Word: folic
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Diet may play a role in Alzheimer's in other ways as well. In 1998 British researchers announced that Alzheimer's victims have low concentrations in their blood of the nutrient folate, also called folic acid. That's an intriguing result, especially in light of other studies showing that folic acid deficiency plays a role in some forms of mental retardation in children and in cognitive problems in adults. So Snowdon began looking at levels of folic acid, along with 18 other micronutrients (including beta carotene, magnesium, zinc and cholesterol) in blood samples of 30 sisters who had died since...
...says, "I have a certain comfort level in making some recommendations because there are other good reasons for preventing strokes, for reading, for taking folic acid. If our findings showed something that had no other known benefit besides preventing Alzheimer's, then we would be on much thinner ice." Even so, it's not clear precisely how much folic acid to take, and Snowdon's team is divided on whether to boost the intake of vitamins C and E beyond the normal recommended doses (Markesbery says yes; Snowdon says not until we know more...
...strongest findings of the Nun Study is the link between folic acid and mental health. Found in breads, cereals and leafy green vegetables, folic acid seems to protect the brain's central learning and reasoning regions from shrinkage. Most doctors recommend starting with at least the RDA of 400 micrograms a day, the amount found in most multivitamins...
...Folic acid, already known to prevent certain types of birth defects, is emerging as the leader of the vitamin pack in protecting against heart disease. A member of the B-vitamin family, folic acid lowers levels of homocysteine, an amino acid that has been linked to greater risk of heart disease. While scientists are still trying to explain why--it may have something to do with homocysteine's tendency to promote blood clots and eat away the lining of blood-vessel walls--the newest research suggests that taking more folic acid can lower homocysteine levels and reduce the risk...
Meanwhile, an English study reports that it may take about twice the current U.S. Dietary Reference Intake of folic acid--in other words, 0.8 mg a day--to lower homocysteine levels enough to ward off a heart attack...