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[url=http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20829670]Five-year survival after Helicobacter pylori eradication in Alzheimer disease patients[/url]

[url=http://evolutionarypsychiatry.blogspot.com/2011/06/nutrition-and-alzheimers-disease.html]Evolutionary Psychiatry's Emily Deans, M.D. consider's the paper I linked to originally in this thread. [/url]
It may help you understand the paper better if you read someone else's summary of what it's about, and it may encourage more to read the whole paper themselves.

Interesting to see how low vitamin d status is implicated in increased healthcare costs for older people because of MRSA and other infections that lead to hospitalization and increased healthcare costs.
[url=http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21695580]Healthcare costs of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections in veterans: role of vitamin D deficiency[/url]

It's the same story with calcium and low vitamin D intake leading to [url=http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21698667]High serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D is associated with low incidence of stress fractures[/url]
We see double the risk of stress fractures of the tibia and fibula in women with serum 25(OH)D concentration  below  20 ng/ml (below 50nmol/l) compared to those with ≥ 40 ng/ml (= to or above 100nmol/l)

Bear in mind those making the recommendation that [B]A target for prevention of stress fractures would be a serum 25(OH)D concentration of > 40 ng/ml, achievable with 4000 IU/day vitamin D(3) supplementation[/B] are based in California,
In the UK and elsewhere above latitude 50N it's likely that 5000iu together with as much sun as possible would be required to keep levels above 100nmol/l and that for elderly people a course of 10,000iu/daily for serveral months if not years, may be required to restore 25(OH)D to above that threshold.
While I can keep my 25(OH)D around 60ng/ml 150nmol/l with regular full body UVB exposure + 5000iu daily those without the ability to get full body sun/or UVB rich tanning lamp exposure 2/3 times a week may require more vitamin D3 in supplement form.

[url=http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18289175]Melatonin as an antibiotic: new insights into the actions of this ubiquitous molecule[/url]

As I've been more careful about improving natural melatonin secretion recently I think maybe this may also explains why my luck in staying UTI free is continuing.

[url=http://forum.alzheimers.org.uk/entry.php?2037-Circadian-Rhythm-Disturbances-in-Patients-with-Alzheimer-s-Disease]I've explained more about the role of melatonin for neuroprotection in this blog[/url].

Good excuse to increase natural melatonin food sources such as cherries and red wine.

[URL=http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3100547/?tool=pubmed]Melatonin in Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Related Disorders[/URL]
This link leads to an interesting full text paper which has a section devoted to [B]Melatonin and Mitochondrial Dysfunction in AD[/B] but it's worth reading the whole paper so you better understand why I think we make matters worse by failing to ensure circadian rhythm is kept working as it should and by not replacing the melatonin that should be available but isn't available to the elderly.

It's cheap enough to ensure lighting to daylight levels is available for older people for part of the day (preferably morning) at least and to ensure subdued lighting in the evening and total darkness in the night nor is it expensive to provide Timed Release melatonin supplements if you get them from the USA discount providers. But ideally we should be explaining this to people BEFORE the symptoms of mitochondrial dysfunction and premature ageing are apparent not waiting until the cascade that leads to the avalanche of AD is underway.

It may encourage some younger readers to understand how
[url=http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3051850/?tool=pubmed]Melatonin also as a Protectant against UV-Induced Oxidative Stress[/url]. What this means is that if your body has a good supply of melatonin because it suppresses the inflammatory reaction to UV it reduces the chance of your skin burning or being damaged by the sun.
[B]Melatonin protects against Skin Photodamage[/B]
Therefore you need less sunscreen/block and therefore you have a greater potential for making vitamin D3. The full text is free only if you follow the link.

[url=http://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jphs/advpub/0/1105200565/_pdf]Beneficial Effect of Docosahexaenoic Acid on Cognitive Decline in Alzheimer’s Disease[/url][quote][B]Abstract[/B]

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, C22:6 n-3), the most abundant n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid in the brain, is essential for brain growth and development.
Recent evidence has indicated the potential health benefits of DHA for managing Alzheimer's disease (AD).
For example, dietary administration of DHA considerably protects against and ameliorates the impairment of learning ability in amyloid-beta (Aβ)(1-40)-infused AD-model rats, with concurrent increases in DHA levels and decreases in the levels of lipid peroxide and reactive oxygen species in the cortico-hippocampal tissues.
In addition, dietary DHA helps in eliminating the amyloid burden from the brains of AD-model rats.
In vitro studies have revealed that DHA substantially inhibits Aβ fibrillation.
Furthermore, DHA reduces amyloid-induced toxicity in cell culture.
These in vitro data support the hypothesis that DHA can ameliorate the cognitive deficits of AD in vivo by limiting Aβ polymerization in the brains.
Therefore, it might be a useful therapeutic agent to prevent and/or delay cognitive impairment in mild cases of AD.[/quote]
The full text of this paper is available free at the above link.
It is a fairly detailed paper but don't be put off reading it.

In the above comment I posted a link to a report on MRSA in EU (hence also UK) meat supplies.
While this shouldn't be a problem to healthy individuals and most bacteria will be killed when the meat is properly cooked however people with poor immune functions and who may not be in control of food preparation may be more vulnerable.

The strategies I've outlined above for reducing UTI's by inhibiting E Coli also helps improve protection from MRSA. Here are the links to the evidence.

[url=http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18781360]
Antibacterial effects of green tea polyphenols on clinical isolates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus[/url]


[url=http://www.biochemj.org/bj/410/0147/bj4100147.htm]Curcumin inhibits FtsZ assembly: an attractive mechanism for its antibacterial activity[/url]

[url=http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20519844]Bactericidal effect of grape seed extract on methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)[/url]

[url=http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20210515]Vitamin D and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus nasal carriage[/url]

As each of these approaches are working by different means to inhibit Staphylococcus aureus they can all be deployed at the same time.

So keeping a high 25(OH)D (vitamin D level 60ng/ml ~70ng/ml) while also making GREEN TEA your main beverage of choice, and also taking curcumin and resveratrol should be more effective than just using one option at a time.

As I've made clear because I am a vulnerable person as far as UTI are concerned I use these daily every day. However if I knew someone was likely to be going into hospital I think it would be worthwhile boosting their immune function with this full range of strategies BEFORE they go as that way they will have a better chance of resisting infection.

I forgot in to comment on the importance of the sentence [B]in conjunction with eating home made full fat yoghurt daily [/B]

I've explained some of the ways how Green Tea, curcumin and resveratrol inhibit the growth of pathogenic bacteria and cause them to die off. It's important that while we reduce the presence of e coli etc in the system we also provide a daily supply of healthy bacteria that will occupy the space the dying pathogenic bacteria vacate. We are constantly surrounded by pathogenic bacteria and [url=http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21521706]much of our meat comes with MRSA infective bacteria[/url] So we need to keep the digestive system replete with friendly bacteria occupying all available niches so it's harder for pathogenic bacteria to re-establish their territory.

This paper explains how
[url=http://www.jpp.krakow.pl/journal/archive/12_09_s6/pdf/13_12_09_s6_article.pdf]LACTOBACILLUS BY-PRODUCTS INHIBIT THE GROWTH AND VIRULENCE OF UROPATHOGENIC ESCHERICHIA COLI[/url]

and this [url=http://www.marquishealth.com/study-uncovers-pain-pathway-associated-with-urinary-tract-infections/]Study shows how using a probiotic can reduce the symptoms (particularly pain) associated with UTI.[/url]

[url=http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2694319/?tool=pubmed]Here's another study on the same idea[/url]. There are more if anyone wants.

I should point out I make my own home made full fat yoghurt and this is a continuous process as I use the last yoghurt left to start the next batch and generally we can keep a starter culture going for many months. It's only when we go on holiday or are away for a time we have to restart with a fresh culture which we usually just use a supermarket own brand live Greek 10% fat Probiotic yoghurt but I may (if I've any probiotic capsules around add one of those to the culture or if I've found some cheap Yakult or similar probiotic drink add one of those for a change and to increase the variety of friendly bacteria.

For those who can't stand the taste of green tea or yoghurt there is evidence washing genital area either with a green tea (once it's at a suitable temperature) or even applying yoghurt directly will have a direct effect on reducing pathogenic bacteria.

Again those who don't like drinking Green Tea could just use capsules. These work much better if you take them [url=http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15958649]FIRST THING in the morning BEFORE eating[/url] ideally your capsules should contain a total of 800 mg epigallocatechin gallate.
You may feel a bit nauseous but don't worry this is transient.

One way of making hydration more enjoyable and with the added bonus of improving your immune status by correcting magnesium deficiency is the use of this home made [url=http://www.afibbers.org/Wallerwater.pdf][PDF] Recipe for Magnesium/Bicarbonate Water[/url] It just requires a SODA STREAM to produce fizzy water to change the magnesium hydroxide into magnesium bicarbonate, this is a more easily absorbed form of magnesium as magnesium oxide and hydroxide stay in the digestive system, absorb water/nutrients from the digestive system, turn solid stools into loose runny stools and work as effective laxatives. Drinking magnesium bicarbonate fizzy water doesn't have a laxative effect. I drink a couple of litres daily along with my green tea consumption.

[url=http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2630872/?tool=pubmed]Treatment with Potassium Bicarbonate Lowers Calcium Excretion and Bone Resorption in Older Men and Women[/url]
This paper explains how improving the acid/alkaline balance of urine reduces the excretion of calcium.
Our body needs to keep calcium locked in our bones and not circulating in our blood (where it causes stroke) Magnesium counterbalances the actions of calcium and when you increase your Vitamin D status, this enables a higher calcium absorption from the diet. Most people don't need to take calcium supplements as there are plenty of good food sources of calcium. At most 600mg/daily supplemental calcium should be used but even then it's not ideal as the body uses food derived calcium much better than supplement derived calcium.
Because magnesium is used to counterbalance the actions of calcium but is not so readily available in the diet it's important to try to increase your magnesium intake using the readily absorbed forms [url=http://www.afibbers.org/magnesium.html]afibbers magnesium guide[/url]

[url=http://www.krispin.com/magnes.html#How]Krispin's magnesium information[/url]

[url=http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21473800]Influence of the consumption pattern of magnesium from magnesium-rich mineral water on magnesium bioavailability[/url]
[quote]It is generally considered that the absorption of Mg is inversely related to the ingested dose.
The objective of the present study was to determine if the mode of administration (bolus v. consumption throughout the day) could influence Mg bioavailability from Mg-rich natural mineral water comparing the same nutritional Mg amount (126 mg).
Using a 2 d cross-over design, twelve healthy men were asked to drink 1·5 litres Mg-rich mineral water either as 2 × 750 ml or 7 × 212 ml throughout the day. Two stable isotopes (25Mg and 26Mg) were used to label the water in order to distinguish both regimens.
Fractional apparent Mg absorption was determined by faecal monitoring and Mg retention was determined by measuring urinary excretion of Mg isotopes.
Higher Mg absorption (50·7 (sd 12·7) v. 32·4 (sd 8·1) %; P = 0·0007) and retention (47·5 (sd 12·9) v. 29·0 (sd 7·5) %; P = 0·0008) from Mg-rich mineral water were observed when it was consumed in seven servings compared with larger servings.
Thus, regular water consumption throughout the day is an effective way to increase Mg bioavailability from Mg-rich mineral water.[/quote]

If you do acquire some test strips you may find as I did that the urine is a bit too acid.
That was when I investigated the magnesium bicarbonate water idea. I found it nicely brought my acid/alkaline levels to ideal as previously it was always as acid as the test strips could measure.


[url=http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/04/20/a-simple-natural-treatment-for-urinary-tract-health.aspx?ShowAllComments=True#]Mercola suggest D-Mannose works to help your body eliminate e coli in the urinary tract[/url] I've tried it and am sure it helps.

I should perhaps have placed greater emphasis. in the above posts, on the need to reduce Omega 6 consumption in order to increase absorption of the Omega 3 DHA.

This paper explains that
[URL=http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21367944]the 1000 fold increase consumption of soybean oil, has likely decreased tissue concentrations of EPA and DHA during the 20th century[/URL]
and
[url=http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21496264]This shows if we want to increase Omega 3 decreasing omega 6 intake at the same time as increasing the omega 3 improves the outcome. [/url]
The oils we need to avoid are the industrial seed oils such as corn, soybean, safflower, sunflower and cottonseed oil. It's not just that you are best to use coconut oil or olive oil at home for cooking with perhaps MCT oil in salad dressing you need to look at all the prepared foods you buy as that is where most omega 6 is used.
Sardines are a good source of omega 3 but not when they are canned in sunflower or other Omega 6 oil.
Far better would be sardines in tomato sauce, or olive oil or brine.

[url=http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2935886/?tool=pubmed]Deficient Liver Biosynthesis of Docosahexaenoic Acid Correlates with Cognitive Impairment in Alzheimer's Disease[/url][quote]Reduced brain levels of docosahexaenoic acid (C22:6n-3), a neurotrophic and neuroprotective fatty acid, may contribute to cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease.
Here, we investigated whether the liver enzyme system that provides docosahexaenoic acid to the brain is dysfunctional in this disease.
Docosahexaenoic acid levels were reduced in temporal cortex, mid-frontal cortex and cerebellum of subjects with Alzheimer's disease, compared to control subjects (P=0.007).
Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores positively correlated with docosahexaenoic/α-linolenic ratios in temporal cortex (P=0.005) and mid-frontal cortex (P=0.018), but not cerebellum.
Similarly, liver docosahexaenoic acid content was lower in Alzheimer's disease patients than control subjects (P=0.011).
Liver docosahexaenoic/α-linolenic ratios correlated positively with MMSE scores (r=0.78; P<0.0001), and negatively with global deterioration scale grades (P=0.013).
Docosahexaenoic acid precursors, including tetracosahexaenoic acid (C24:6n-3), were elevated in liver of Alzheimer's disease patients (P=0.041), whereas expression of peroxisomal d-bifunctional protein, which catalyzes the conversion of tetracosahexaenoic acid into docosahexaenoic acid, was reduced (P=0.048).
Other genes involved in docosahexaenoic acid metabolism were not affected.
The results indicate that a deficit in d-bifunctional protein activity impairs docosahexaenoic acid biosynthesis in liver of Alzheimer's disease patients, lessening the flux of this neuroprotective fatty acid to the brain.[/quote]
It seems to me sensible to use a concentrated fish oil supplement that provides a higher DHA amount than the EPA content.
I haven't an AD diagnosis and so it's not a problem for me that the liquid fish oil I take Nature's Answer, Liquid Omega-3, Deep Sea Fish Oil EPA/DHA contains per teaspoon
Total Omega-3 Fatty Acids 1,150 mg
EPA (Eicosapentaenoic Acid) 650 mg DHA (Docosahexaenoic Acid) 450 mg

Somewhere between 1000~1500mg DHA is recommended by Richard S Isaacson MD in his book Treating Alzheimer's Preventing Alzheimer's.
If you can find at an affordable price
Carlson Labs, CalaOmega, High DHA Omega-3 from Calamari, 1000 mg,
they provide per capsule
Omega-3 Fatty Acids 500 mg
DHA (Docosahexaenoic Acid)360 mg
EPA (Eicosapentaenoic Acid)140 mg
So 3 of those daily either all at once or 1 with each meal would provide 1080mg DHA and 420MG EPA.
Probably a cheaper option would be
Country Life, Ultra Omegas DHA/EPA, 500 mg/200 mg, 120 Softgels
DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) 250 mg
EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) 100 mg
So 4 capsules would just provide 1000mg/DHA.

As Depression is often a factor in AD it won't matter if the EPA content is high as generally speaking it's EPA that's associated with improvement in Depression and mood control athough obviously their is a problem with AD patients being able to convert EPA into DHA so they need DHA provided as DHA.

Some people are keen on things like Flaxseed which is a good source of ALA that's another omega 3 but only a small percentage of that gets converted to EPA and even less (probably none in the case of AD) gets converted on to DHA. So although it's very good for you healthwise as a source of DHA it's useless.

[url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/42892650#42892650]USA news item on diet for Alzheimer's and AD prevention.[/url] It follows the advert, sorry about that but the item is worth it.
[quote]Some doctors are taking a different approach to the treatment of the Alzheimer's disease. They're hoping to prevent it in ways similar to the prevention of heart disease.
Plaques that deposit in the brain are one of the biomarkers for Alzheimer's. So is subtle shrinking of the brain's memory center, which can happen 10 to 20 years before symptoms develop.
Daily exercise is one of the lifestyle changes recommended for prevention or delay of Alzheimer's.
A neurologist at the University of Miami puts all of his Alzheimer's patients on a diet, which he also recommends for family members at higher risk. "It's a nine-week plan that patient's follow. We'll slowly decrease the amount of carbs that they eat over a nine week period," Dr. Richard Isaacson explains.
Margaret Alfonso is following Dr. Isaacson's orders for her 93-year-old mother, who has Alzheimer's. "My mother has very strong cravings for sugars, for patelitos, and so we've really, really worked at cutting that back as much as possible," she says.
"Carbohydrates that have a high glycemic index, meaning your pancreas is going to secrete that insulin. Insulin may cause inflammation in the tissues and especially in the brain," Dr. Isaacson explains.
Margaret buys her mother whole grains, stays away from corn syrup, and gives her certain supplements, including tumeric. She's also applying those lessons to herself with the hope of keeping her brain healthy as long as possible.[/quote]

[url=http://www.amazon.co.uk/Treating-Alzheimers-Preventing-Patient-Family/dp/B004LROOIC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1304626362&sr=8-1]Treating Alzheimer's Preventing Alzheimer's: A Patient and Family Guide, 2011 Edition Digital List Price: £7.04[/url] I haven't read Richard S. Isaacson M.D.'s book yet so don't take this as a recommendation to buy.
[url=http://www.anti-aging-source.com/dr-richard-isaacson-md.html]Interview with him here[/url]
I down loaded the digital version of the book and am a bit disappointed.
I don't think he's really understood yet that saturated fats such as coconut oil protect the brain and the heart.He is recommending just 1000iu/daily Vitamin D3 and that is far too low to do any good whatsoever. If you lay naked in the midday sun your skin creates 10,000iu and that is the kind of level that will raise elderly people out of vitamin D deficiency.
You can see from the graph here 1000iu/d leaves most people deficient.
more than 5000iu/d get most people above the 50ng/ml 125nmol/l line.
[IMG]http://www.grassrootshealth.net/templates/grh/images/headerhome_bg_4.jpg[/IMG]

[url=http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/evolutionary-psychiatry/201104/your-brain-ketones]Your Brain On Ketones
How a high-fat diet can help the brain work better[/url]
Interesting blog post on the role of ketone burning for the brain.
It may help people better understand the neuroprotective role of coconut oil and the way the medium chain triglycerides it contains may be a useful strategy for those with dysfunctional glucose metabolism. (AD)

[url=http://www.hindawi.com/journals/chol/2011/496925/abs/]The Role of High-Density Lipoproteins in Reducing the Risk of Vascular Diseases, Neurogenerative Disorders, and Cancer.[/url] A free full text pdf article is available from this link.
It has a long section on HDL, Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia.

I'm sure I don't have to remind readers HDL is an important anti-oxidant that also has anti-inflammatory actions. Nor that higher HDL protects from cognitive impairment.
Oxidative stress, including lipid peroxidation are the means by which the risk factors for Alzheimer's disease cause the damage. Ensuring we do everything possible to raise HDL cholesterol rather than regarding lowering cholesterol as the be all and end all will help reduce the incidence of both Alzheimer's and cardiovascular disease.

[url=http://www.alzforum.org/res/for/journal/detail.asp?liveID=188]Updated 8 March 2011
Herpes Simplex and Alzheimer’s—Time to Think Again?[/url]
There is a series of slide presentations that will bring you up to date with the research in this topic.
[quote]On Thursday, 24 February 2011, Ruth Itzhaki, University of Manchester, U.K.; Elisa Porcellini, University of Bologna, Italy; Luc Letenneur, INSERM, Bordeaux, France, and Richard Smeyne, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, shared some of their latest research and field audience questions. Paul Klapper, herpes virologist at Manchester Royal Infirmary, U.K., and Terrence Town, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, were on hand for discussion afterward.

Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV1) is attracting attention from a growing number of research groups as a possible trigger for Alzheimer's disease. Recent work has tied the virus to AD biomarkers, and offered some epidemiological and genetic support for the long-proposed connection between HSV reactivation and AD risk.


To one group of investigators, the data are strong enough to warrant a treatment trial with antiviral drugs—which are readily available and inexpensive—and they applied for funding to the British government this month. What do you think? Share your comments.[/quote]

While they are technical presentations for a health professional audience I think they are worth listening to/watching.

I think it was interesting in the question/answer session where they talk about inflammation being the cause of reactivation (which indeed causes further inflammation vicious spiral)
We can prevent inflammation in the brain,.
Hence my emphasis on vitamin D3. Omega3, magnesium, melatonin, curcumin etc.
It may be the case that the age related progressive decline in vitamin D3 synthesis & melatonin secretion are associated with depression and this is indicative of raised inflammation levels.

Should also say the sound quality is variable (different speakers on different phone lines) so it's not your hearing gone wrong.

[url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-12879959]Sleep hormone melatonin in Alzheimer's treatment study[/url]
[quote][B]A drug containing the sleep hormone melatonin is to be tested in Scotland to find out if it helps reduce the effects of dementia.[/B]

Glasgow-based firm, CPS Research, aims to recruit 50 people with Alzheimer's disease for the clinical trial of the drug, Circadin.

Alzheimer's patients do not have normal melatonin levels and the study will gauge the effects of adding it.

Initial findings suggest it may lead to improved well being during the day.

The most common cause of dementia is Alzheimer's disease - which causes the death of brain cells - but other conditions that affect the brain can also cause it.

Dr Gordon Crawford, of CPS Research, said: "Dementia is a shattering condition for patients, their families and friends. By reducing the symptoms of the illness, it is hoped that both patients and their carers can enjoy a better quality of life and manage the condition more effectively.

[B]Sleep quality[/B]
"In our groundwork for this project we investigated a slow-release version of the natural compound melatonin. Our findings suggested that the participants functioned better during the day - possibly due to a better quality sleep pattern."

Dr Crawford said that melatonin does not currently exist as a treatment for dementia but was registered in Europe and the UK for use with elderly patients with sleeping difficulties.

He said: "It has proven to be remarkably safe and virtually free from side effects. We are exploring whether its use as an add-on treatment for dementia could transform the lives of patients and their carers.

"With the help of volunteers from Scotland we aim to establish whether adding melatonin to current treatments could provide a major advance in dementia management."

Any patient who has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's and is currently receiving treatment could be eligible to take part in the trial, called "Melatonin in Alzheimer's Disease Project".

Since it is based in the west of Scotland, only patients who can travel there will be considered.

Dr Crawford added: "What we do know is that patients who have Alzheimer's disease do not produce melatonin like healthy people. The study aims to see how adding melatonin affects them.

"There's a small study with melatonin that suggests there might be some benefit but it hasn't been studied in any detail. This will be the first time it has been studied in a reasonable number of patients."[/quote]
I don't think this trial will show very much they are using the form of Melatonin [B]Circadin 2 mg prolonged-release tablets [/B]


Dr Davis has been using Melatonin with his patients (it reduces blood pressure as well as being an anti oxidant) and he uses [url=http://www.heartscanblog.org/search/label/Melatonin] higher doses of 3, 5, even 10 or 12 mg in older people.[/url]

Unless they are also going to suggest BRIGHT LIGHT therapy during the morning for 90 minutes or ensuring patients get outside at midday in bright light and also use subdued light at night and pay attention to sleep hygiene (black bedroom no lights or digital displays curtains drawn) as well there is little chance that 2mg Timed releast Melatonin will be sufficient.

I take 2 x 3mg Timed Release Melatonin. I generally take one early evening and the other right before I go to bed. I also make sure I get outside during the day and keep my bedroom pitch black and NEVER put any light on during the night.

As a curious side note, not related to AD at all but I thought it interesting that melatonin is being suggested as a protective agent for those living near or downwind of the nuclear disaster in Japan. I don't think we need to worry about that here in the UK but it interested me. I'm not surprised as one of the reasons for using melatonin is it protects mitochondria from oxidation. However 2mg for older people is unlikely to make much difference. Starting with 2mg and working up till you find you get through the night without waking seems a mores sensible approach than the one size fits all 2mg nightly.
Sometimes you look at research and think
"Why don't these guys spend 5mins researching the subject on the Internet before drawing up their plans, and better still why don't they talk to some current users before they waste time and money by using pathetically small amounts?"
You can predict the headlines in 3 yrs time after the project gets written up.
[B]Melatonin has no effect on AD [/B]
True if you use inadequate amounts.
Each person in the trial needs to take the amount their body requires to get a good nights sleep.
That will vary depending on the weight, age, current anti oxidant, anti inflammatory status of that individual and also depending on their particular life style/circadian rhythm. Starting with a predetermined amount that is below any reasonably knowledgeable persons expectations is just perverse.

Circadin is online at £0.64 per tablet
Pack price (21 tablets) is £13.44
I get my TR melatonin from the USA by post
Source Naturals, Melatonin, Timed Release, 3 mg, 240 Tablets £12.40 or 5p a tablet.
Isn't it shameful how the NHS gets ripped off by drug companies.

[url=http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20968113]High-cocoa polyphenol-rich chocolate improves HDL cholesterol in Type 2 diabetes patients[/url][quote]High polyphenol chocolate is effective in improving the atherosclerotic cholesterol profile in patients with diabetes by increasing HDL cholesterol and improving the cholesterol:HDL ratio without affecting weight, inflammatory markers, insulin resistance or glycaemic control.[/quote]
That's a nice find I've just come across.

They don't mean the ordinary sweet milk chocolate but the Plain Dark Chocolate that has a high concentration of chocolate. Lidl's and Aldi do a range of higher than 75% chocolates and most of the supermarkets do an own brand dark chocolate around the 80% mark.

The research used 45g/d
That's roughly 2 squares of the Lidl's plantation 80% but I doubt they used Lidl's.

Here is another way to raise HDL-C
[url=http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21423683]Effects of docosahexaenoic Acid supplementation on blood pressure, heart rate, and serum lipids in Scottish men with hypertension and hypercholesterolemia[/url][quote]Systolic and diastolic blood pressure and heart rate decreased significantly in DHA group, but not in placebo group. [B]High-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) increased significantly,[/B] and total cholesterol (TC)/HDL-C and non-HDL-C/HDL-C ratios decreased significantly in both groups. There was no change in TC and non-HDL-C. We conclude that[B] 2 g/day of DHA supplementation [/B]reduced coronary heart disease risk factor level improving blood pressure, heart rate, and lipid profiles in hypertensive, hypercholesterolemic Scottish men who do not eat fish on a regular basis.[/quote]
In this trial they used 2g of the omega 3 DHA.
I think it would be hard and expensive for UK readers to find a DHA supplement that's affordable at 2g daily.
I use a liquid fish oil concentrate that supplies in each teaspoon
Omega-3 Fatty Acids 1,150 mg
EPA (Eicosapentaenoic Acid) 650 mg
DHA (Docosahexaenoic Acid) 450 mg
So 2 teaspoons daily supply just over 2g of omega 3 both EPA and DHA.
at @20p daily.
I prefer a liquid fish oil as that way you can taste if it's gone off (rancid) whereas in capsules it's too late by the time you get fishy burps to do anything about it.
However those who don't like liquid fish oils may like to know you can get high strength DHA 500mg EPA250mg capsules So 3 of those daily (ideally one with each meal) would provide 1.5g DHA and .75gEPA nearly matching the trial amount of DHA.
That work out about 30p daily.
Ideally you need a concentrated capsule or you end up taking so many standard fish oil capsule that only contain 330mg omega 3 (that means 7 capsules to get 2g)
the triple concentrated ones usually provide 550mg omega 3 (330mg EPA and 220mg DHA)
So 4 of those for 2.2g
again around 26p daily.
Though there is a way to get further discount that I'll explain to anyone who PM's me.
Obviously if you're eating oily fish daily this amount of omega 3 would not be needed.
A typical can of sardines in tomato sauce or brine contains around 2.2~2.6g of omega 3.
A portion of salmon would be about right also.

Another reason why omega 3 is so important both to delay the onset and slow progression of AD is that it is an anti inflammatory agent that works in the brain.
[url=http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/701813]anti-inflammatories delay the onset of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease but do not prevent the disease[/url]
[url=http://alzres.com/content/2/1/1]Zotova shows inflammation could contribute to the course Alzheimer’s disease[/url]
[url=http://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/3/6/1812/pdf]This paper also shows the role of neuroinflammation in AD[/url]

There is a lot more to be said about different routes by which omega 3 influences both quality of life (it works as an anti depressant) and cognitive function but I'll leave that for another post.

Interesting chapter from a new 3 part book on Dementia
You can read the free chapter here
[url=http://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=zo1QVqzAtN0C&oi=fnd&pg=PA177&dq=Sleep+Deprivation+Neuroinflammation&ots=cjuhAUgtrP&sig=3KAq1_JtPSHo1pJMvlSLx96_qas#v=onepage&q=Sleep%20Deprivation%20Neuroinflammation&f=false]Does poor sleep quality in later life compromise cognition and accelerate progression of degenerative dementias?[/url]

It should come as no surprise that Sleep loss has pro-inflammatory effects.
[url=http://www.journalsleep.org/ViewAbstract.aspx?pid=28062]Evidence for Neuroinflammatory and Microglial Changes in the Cerebral Response to Sleep Loss[/url]

The answer seems to me not to find substances that stop the natural consequences of sleep deprivation but to improve natural brain anti inflammatory reserves thus improving our potential for dealing with neuroinflammation while simultaneously also improving sleep quality and duration.

We know vitamin D, magnesium, omega 3 melatonin all act as neuro-protective agents and we also know that the average person doesn't yet meet the recommended daily intakes (which are far too low) of these essential nutrients.

We also know virtually everyone gets too little sleep
[url=http://www.sleepfoundation.org/article/how-sleep-works/how-much-sleep-do-we-really-need]How Much Sleep Do We Really Need?[/url]

Here are a couple of links to Mercola's thoughts on getting a good nights sleep and keeping Circadian Rhythm as good as possible. I offer them not as a recommendation to buy any of Mercola's products, There are much cheaper sources of the stuff he sells from other US discount mail order suppliers and some are also available in the UK but his helpful hints on improving sleep hygiene are reasonable, pretty comprehensive and easily understood. So I hope you find them helpful.

[url=http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/10/02/secrets-to-a-good-night-sleep.aspx]Want a Good Night's Sleep? Then Never Do These Things Before Bed[/url]


[url=http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/11/01/your-circadian-clock-is-critical-to-your-memory.aspx]Your Circadian Clock is Critical to Your Memory[/url]

I'll add a link to [URL=http://stereopsis.com/flux/][IMG]http://dl.herf.org/flux-icon-sm.png[/IMG]F.lux: software to make your life better[/URL] It's a free downloadable software program to automatically adjust the brightness of your computer monitor after dusk so you start melatonin secretion BEFORE you go to bed. (You should still ideally stop working on the PC at least an hour before bedtime but I'm not very good at that)

If you regularly have to use the toilet in the night consider [B]Motion Sensor Light, Battery Powered Stick Up Lights[/B] these are easily fitted low down to enable you to see the way to the loo without putting on the main bedroom light. Bright light in the night stops melatonin secretion so every method of reducing bright light exposure when you are supposed to be sleeping will help.

We also need BRIGHT LIGHT exposure during the day to reset our internal circadian rhythm clock. Ideally 90 minutes but 30mins pottering about walking outside will help. If going outside is not an option then consider buying a bright light. The kind of bright light used as a [B]tasklight[/B] and sold at places like SCREWFIX either with a low energy [IMG]http://www.screwfix.com/sfd/i/cat/07/p4785107_s.jpg[/IMG]2D Low Energy Bulb or with 64 LEDs[IMG]http://www.screwfix.com/sfd/i/cat/93/p4784793_s.jpg[/IMG] would be fine. I've not got shares in Screwfix You'll probably find the same or similar items in B&Q, Homebase, Focus or similar DIY places.
It's not the quality of the light that matters it's the BRIGHTNESS. There is absolutely no need to buy a SADlight, they only have the same light source but charge double or treble the price for putting the same bulbs in a fancy rather than utilitarian box. If you can arrange for around an hours bright light exposure during the day as early in the morning or perhaps after lunch if sundowning is a problem, this may help. Obviously use of bright lights MUST be stopped before dusk as bright light in the evening prevents natural melatonin secretion.