Inflammation can cause a great deal of wear and tear in your body. New research shows it can worsen dementia in people with mild cognitive decline. This finding comes from a team of scientists from the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) and the University of Bonn and was published in the journal Nature.

Alzheimer's disease is an absolutely devastating condition that can ultimately lead to severe dementia. There are no effective drugs that treat the condition. Alzheimer’s disease is associated with an accumulation of small proteins called "Amyloid-beta" (Abeta), which cause harm to brain cells. Studies have shown that deposits of Abeta (called plaques), trigger inflammatory mechanisms by the immune system within the brain.

According to senior researcher Prof. Michael Heneka, "Deposition and spreading of Abeta pathology likely precede the appearance of clinical symptoms such as memory problems by decades. Therefore, a better understanding of these processes might be a key for novel therapeutic approaches. Such treatments would target Alzheimer's at an early stage, before cognitive deficits manifest”.

If a person’s immune system is over reactive and releasing a high level of inflammatory chemicals, this speeds up the damage to the brain cells caused by Alzheimer’s plaques. The thing is, the brain is largely comprised of fat. Fatty acids are delicate and easily oxidized and damaged by inflammatory chemicals. Therefore if you want to protect your brain, you need to keep levels of inflammation in your body down.

What causes elevated inflammation? Allergies, autoimmune disease, depression and type 2 diabetes are all associated with a heightened state of inflammation. In fact any condition involving pain and fatigue means there is too much inflammation present. Reducing inflammation always involves healing the gut, fixing leaky gut syndrome and correcting nutrient deficiencies. This process can take some time, but I always recommend vitamin D because it is a steroid vitamin with strong anti-inflammatory actions. I also recommend selenium because it fights inflammation by raising glutathione levels. For more information see the book Healing Autoimmune Disease: A plan to help your immune system and reduce inflammation.

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