Hello, long-time follower, first-time poster. I’m just wondering if anybody has any “Peaty” suggestions and/or insights regarding Alzheimer’s (and particularly, slowing its progression). I’m writing this regarding my 85 y/o father, who has been recently diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and while it is still early, he clearly was demonstrating symptoms when I saw him over Christmas, so this isn’t a surprise to me at all.
Overall, he’s been very strict about his health for as long as I remember. He was a Cardiologist, and he always prioritized his health, but he has some beliefs that may be more typical of a doctor who practiced in the 70s and 80s, i.e., low fat (especially saturated), low cholesterol, low salt, never drank or smoked (or other drugs), always exercised (but moderately and/or for fun). We are Iranian, so I’d say his diet is typical of how he grew up, a lot of bread and cheese (feta), a ton of fruit, rice, stews, kabobs (chicken and beef usually), some sugar or candy with his black tea or morning coffee, soups, salads. I’d say the main non-peaty aspects of his diet were (and continue to be) his avoidance of salt, cholesterol, and saturated fat, love of bread (Persian breads though, so I don’t know if they were fortified, adulterated, or made with PUFAs), a belief that cooking oil should be vegetable oil, and while he ate a lot of organ meats, including liver, growing up, it’s pretty much been excluded from his diet in adulthood. He does like muscle meat, but not in very large quantities.
He remains somewhat active by walking a couple of miles ever other day, but he has knee problems that have gotten worse and he’s developed balance issues that have caused him to fall and injure himself. But walking is pretty much the only thing he loves to do that he can still do, so he perseveres.
Also, his doctor is prescribing him Aricept® (donepezil), so I'm not sure what to expect from that.
Certainly, there’s a limit to how much I’m going to be able to get him to deviate from what he believes to be healthy and/or prefers, but my mom cares for him, so I may be able to get some things done with her help.
Basically, I’m wondering if people have some knowledge or insight on some strategies to slow the progression of the disease.
Thank you for your time.
Overall, he’s been very strict about his health for as long as I remember. He was a Cardiologist, and he always prioritized his health, but he has some beliefs that may be more typical of a doctor who practiced in the 70s and 80s, i.e., low fat (especially saturated), low cholesterol, low salt, never drank or smoked (or other drugs), always exercised (but moderately and/or for fun). We are Iranian, so I’d say his diet is typical of how he grew up, a lot of bread and cheese (feta), a ton of fruit, rice, stews, kabobs (chicken and beef usually), some sugar or candy with his black tea or morning coffee, soups, salads. I’d say the main non-peaty aspects of his diet were (and continue to be) his avoidance of salt, cholesterol, and saturated fat, love of bread (Persian breads though, so I don’t know if they were fortified, adulterated, or made with PUFAs), a belief that cooking oil should be vegetable oil, and while he ate a lot of organ meats, including liver, growing up, it’s pretty much been excluded from his diet in adulthood. He does like muscle meat, but not in very large quantities.
He remains somewhat active by walking a couple of miles ever other day, but he has knee problems that have gotten worse and he’s developed balance issues that have caused him to fall and injure himself. But walking is pretty much the only thing he loves to do that he can still do, so he perseveres.
Also, his doctor is prescribing him Aricept® (donepezil), so I'm not sure what to expect from that.
Certainly, there’s a limit to how much I’m going to be able to get him to deviate from what he believes to be healthy and/or prefers, but my mom cares for him, so I may be able to get some things done with her help.
Basically, I’m wondering if people have some knowledge or insight on some strategies to slow the progression of the disease.
Thank you for your time.
