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a gastrointestinal microbiota containing more development of AD. It is contained in vaccines, Vitamin D is
numerous, diverse Bifidobacterium populations absorbed from aluminum cookware, and is an
that possess more valuable immunomodulatory ingredient in antiperspirants, coated aspirin, extremely
properties than are even present in younger and many over-the-counter medications. “Alu- important
healthy people. Other studies show that preserved minum's contribution to AD is based upon at in the
immune function modulated by a balanced gut least seven independently derived observations
microbiota is a characteristic of healthy elderly that at physiologically realistic concentrations, maintenance
people at any age.” 40 aluminum strongly promotes amyloid aggre- of a healthy
Centenarians and especially those over one gation and accumulation, a key feature of AD brain.
hundred years of age are examples of those who neuropathology.” 45-47
have learned to age successfully and well. What Vitamin D is extremely important in the
factors contribute to that longevity? Some of the maintenance of a healthy brain and makes the
longest lived people come from the Bulgarian antimicrobial peptide cathelicidin, which sup-
mountains near the Greek border where fer- presses herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1) flare-
mented milk products have a long tradition in ups, otherwise silent except for the appearance
the local diet. The bacterium that ferments milk of cold sores. HSV-1 has been implicated in AD.
to yogurt is known as Lactobacillus bulgaricus The best source of vitamin D is the sun. As a
and researchers from around the world have fat-soluble vitamin, it is found in fat-based foods
come to Bulgaria to study the fermented milk. A such as cod liver oil, pastured butter and lard
typical Bulgarian centenarian eats yogurt three from pastured pork. Vitamin D supplements are
times a day, “sometimes with bread crumbs.” In not always effective because they lack vitamin
existing pockets of longevity in locations around D’s partners, vitamin A and vitamin K , which
2
the world, like the native peoples studied by Dr, work in tandem with vitamin D.
48
Weston Price, these peoples continue to eat their A recent study found that melatonin protects
native diets of mostly fresh and unprocessed neurons against the damage of AD. Melatonin
46
foods, and are generally isolated from most of is produced from serotonin in the pineal gland
the worst influences of modern civilization. They located in the inner brain. With aging, the pineal
enjoy lives of moderation, sleep well and walk gland becomes calcified, thus less functional. But
and work outdoors. They benefit from sunny, calcification has also been observed in young
pollution-free, and oxygen-rich mountain liv- children. About 40 percent of Americans have
ing. 41 calcified pineals by age seventeen. “Calcium,
50
phosphorus and fluoride deposits increase with
THE AGING BRAIN aging and are likely to cause decreased melato-
The brain also ages and neurodegenerative nin production and abnormal pineal function,
diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and which could contribute to a variety of effects in
Huntington's, can be blamed on the processes humans.” Upon examination in many studies,
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of aging. Cerebral volume decreases and ven- the pineal gland had the highest fluoride concen-
tricles expand. Plasticity—the ability to change trations in the body, higher than bone or teeth.
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and function—decreases, as do the gray matter This contributes to accelerated sexual maturation
cells composed of neurons involved in senses, in females.
53
emotions, self-control, and muscle control, as Cognitive impairment is related to ROS.
do the memory parts of neurons, called dendritic Inflammation is the most controllable risk factor
spines. 42-44 in oxidative stress. Antioxidants like fat-soluble
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Increasing numbers of neurofibrillary vitamins A, D, E, and K, as well as B and C vita-
tangles, accumulated tau proteins, and amyloid mins, and omega-3 fatty acids, are recommended
plaques are found in the brains of Alzheimer's to reduce oxidative stress. 23
disease (AD) patients. Recent theories have Neurotransmitters like serotonin and their
connected aluminum deposits in the brain to the receptors change with aging. Dopamine synthe-
54
formation of fibrillary tangles, the hallmark of sis declines as well as the number of dopamine
AD. Aluminum is a neurotoxin involved in the receptors. DNA damage accumulates with age
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