Prevent and Treat Alzheimer’s and Senility, Enhance Brain Function and Longevity
Abram Hoffer, M.D., Ph. D.
Morton Walker, D.P.M.
1994, 2002
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The prospect of losing the consciousness of who we are, or watching a loved one decline in this way, is frightening and depressing. The results of dementia are grim-- losing our mental sharpness, descending into a twilight life without memory of what has just happened moments ago, losing the ability to care for ourselves or suffering unpleasant personality changes that may make us a burden on those who love us. Although senility and Alzheimer’s are regarded as incurable features of old age, Hoffer disagrees. Dr. Abram Hoffer is a founding father of orthomolecular, or nutrient-based, medicine. He has a Ph.D. in biochemistry, and has been a practicing psychiatrist beginning in 1954. For the last 45 years his discoveries have been instrumental in establishing nutritional therapy treatments for schizophrenia and heart disease. 

Symptoms of senility are a result of many physical conditions, including treatable diseases of the brain like embolisms, chronic dehydration, metabolic diseases like Addison’s or hypothyroidism. The authors remark that subclinical hypothyroidism occurs often, and that every older person who feels tired and cold all the time should be tested using the Barnes technique of measuring the temperature under the arm every morning. (A reading of 97.8 (36 C) or lower after 10 minutes indicates subclinical hypothyroidism.)

But they feel that chronic low-grade malnutrition over years caused by eating processed foods, or by specific vitamin deficiencies caused by a higher than average need for a certain nutrient, are usually the preventable and reversible cause of senility. “We positively assert that senility commonly arises from the inappropriate application of food technology and the selling of that technology to unwitting consumers." Even a good diet can result in malnutrition if the food is not properly digested and assimilated.

Moreover, discrimination against the elderly comes into play here. If symptoms of senility are seen in a young person, an exhaustive search is made for what could be causing the problem. However, since senility and Alzheimer’s are widely considered to be a common, irreversible disease of aging, many times doctors do not investigate all the possible causes of the same symptoms in an older person.

The authors also point out that severe physical and emotional stress greatly increases the loss of Vitamin C and zinc and that stress may induce a state of malnutrition just as real as that caused by a deficient diet. “When both stress and malnutrition are combined, the effect is grossly magnified.” So continuing stress or strong shocks to the system may also contribute to symptoms.

If you are concerned for yourself or for older relatives, this is a great resource for information you will not get from most allopathic doctors or psychologists. Read the book, because they go into a lot of important detail about why they recommend these particilar nutrients for health conditions, but here is a VERY brief summary of their recommendations.

ORTHOMOLECULAR NUTRITION FOR SENILITY
People should practice orthomolecular nutrition in order to experience optimal health. Orthomolecular nutrition consists of supplementing the diet with substances normally present in the human body. Many of these substances, including vitamins, essential minerals, essential amino acids, essential fats, and others, are obtained exogenously (from outside the body) from foods or dietary supplements. Thousands of others, such as coenzyme Q10, L-carnitine, apoprotein(a), and other proteins are synthesized in the cells of the human body. Optimum health and the best resistance to disease are achieved when all of these substances are present in optimum amounts for body metabolism.

Unfortunately, in Western industrialized society, people seldom ingest the optimal qualities of orthomolecular substances. Our intake of most of the vitamins, for instance, is less than the desired amount, and endogenous (within the body) synthesis of many required substances occurs at less than the optimum rate...

Table 7.1 Recommended Doses of Antisenility Vitamins

OTHER VITAMINS
Other vitamins, although not specifically antisenility factors, will be needed if there are special indications. These include vitamin A, if there are special problems with the skin or eyes; vitamin D3, if there are problems with calcium metabolism; vitamin K, if bruises develop too easily; and folic acid and vitamin 812 if blood levels are low. Any one of these may be required in optimum doses.

Pyridoxine (vitamin B6) is such an important nutrient that it seems only prudent to use it as a supplement. It is involved in a large number of vital metabolic reactions. Up to 500 milligrams per day should be taken—more if there are clinical indications of pyridoxine dependency.

In addition, a healthy balance of minerals must be maintained in the body. These, together with other important elements of a sound nutritional program, will be considered in the following chapter. (p.125)[end quoted material]

A note on niacin: The typcial "niacin flush" can be rather unpleasant for some--it's a red, tingly rash that can pop out hours after taking the supplement. If this is likely to bother you, or you've already had it with "hot flashes,"  look for a "flush-free" variety! And remember that you are an individual--you need to watch any recommended supplement or food for signals that it is helping you or symptoms that it may be more or less than you need.

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