3 ms·

It is generally accepted that lifestyle has significant influence on Alzheimers risk. http://www.helpguide.org/elder/alzheimers_prevention_slowing_down_treatme

by biehl 12y ago

It is generally accepted that lifestyle has significant influence on Alzheimers risk. http://www.helpguide.org/elder/alzheimers_prevention_slowing_down_treatment.htm http://www.helpguide.org/elder/alzheimers_prevention_slowing...

mullingitover 12y ago
My grandmother was a teetotaling vegetarian and came down with it. I'm of the opinion that the biggest risk factor is aging.
- thebooktocome 12y ago
  Anecdote does not trump data.
  - mullingitover 12y ago
    Agreed, my point was simply that even a textbook healthy diet isn't some silver bullet that protects you from dementia.
    - AJ007 12y ago
      With little doubt, heredity does play a role. But, just because a non-smoker can still get lung cancer, should we smoke? Start with the population centers with low rates of Alzheimer's and dementia and work backwards. Even if some behaviors prove to be irrelevant, they may prove worth it for those with a genetic history of the disease.
- pdq 12y ago
  See my other post, but if the evidence proves out that Alzheimer's is a brain-affecting form of diabetes, being a vegetarian would likely be a disadvantage from meat-eaters. By consuming less protein and fat in general than a carnivore, and more carbohydrates, you have a higher risk of diabetes. So vegetarians need to consume less rice and potatoes, and more avocados and nuts.
  - mullingitover 12y ago
    That's interesting because my dad (other side of the family) is diabetic and was able to keep his blood sugar under control, to the point of no longer needing supplemental insulin, by switching to a vegetarian diet. He tried going vegan, but his blood sugar got too low with a vegan diet.
    - voidlogic 12y ago
      Its not impossible to eat a vegan ketogenic diet, but its much harder then if you consume animal fats / protein. Vegan and non-vegan ketogenic are already very restrictive, making a ketogenic vegan much more restrictive then either. Also, many people in ketosis have very low blood sugar as their body is mostly running on ketone bodies like β-hydroxybutyrate in lieu of sugar.
  - Broken_Hippo 12y ago
    Unfortunately, the evidence with vegetarianism points towards the opposite. In addition, a healthy vegetarian diet includes grains, including rice and potatoes, to make complete proteins when paired with legumes. Sure, you can go overboard, but so can everyone else. Nuts are not a complete protein and still need paired: Avocados are a complete protein, but there isn't all that much in it. Sure, they are healthy and variety in diet is good, but more isn't necesarily needed.
- biehl 12y ago
  I don't think those point address the question: "I've always wondered if what you do with your mind during your life has any actual influence on this disease."

by biehl 12y ago

mullingitover 12y ago

My grandmother was a teetotaling vegetarian and came down with it. I'm of the opinion that the biggest risk factor is aging.

thebooktocome 12y ago
Anecdote does not trump data.
- mullingitover 12y ago
  Agreed, my point was simply that even a textbook healthy diet isn't some silver bullet that protects you from dementia.
  - AJ007 12y ago
    With little doubt, heredity does play a role. But, just because a non-smoker can still get lung cancer, should we smoke? Start with the population centers with low rates of Alzheimer's and dementia and work backwards. Even if some behaviors prove to be irrelevant, they may prove worth it for those with a genetic history of the disease.
pdq 12y ago
See my other post, but if the evidence proves out that Alzheimer's is a brain-affecting form of diabetes, being a vegetarian would likely be a disadvantage from meat-eaters. By consuming less protein and fat in general than a carnivore, and more carbohydrates, you have a higher risk of diabetes. So vegetarians need to consume less rice and potatoes, and more avocados and nuts.
- mullingitover 12y ago
  That's interesting because my dad (other side of the family) is diabetic and was able to keep his blood sugar under control, to the point of no longer needing supplemental insulin, by switching to a vegetarian diet. He tried going vegan, but his blood sugar got too low with a vegan diet.
  - voidlogic 12y ago
    Its not impossible to eat a vegan ketogenic diet, but its much harder then if you consume animal fats / protein. Vegan and non-vegan ketogenic are already very restrictive, making a ketogenic vegan much more restrictive then either. Also, many people in ketosis have very low blood sugar as their body is mostly running on ketone bodies like β-hydroxybutyrate in lieu of sugar.
- Broken_Hippo 12y ago
  Unfortunately, the evidence with vegetarianism points towards the opposite. In addition, a healthy vegetarian diet includes grains, including rice and potatoes, to make complete proteins when paired with legumes. Sure, you can go overboard, but so can everyone else. Nuts are not a complete protein and still need paired: Avocados are a complete protein, but there isn't all that much in it. Sure, they are healthy and variety in diet is good, but more isn't necesarily needed.
biehl 12y ago
I don't think those point address the question: "I've always wondered if what you do with your mind during your life has any actual influence on this disease."