what they said (Hover the mouse cursor over underlined words for more info)

People who consume high levels of the nutrient folate may have a reduced risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.

The prevalence of Alzheimer's is expected to quadruple by 2047. The neurodegenerative disease slowly leads to memory impairment, behavioural changes and dementia, affecting how people understand, think, remember and communicate.

Scientists suspect that higher levels of the amino acid homocysteine in the blood, which is linked to a higher risk for cardiovascular disease and stroke, may also increase the risk for Alzheimer's disease...

The original article can be found at: www.cbc.ca/health/story/2007/01/08/folate-alzheimer.html

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what we said (Hover the mouse cursor over underlined words for more info)

This article focuses on a study that examined the correlation between folate intake and possible prevention of Alzheimer's disease. The diets of 965 people were observed with special attention paid to the subject's intake of folate, vitamins B12 and B6 (all of which are thought to be responsible for homocysteine production, a deficiency of which is thought to increase risk for a stroke or dementia). Results suggest that a high intake of folate decreases the risk of Alzheimer's disease whether taken from a supplement or through diet.

This article adequately mentions the treatment options such as the various sources where the vitamins could be found such as leafy vegetables, as well as supplements but doesn't address other treatments to reduce risk of dementia.

What was confusing about the article was the vague description of the evidence and whether or not the study was a randomized trial which could possibly provide more confidence in the insights concerning this treatment.

Unfortunately, any possible harms of folate or any adverse effects on humans are not mentioned. There is no mention of any potential conflicts of interest of the researchers or what the costs of the treatment might be to patients.

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