Can brain disorders like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's--considered irreversible by many scientists--be treated simply with dietary changes? It is possible, according to a book by Jay Lombard, Ph.D., Chief of Neurology at New York's Westchester Square Medical Center.
The Brain Wellness Plan (Kensington, 2000) presents a central strategy for treating and preventing the most debilitating neurological diseases. These diseases are typically caused by a communication breakdown between the brain and immune system, triggering a release of free radicals--compounds that typically attack bacteria and viruses---that begin killing healthy brain cells. Lombard believes that eating certain substances counteracts the damage caused by free radicals, significantly improving the working relationship between the brain and the immune system. Antioxidants like vitamins E and C, for instance, immobilize free radicals, and Lombard cites recent research indicating that antioxidants can be equally--if not more--effective than most conventional therapies for disorders like Parkinson's and Lou Gehrig's.
