Nutrients in Milk May Help Reduce Risk of Alzheimer's Disease.Business/News Editors, Health Writers LYNNWOOD, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 31, 2001 Elderly persons who consume low levels of vitamin B-12 and folate folate /fo·late/ (fo´lat) 1. the anionic form of folic acid. 2. more generally, any of a group of substances containing a form of pteroic acid conjugated with l-glutamic acid and having a variety of substitutions. may have an increased risk of developing Alzheimer's disease Alzheimer's disease (ăls`hī'mərz, ôls–), degenerative disease of nerve cells in the cerebral cortex that leads to atrophy of the brain and senile dementia. (AD), according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. a recent study in the medical journal Neurology. Milk is a good source of vitamin B-12. In fact, three cups of milk provide the entire amount of vitamin B-12 needed by most adults each day. The Neurology study followed 370 people, ages 75 and older, for three years and found that the risk for developing AD doubled among participants who had low levels of vitamin B-12 in their blood when compared to those with normal levels. "The human body does not produce vitamin B-12 naturally, so it is important to incorporate these nutrients into the diet throughout a person's lifetime," said Susan Adams, MS, RD, an extension agent at the Washington State University Washington State University, at Pullman; land-grant and state supported; chartered 1890, opened 1892 as an agriculture college. From 1905 to 1959 it was the State College of Washington. Cooperative Extension Family Nutrition Education Program. "Older adults should keep in mind that they need about the same amount of vitamins and minerals everyday as when they were younger. Although caloric caloric /ca·lo·ric/ (kah-lor´ik) pertaining to heat or to calories. ca·lor·ic adj. 1. Of or relating to calories. 2. Of or relating to heat. needs generally decrease as people age, older adults still need to find ways to incorporate adequate amounts of these important nutrients into their diets." A study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition Clinical nutrition The use of diet and nutritional supplements as a way to enhance health prevent disease. Mentioned in: Naturopathic Medicine indicated that vitamin B-12 deficiency may lead to other serious health problems such as anemia, dementia and nerve damage. The Centers for Disease Control recently reported that deaths from AD in 1999 surpassed the totals for other major causes of death, including motor vehicle accidents motor vehicle accident Public health A morbid condition that kills 45,000/yr–US; 60% are < age 35; MVAs account for 500,000 hospitalizations and most 20,000 spinal cord injuries, at a cost of $75 billion/yr and breast cancer. Between now and 2050, the number of people with Alzheimer's disease will increase from an estimated 4 million to 14 million, according to the Alzheimer's Association. "The Neurology study is another indication of the true value of Alzheimer's research," said Helen Payton, development director at the Alzheimer's Association, Western and Central Washington Chapter. "Each study may lead us closer to ultimately finding a means of prevention or a cure for the disease." |
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