• Why Plant-Based?
    • Overview
    • Sustainability
    • Better health
    • Compassion for animals
  • Resources
    • Virtual speaker series
    • Speakers program
    • Pamphlets
    • Newsletters
  • Blog
  • About Us
    • Who we are
    • Contact us
  • How to Help
    • Join us
    • Donate
  • Subscribe to Newsletter
Earthsave CanadaEarthsave Canada
  • Why Plant-Based?
    • Overview
    • Sustainability
    • Better health
    • Compassion for animals
  • Resources
    • Virtual speaker series
    • Speakers program
    • Pamphlets
    • Newsletters
  • Blog
  • About Us
    • Who we are
    • Contact us
  • How to Help
    • Join us
    • Donate
  • Subscribe to Newsletter

Can we end alzheimer’s?

Home BlogCan we end alzheimer’s?

Can we end alzheimer’s?

May 2, 2016 Posted by Guest Author

 by Dr. Neal Barnard

Alzheimer’s disease is the fastest growing health threat in the United States, according to a new landmark report from researchers at the University of Washington in Seattle. The numbers are staggering. A 2013 study in the journal Neurology found that the number of people with Alzheimer’s disease will jump from 4.7 million to 13.8 million by 2050. The associated health care costs will skyrocket.

The disease is incurable. But research is at a critical turning point and shows that diet and exercise can play crucial roles in reducing the odds of developing Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.

Fighting Debilitating Memory Loss: The latest scientific findings show  that diet and lifestyle changes can create a barrier against cognitive decline. Researchers from the Chicago Health and Aging Project analyzed the diets of thousands of people over years. The findings are groundbreaking: Saturated “bad” fat –found in milk, cheese, and meat– is strongly linked to the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, increasing risk more than threefold. Trans fats increase risk five-fold. Avoiding these fats can cut risk dramatically.

Foods rich in vitamin E, such as broccoli, walnuts, almonds, and sunflower seeds, also reduced dementia risk by as much as 70 percent. Other studies show that foods overly rich in iron or copper can promote cognitive loss, while folate, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12 may help protect the memory.

This brain-healthy diet is almost identical to the diet that helps prevent stroke, heart disease, obesity, and other chronic diseases: a low-fat diet of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and legumes. Combining this with physical and mental exercise, and avoiding harmful toxins such as aluminum in supplements or cookware, can maximize protection for the brain.

Reprinted from the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine’s Good Medicine, Spring 2013, Vol. XXII, No. 2.   pcrm.org | nealbarnard.org

Earthsave Canada presents Dr. Neal Barnard at UBC Robson Square Friday April 12, 2013 as part of our Plant-Powered Speakers Series.

Power Foods For The Brain

Brain-Protecting Foods

  • Nuts and seeds
  • Blueberries and grapes
  • Sweet potatoes
  • Green leafy vegetables
  • Beans and chickpeas
  • Vitamin B12

Brain Threats

  • Saturated fats, found in meats, dairy products &  eggs
  • Trans fats, found in doughnuts & snack pastries
  • Excess iron and copper
  • Aluminum

B12: For individuals following a diet free of all animal products, vitamin B12 is a must, but needs can easily be met by consuming a variety of plant-based foods. Fortified foods like breakfast cereals, soymilk, meat substitutes, and nutritional yeast (such as Red Star), often contain a reliable source.  Be sure to check the Nutrition Facts Label or the ingredient list to ensure you are receiving the active form of vitamin B12, called cobalamin or cyanocobalamin. Most common multivitamins also contain B12. All people over the age of 50 should supplement with B12 because the body’s ability to extract B12 from food sources declines with age.

Dr. Barnard’s latest book presents recent and compelling research on nutrition’s surprising effects on the brain. He lays out a three-step plan to protect the mind and strengthen the memory by putting power foods to work. The book also includes 75 power-food recipes, sample mental stimulation exercises, guides to choosing aluminum-free foods and medicines, and a guide to physical exercise. PCRM.org

Share

About Guest Author

Guest authors contribute to Earthsave Canada, but are not members of the board.

You also might be interested in

COVID-19: A disaster of our own making

COVID-19: A disaster of our own making

Apr 8, 2020

The relationship between animal consumption and human illness is well established. The widespread adoption of a plant-based (vegan) diet could protect us against future pandemics.

Eating meat leads to longer lives? Beware poorly designed studies with even more poorly interpreted results.

Eating meat leads to longer lives? Beware poorly designed studies with even more poorly interpreted results.

Mar 31, 2022

A recently published study claiming that meat eating is causal for longer lives actually shows no such thing.

VEGAN 2020 documentary overview and discussion

VEGAN 2020 documentary overview and discussion

Feb 8, 2021

VEGAN 2020 is the sixth installment of a Youtube Documentary series released annually by Plant Based News. The film takes us through the year 2020 month-by-month, tracking both the tragedies and advancements within plant-based trends over the course of the global COVID-19 pandemic.

Donate

Recent Posts

  • How can we continue to honour our planet after Earth Month?
  • No, Bill C-293 on pandemic prevention is not the “Vegan Act”
  • Estimating the True Costs of Our Foods
  • CBC’s coverage of plant-based issues is all too often outrageously flawed

Follow us

Engage with us on facebook

Earthsave Canada

Earthsave Canada

4 hours 47 minutes ago

"In engineering terms, the chimps are selecting materials for strength and flexibility depending on the application. The same principle is used when designing structures such

1
View on Facebook
Share

Earthsave Canada

7 hours 6 minutes ago

"The initiative focuses on overcoming challenges related to moisture retention and juiciness in plant-based burgers by processing Canadian legumes and sunflower into protein-rich ingredients and

Canadian-UK Collaboration Develops New Plant-Based Burger Ingredients Using Domestic Crops - vegconomist - the vegan business magazine

A joint effort between Canadian and UK organizations has commenced to develop plant-based burger ingredients using Canadian-grown legumes and sunflower crops.

1
View on Facebook
Share
Earthsave Canada

Earthsave Canada

9 hours 59 minutes ago

"According to a 2019 UN report, if we don't change our ways, 1/8th of all the Earth's plants and animals are at risk of going

2
View on Facebook
Share

© 2025 · Earthsave Canada.