Don't forget folic acid

In the November 29 installment of Daily Dose ("Out fox Parkinson's"), I reported to you about the benefits of folic acid (folate) in the treatment of Parkinson's disease. Well, it seems that researchers are just beginning to grasp folate's wide potential. A study done at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden has found a link between low levels of folic acid and incidence of Alzheimer's disease (AD). 

Researchers followed 370 healthy volunteers, ages 75 and older, for three years, regularly monitoring their levels of folic acid and vitamin B12 (which is closely related to folate) and tracking the incidence of dementia diagnosed within that time frame. They found that subjects with low levels of these nutrients were twice as likely to develop Alzheimer's disease as those subjects with adequate levels.

You can begin to increase your levels of folic acid and vitamin B12 (as well as vitamin B6) by eating citrus fruits and fresh green leafy veggies like spinach. But since our soil is so depleted of nutrients, you'd be wise to take nutritional supplements too. Take 800 micrograms each of folic acid and vitamin B12 (by mouth). In addition, take 500 milligrams of B6 (by mouth) per day. These nutrients are available in health food stores and many pharmacies.