4 Ways that Chiropractic Care Can Help Individuals with Alzheimer’s Disease
If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease, then you may be looking for a wellness treatment that can offer benefits in reducing or easing some of the symptoms. The symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease can range from general confusion and loss of memory to difficulty with balance, eating, or completing other normal physical tasks.
While chiropractic care is not a cure for Alzheimer’s disease, research shows that chiropractic treatment can help to restore some physical function and may aid in slowing memory loss progression. Individuals with Alzheimer’s disease may benefit from regular chiropractic treatment for the following reasons:
1. Increased Flow of Cerebrospinal Fluid
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is a fluid that fills the hollow spaces of the brain and spinal cord and plays an important role in brain function and nervous system regulation. CSF protects the central nervous system (which includes the brain and spine) from physical damage while serving as an insulator and buffer. In addition to the protective physical barrier that it creates, CSF is also responsible for helping the brain to maintain homeostasis. It does this by aiding in waste and toxin removal from the brain, preventing brain ischemia (lack of blood flow to the brain), and helping to maintain balanced chemical levels within the brain.
When an expert chiropractor adjusts the neck and spine, CSF is shown to increase in the body. This helps to combat CSF stasis, which occurs when cerebrospinal fluid is not circulating properly or has become stagnant. The benefits of increasing CSF and CSF circulation within the body are numerous, but primarily include improved activity of neurotransmitters in the central nervous system (brain and spine), improved oxygenation of the brain, and enhanced blood circulation to the brain and spine.
2. Increased Circulation to the Brain and Spine
Blood plays a very important role in nourishing the brain, spine, and surrounding nerves. In order to deliver nourishment, oxygen, and carry out other vital chemical processes, circulation to the brain must be abundant and consistent. With age, the development of a sedentary lifestyle, lack of exercise, or a departure from regular physical activities and hobbies, circulation around the body – including to the brain – can stagnate.
Chiropractic care is an ideal intervention to counteract stagnated blood circulation, as it does not require participation or any physical activity on the part of the individual receiving the treatment. Traditional chiropractic adjustments are shown to increase blood supply to both the spine and the head. When an expert chiropractor delivers an adjustment, compressed or restricted areas in the joints, ligaments, muscles, and tissues are released, allowing blood flow to circulate freely and pass through previously constricted parts of the body. Increased blood flow can help to deliver nutrients and oxygen to the brain and other parts of the body, increasing their function and promoting healing and recovery.
3. Increased Nerve Activity and Support
Chiropractic care can be extremely therapeutic for the body’s nervous system. Over time, due to stress and other lifestyle factors (including poor posture, age, sedentary lifestyle, injuries, etc.) nerves can become compressed and inflamed throughout the body. As a result, nerve activity can become significantly impaired, leading to numbness, unexplained pain, and decreased mobility all over the body. In particular, the brain can suffer as a result of impaired nerve function, becoming unable to communicate with or interpret messages from various parts of the body effectively.
Chiropractic adjustments can help to mitigate this by relieving compression on the back and neck areas. If other parts of the body are being adjusted, they can also benefit from the nerve-relieving effects of chiropractic care. For the purpose of supporting individuals who have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, adjustments to increase circulation and cerebrospinal fluid, as well as relieve nerve compression to the extremities, spine, and brain can be very beneficial.
4. Improved Posture
In addition to reducing back pain and increasing mobility, posture is also a predictor of longevity, with upright posture indicating longer lifespan.
Improved posture produces a beneficial psychological effect, too. Individuals with straight posture have an improved psychological outlook and perceive themselves to be more confident. Additionally, upright posture is associated with recalling better memories and experiencing better moods. By utilizing chiropractic care to improve the posture, overall quality of life can be greatly enhanced.
Chiropractic Care for Holistic Wellness
Alzheimer’s disease can be a frightening and disheartening diagnosis. Chiropractic care can help to reduce some of the burden of worry in light of such a diagnosis by serving as a vehicle to wellness care. The benefits of chiropractic treatment can usually be felt immediately, and depending on the treatment, can linger for weeks or months following each visit. By making an effort to seek regular, consistent chiropractic care, individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease may not only experience a reduction in the severity or progression of their symptoms, but may feel more vital, youthful, and healthful as a result.
