Vitamin E Helps Alzheimer’s Patients
A study published by the journal American Medical Association found vitamin E can help slow down the progression of mild-to-moderate Alzheimer’s disease. In the study, 613 participants with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer’s disease were placed into four groups. The first group was given high doses of vitamin E; the second group, a dementia drug treatment called memantine; the third group, both pills; and fourth group, a placebo.

After two years of observation, researchers found that the first group participants who took vitamin E alone showed a slower rate of functional decline by 19% than the fourth group. They needed less help from caregivers and were able to slow down the decline in everyday tasks such as dressing, washing, and eating on their own. However, researchers found no evidence that vitamin E delayed memory loss and thinking skills damage.

The study was unable to identify the exact mechanism for how vitamin E helps with Alzheimer’s disease, but vitamin E is an antioxidant, meaning that it can prevent cell loss from damage. Despite these results, however, researchers warned vitamin E should not be considered as a cure for Alzheimer’s disease. The recommended daily dose of vitamin E is 22 international units (IU), and people are advised to operate the findings carefully since there are potential side effects of taking high levels of vitamin E.

1. What causes Alzheimer’s Disease?

알츠하이머병은 뇌세포 안팎에 단백질이 비정상적으로 축적되어 생기는 병이다.
주된 원인은 아밀로이드 단백질(plaques)과 타우 단백질(tangles)의 축적으로, 이들이 신경세포 간 신호 전달을 방해하고 결국 세포를 죽게 만들어 기억력과 인지 기능이 손상된다.

가장 흔한 초기 증상은 기억력 감퇴이다. 특히 최근에 있었던 일이나 배운 정보를 잊는 경향이 두드러진다.
처음에는 단순한 노화로 착각하기 쉽지만, 점차 일상생활에 지장을 줄 정도로 심해진다.

조기 진단은 치료를 일찍 시작할 수 있게 하여 병의 진행을 늦추고 삶의 질을 높인다.
또한 가족이 향후를 계획하고, 지원 프로그램이나 임상시험에 참여할 수 있도록 돕는다.

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