Latest Trustworthy News from Dr. Mercola - delivered straight to your inbox!
Get 20% Off on Surprise Sale Get 20% Off on Surprise Sale

Scottish Scientists Discover Dementia Risk in Air Pollution

  • October 13, 2016

New research points toward environmental factors such as air pollution and the lack of vitamin D as big contributors to the risk of developing dementia, The Scotsman reports. These factors are possibly the “missing link” that goes with genetics and lifestyle factors such as obesity and smoking that can cause dementia, the researchers said.

This is important to know because more than 5 million Americans have Alzheimer's disease, and the number is steadily increasing. While dementia is a different form of memory loss, it still is a concern as our population ages. The Scottish study highlights the importance of vitamin D, which may also exert some of its beneficial effects on Alzheimer's through its anti-inflammatory and immune-boosting properties.

Sufficient vitamin D (50 to 70 ng/ml) is imperative for proper functioning of your immune system to combat inflammation that is also associated with Alzheimer's. Another way to lessen your chance of dementia is to avoid and eliminate aluminum from your body. Sources of aluminum include antiperspirants, non-stick cookware and vaccine adjuvants.

Also avoid anticholinergics and statin drugs, which are particularly problematic because they suppress the synthesis of cholesterol, deplete your brain of coenzyme Q10 and neurotransmitter precursors, and prevent adequate delivery of essential fatty acids and fat-soluble antioxidants to your brain by inhibiting the production of the indispensable carrier biomolecule known as low-density lipoprotein.

Challenging your mind daily by learning something new, doing word puzzles or learning a new language have also been associated with a decreased risk of Alzheimer’s.