hours[4]. Using casein in a protein supplement assists to give adequate nutrition and also to intensify the quantity of energy assimilated from meals consumed. Dementia brought on by alcohol could be partially reversible with abstinence and good nutrition containing proteins.[5]
In the human body, some harmful byproducts are formed because of normal metabolic oxidation reactions. The accumulation of those highly reactive molecules (free radicals) is one of the main factors that cause damage to the neurons within the brain. The body's defense against this sort of cellular damage is always to release protective molecules called antioxidants. Even though endogenous antioxidants have a job within the prevention of this injury by free radicals, dietary intake of antioxidants is also vital.
Cysteine, that's an amino acid, is available in ample supply in the protein whey. Because free radicals play a role in aging, cysteine is helpful because it seems to increase glutathione ranges, known to prompt the release of antioxidants which successfully mop up the free radicals. Thus whey proteins will have a protective effect on neurons when taken on a long-term basis. The dietary intake of antioxidant vitamins A, C, and E may influence blood levels of catalase, which is an antioxidant enzyme, possibly through their effects on free radicals. Therefore there is a definite role for antioxidant supplementation within the treatment of dementia disorders. As high blood pressure is usually a risk for dementia[7], the benefits that whey proteins possess in their supply of "casokinins" and "lactokinins"[6] are great as these 2 products are recognized for their aptitude to reduce both systolic and diastolic blood pressure.
One of the main risk factors in developing dementia include having high levels of homocysteine, and to battle this we recognize that folic acid, vitamin B12 and vitamin B6 have all been proven for being helpful in reducing homocysteine levels in the blood. Providing the nutritional cofactors for correct functioning of the essential biochemical reactions of our bodies might protect the brain from damage.
Regardlessof whether or not one has dementia, throughout this piece of writing we have been able to see how the benefits of getting plenty of nutrition can improve physical well-being and can aid to boost functionality and improve the quality of life. Patients with dementia, who frequently have feeding issues and require supervised and assisted feeding, can benefit from protein supplements and specific water-soluble vitamins (folic acid, B6 and B12)Patients with dementia can benefit from the protein supplements and individual water-soluble vitamins (folic acid, B6 and B12), especially the ones who have problems eating on their own, without supervision. We also realize that antioxidants have the ability to guard the neurons in our brains and bodies. As a result dementia patients can benefit from a protein supplement that has casein and whey as they will obtain a high protein diet plan along with the direct health benefits pointed out above for dementia sufferes.
References
1. Dugué M, Neugroschl J, Sewell M, Marin D. Review of dementia .The Mount Sinai Journal of Medicine 2003;70: 45-53.
2. Miller AL. The methionine-homocysteine cycle and its effects on cognitive diseases. Altern Med Rev. 2003;8:7-19.
3. Gonzalez-Gross M, Marcos A, Pietrzik K. Nutrition and cognitive impairment in the elderly. Br J Nutr. 2001;86:313-21.
4. Boirie, Y., Dangin, M., Gachon, P., Vasson, M.P., Maubois, J.L. and Beaufrere, B. (1997) Slow and fast dietary proteins differently modulate postprandial protein accretion. Proclamations of National Academy of Sciences 94, 14930-14935.
5. Gray GE. Nutrition and dementia. J Am Diet Assoc. 1989 ;89:1795-802.
6. FitzGerald RJ, Murray BA, Walsh D J. Hypotensive Peptides from Milk Proteins. J. Nutr. 134: 980S–988S, 2004.
7. Seppo, L., Jauhiainen, T., Poussa, T. & Korpela, R. () A fermented milk high in bioactive peptides has a blood pressure-lowering effect in hypertensive subjects. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 2003; 77: 326–330.
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About Protica Research
Founded in 2001, Protica Research (Protica, Inc.) is a nutritional research firm specializing in the development of capsulized foods (dense nutrition in compact liquid and food forms). Protica manufactures Profect (www.profect.com), IsoMetric, Pediagro, Fruitasia and more than 100 other brands in its GMP-certified, 250,000 square foot facility. One area of specialty is the manufacturing of Medicare-approved, whey protein supplements for immunodeficiency patients.
You can learn more about Protica at www.protica.com - Copyright - Protica Research
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