Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia, driven by amyloid plaques, tau tangles and progressive loss of synapses and neurons, typically beginning in memory-related regions before spreading. Symptoms usually start with short-term memory and word-finding difficulty and progress over years to affect orientation, judgement, mood and eventually daily function. The supplement literature here is largely a story of disappointment: vitamin E, ginkgo biloba, B vitamins, curcumin and omega-3 fats have all been trialled, and none has produced reliable prevention or treatment effects. What has moved the needle is risk-factor management. The Lancet Commission estimates that a substantial share of dementia cases are associated with modifiable factors including hypertension, hearing loss, smoking, diabetes, physical inactivity, excess alcohol, obesity, depression, social isolation and air pollution. Before attributing memory change to Alzheimer's, clinicians look for reversible contributors — B12 deficiency, hypothyroidism, depression, obstructive sleep apnoea and anticholinergic medication burden — because these are treatable. Anyone with a diagnosis should stay under specialist care; supplements may have a supporting role in general nutrition but should never displace prescribed treatment.