Alzheimer's Nutrition Tips - (919) 338-2044 - Comfort Keepers Chapel Hill & Durham

Many seniors here in Chapel Hill or Durham are faced with a growing number of health problems as they age. One particularly concerning disease is Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s is a progressive, incurable, and fatal disease that usually strikes those of older age but can occur in people as young as 40. Alzheimer's is the most common subclass of dementia, which is a term used for any number of diseases that affect memory and intellectual ability to the point of interfering with a person’s everyday activities. Alzheimer’s disease in particular causes memory loss and affects the thinking and behavior of those who suffer from it.  At Comfort Keepers of Durham and Chapel Hill, we are committed to Senior Care & Elder Care in Durham & Chapel Hill, Alzheimer's and Dementia Care and your senior's healthy living and quality care. Here are a few facts about this disease...

Currently, Alzheimer’s disease affects more than 5 million Americans, a number that is expected to rise to 7.1 million by 2025. There are several risk factors for this disease that the general public is aware of, including head injuries, genetics and a family history. However, one risk factor that is not discussed nearly as often is the likely link between Alzheimer’s disease and vascular disease.

The human brain is fed nutrients and oxygen by the vascular system. If the vascular system is not functioning well, the brain is also deprived of essential nutrients and oxygen, which may cause disease in the brain, including dementia. Research shows that the same risk factors for vascular disease–diabetes, hypertension, and high cholesterol–are also risk factors for Alzheimer’s. 

Reducing Your Risk of Alzheimer’s Disease

While a person may not have any control over genetics or family history, he or she can take action that can reduce the risk of acquiring Alzheimer’s disease, which includes following a brain-healthy diet. The Alzheimer’s Association defines a brain-healthy diet as “one that reduces the risk of heart disease and diabetes, encourages good blood flow to the brain, and is low in fat and cholesterol.” They recommend increasing the intake of foods that can protect brain cells, and list the following recommendations:  

• Cold-water fish (halibut, mackerel, salmon, trout and tuna) contain beneficial omega-3 fatty acids. 
• Ingest more dark-skinned vegetables and fruits, which, in general, have the highest levels of naturally occurring antioxidant levels. Examples include vegetables like kale, spinach, brussel sprouts, alfalfa sprouts, broccoli, beets, red bell pepper, onion, corn, and eggplant. Examples of fruits in this category include prunes, raisins, blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, raspberries, plums, oranges, red grapes, and cherries.
• Nuts can be a healthy addition to the diet; almonds, pecans and walnuts are a good source of vitamin E, an antioxidant. (Alzheimer’s Association, Adopt a Brain-Healthy Diet)

While studies have not pinpointed exactly how much of these brain foods are required to have a noticeable effect on a person’s risk of acquiring Alzheimer’s disease, there is some data that shows that older women who eat primarily leafy green and cruciferous vegetables show mental functioning that is almost two years younger than their counterparts who do not eat many of these vegetables. Therefore, incorporating as many of these brain-healthy foods into the diet as possible is recommended.

Following a brain-healthy diet, along with being socially and physically active, limiting the intake of alcohol and maintaining a healthy weight, could very well mean the difference between acquiring Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia or aging gracefully.

Nutrition and the Alzheimer’s Patient

It is also very important that seniors who already have Alzheimer’s disease practice healthy nutritional habits to help them stay healthy and independent as long as possible. Foods high in sodium, refined sugar, cholesterol, and saturated fat should be greatly limited or eliminated. They should also eat a good variety of foods to make sure they are getting a broad range of essential nutrients. 

An additional problem that needs to be accounted for, however, is that Alzheimer’s patients may be faced with additional challenges that interfere with maintaining a healthy diet. As the disease progresses the person may have difficulty with dexterity and may not be able to handle cutlery and utensils easily; the person also may not recognize foods or may forget when he or she last ate. Other obstacles to eating well include 
-mouth pain due to poor-fitting dentures or other mouth problems the person is not able to communicate
-lack of exercise, which reduces the appetite
-a reduced sense of taste and smell
-medications that interfere with the appetite
-changes in perception that make it difficult for the person to distinguish food from a plate
-distractions that keep the person from eating.

To overcome these obstacles, caretakers can apply a number of approaches to ensure their loved one or client gets the nutrition he or she needs. The Alzheimer’s Association provides a number of excellent tips and strategies on their website for caretakers to use including the following:

• Distinguish food from the plate and the plate from the table by using contrasting colors for plates and placemats. This can help the food to stand out and become identifiable to someone whose perceptions are dramatically altered.
• Make sure that food and drink are at an edible or drinkable temperature to ensure the person does not burn his or her mouth. Test them yourself before giving them to the Alzheimer’s patient.
• Make eating easy by making finger foods that are easier to pick up.
• Avoid distraction and confusion by only serving a maximum of two foods at a time.
• Let the person eat according to his or her preferences. Keep these preferences in mind and serve healthy foods that the person has liked in the past so that the meal is more appetizing to him or her. If the person’s preferences suddenly change, be willing to change the foods and do not try to force him or her to eat foods he or she may no longer like.
• Allow the person as much time to eat as he or she needs. Because of limited abilities, he or she may take an hour or more to finish a meal.
• Allow the person as much independence as possible, even if he or she makes a mess, and adapt the plates, cups and utensils to accommodate his or her abilities. Bowls may be easier for the person to use than plates, and cups with suction cups on the bottom may aid in preventing spills
• Make the meals more enjoyable by joining the person at mealtime. Engage him or her in conversation to stimulate the brain and appetite. You can also show the person how to eat as necessary through demonstration.
• If the person forgets when he or she last ate and keeps requesting a meal, consider breaking up that meal into several smaller meals so the person can eat each time he or she wants to without overeating. Portion out the different foods and provide them to the person over the course of the day as he or she asks for them.

For additional tips and information, and some great caregiver guides, visit the Alzheimer’s Association website at www.alz.org.

At Comfort Keepers of Durham and Chapel Hill, we understand the stress that caregivers go through. We are here to help you and give you the support you need when dealing with a loved one and Alzheimer's. Call us at 919-338-2044 or visit us online.

^{References
Alzheimer’s Association. (n.d.). Adopt a Brain-Healthy Diet. Retrieved from alz.org/we_can_help_adopt_a_brain_healthy_diet.asp
Alzheimer’s Association. (n.d.). Alzheimer's Facts and Figures. Retrieved from alz.org/alzheimers_disease_facts_and_figures.asp
Alzheimer’s Association. (n.d.). Food, Eating and Alzheimer's. Retrieved from alz.org/care/alzheimers-food-eating.asphttp://durham-832.comfortkeepers.com/}