Hidden Alzheimer’s Trigger Has SIMPLE Vitamin Solution

By Dr. Scott Olson, ND Posted October 8, 2022

Dear Living Well Daily Reader,

Avoiding Alzheimer’s as you age can sometimes feel like you’re playing a game of Whac-A-Mole.

Every time you knock one of those blasted risk factors down, another one pops up to take its place.

And with one in nine folks 65 or older developing this devastating disease, the fear of LOSING that game is very real.

Risk factors are one thing. But the actual CAUSE of Alzheimer’s is more of a mystery.

For years beta-amyloid plaques got all the blame. And don’t get me wrong, they’re certainly involved with the development of dementia.

But it turns out they’re not always the whole story.

Another contributing factor has been hiding in plain sight this whole time…

Scientists recently discovered what we now know is one of the most widespread and ancient forms of cell death.

Ferroptosis is a process that kills cells in your body using iron. The metal acts as an oxidant inside our cells, causing damage to the cell’s membrane and often leading to the cell’s death.

Researchers have been narrowing in on this mechanism as one of the main drivers of the brain cell destruction and loss that leads to Alzheimer’s and other dementias.

But that discovery has led to some good news. We also now know something that could help stop ferroptosis in its tracks.

And that solution comes from one of the most unlikely sources: Vitamin K.

You’ve probably heard of vitamin K before. But if you’re like most folks, that’s where your knowledge of this wallflower vitamin ends.

Vitamin K was first discovered in 1929. At the time, it was thought to only help our blood clot.

We now know the vitamin plays many roles in the body, including helping keep our bones strong, managing blood sugar, preventing certain cancers, and even assisting athletes in performing better.

Now a new study published in the journal Nature has uncovered yet another critical role for this hardworking vitamin.

This unassuming nutrient increases ferroptosis suppressor protein-1 (FSP1), a protein that decreases ferroptosis and the cell damage it causes.

The researchers found that FSP1 modifies coenzyme Q10 into a powerful antioxidant called hydroquinone, which stops ferroptosis.

Now more research is needed, of course. But if you’re thinking that supplementing your diet with more CoQ10 and vitamin K might be a good idea, I would agree.

Just be sure to check in with your doctor first!

You can also bump up your CoQ10 levels by eating more oily fish (like salmon and tuna), organ meats (such as liver), and whole grains. If you’re headed for the supplement route, you’ll find CoQ10 supplements in drug stores and online.

To boost vitamin K, you can eat more green leafy vegetables or take a supplement.

But remember, some blood thinning drugs (like warfarin, phenprocoumon, acenocoumarol, and tioclomarol) will lose their effectiveness if you increase your vitamin K intake. So always check with your doctor first if you’re on any of these anticoagulants.

P.S. Research reveals the less you can move around, the more likely you will end up in an early grave. Fortunately, there’s a way to stay mobile… and live a long healthy life. The secret is the same vitamin K I mentioned earlier. Get all the life-extending details here.

Source:

“A non-canonical vitamin K cycle is a potent ferroptosis suppressor.” Nature 608, 778–783 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-022-05022-3

Written By Dr. Scott Olson, ND

Nearly 25 years ago, failed mainstream medical treatments left Dr. Olson in constant pain – and his health in ruins. And that’s when he did something REVOLUTIONARY. He began his career in medicine – and dedicated his life to uncovering the true, underlying causes of disease.
Through his innovative medical practices in Tennessee and Colorado, Dr. Olson has helped cure countless seniors from across America of arthritis… heart disease… diabetes… and even cancer. All without risky prescription drugs or painful surgeries.

View More By Dr. Scott Olson, ND