Print This Post

Vitamin E Increases Longevity Of Alzheimer’s Patients

For years, doctors have maintained that Vitamin E helps delay the progression of moderately severe Alzheimer’s disease.  A study presented at this week’s meeting of the Academy of Neurology revealed that it can also increase the lifespan of Alzheimer’s patients.

The study’s authors followed 847 people with Alzheimer’s disease for an average of five years. About two-thirds of the group took 1,000 units of vitamin E twice a day, along with an Alzheimer’s drug (a cholinesterase inhibitor). Less than 10 percent of the group took vitamin E alone and 15 percent did not take vitamin E. The study found that people who took vitamin E, with or without a cholinesterase inhibitor, were 26 percent less likely to die than people who didn’t take vitamin E.
Vitamin E is available in supplement form and is also found in certain vegetable oils, nuts and green leafy vegetables. Some fortified cereals also contain vitamin E. The authors caution that the amount of vitamin E taken by the patients in this study was much higher than what is currently recommended for the general population. Patients should check with their doctors before taking large doses of the vitamin.
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia among older people. According to the National Institute of Health, up to 4.5 million people in the United States suffer from Alzheimer’s disease. The disease usually begins after age 60 and the risk goes up as a person gets older.

Source: American Academy of Neurology

• OTC Pediatric Cold Remedies Not Safe, Not Effective For Kids Under 4
• NYC Subways Join the Battle of the Bulge
• Crohn’s Patients Gain Quality of Life with New Treatment Plan
• Consumer Reports Rates Nutrition Value of Kids’ Cereals
• Sex Triggers Stroke for Woman, 35
• FTC Says Bogus Cancer Cures Just More Snake Oil
• Easy Ways to Make Kids’ Breakfasts Nutritious, Delicious