News on Alzheimer’s Research from the In-home Caregiver near Del Mar

Yet another study has revealed a possible factor in the development of Alzheimer’s disease. The average in-home caregiver near Del Mar reads frequent reports like this one, identifying a mineral, chemical, or other nutrient that seems to have a statistical link to Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. It can be discouraging to see that after so many years of research, scientists are still searching for a hard-and-fast cause of the mysterious illness. But even so, each new finding brings us a little closer to understanding how to beat it.

Focusing on Copper

The biggest progress in the past few years has been the discovery that deposits of beta-amyloid protein in the brain are central to Alzheimer’s disease. Now the rush is on to find out what causes those deposits to develop. In a recent effort, scientists found that increased copper intake made it harder for the brains of mice to fight off the buildup of beta-amyloid. Could copper have the same effect on human brains?

How We Get Copper

We all know that our bodies need oxygen, nitrogen, iron, sodium, and other elements to stay healthy. Copper isn’t one of the elements we normally think of, but in very small amounts it does play a part in powering the body. Normally, we get our daily dose of copper from red meat, fruit, veggies, and—believe it or not—the tap water that flows through copper pipes. Some healthy eating experts have long warned that tap water with too much copper in it could be harmful.

Dietary Considerations: An In-home Caregiver in San Diego County Can Help

It may be too early for us to give our copper intake a lot of attention—doctors are specifying that much research still has to be done to identify how significant copper really is in the development of Alzheimer’s disease. We do know, however, that a diet heavy on fresh fruits and vegetables is a great way to keep the brain strong. “Real foods” rather than pre-packaged meals are always better, and an in-home caregiver in San Diego County can help by cooking homemade meals for your senior loved one.