Message: A combination of anti-Alzheimer’s supplements produce a better result than any of them separately.

The term synergistic is often used by nutraceutical manufacturers without substantiating what it really means. However, it is a real thing: “The rationale is that the simultaneous attenuation of a number of pathogenic processes may lead to an incrementing clinical improvement, thus providing valid targets for therapies,” wrote Dr Mandel and coauthors (1) from Eve Topf Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases Research, Haifa, Israel. They referred to the studies (2, 3) showing a clinically significant improvement in cognitive performance in Altzheimer’s disease patients treater with a combination of folate, vitamin B6, alpha-tocopherol, S-adenosyl methionine, N-acetyl cysteine, and acetyl-L-carnitine.

Sources

1. Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease 25 (2011) 187–208
2. Am J Alzheimers Dis Other Demen 23 (2008) 571-585
3. Am J Alzheimers Dis Other Demen 24 (2009) 27-33

Most of the studies into the protective effects of exercise against cognitive decline, dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease, followed the elderly people starting their 65s and watched the results, which were relevant to the beneficial effects in late life. However, there are some results where a large cohort of 65-79-year olds has been followed-up for around 21 years so information about physical activity during midlife was available. Those who who participated in at least “leisure-time physical activity” during midlife had significantly lower risks of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease comparing with those who did not exercise at all [1].

Another study has suggested that physical activity at even earlier ages (physical activity between ages 15 and 25 years was asked retrospectively) can improve or preserve cognitive ability in late life [2]. This cognitive decline risk reduction is at least comparable to the eisks reduction reported in studies of physical activity in older persons. Thus, midlife physical activity might be as important for preventing later cognitive decline as is physical activity at older ages.

Sources

1. Rovio S, et al. Leisure-time physical activity at midlife and the risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Lancet Neurol 2005;4:705–11
2. Dik M, Deeg DJ, Visser M, Jonker C. Early life physical activity and cognition at old age. J Clin Exp Neuropsychol 2003;25:643–53