Worried About Your Memory?

Statistics say 80% of people worry about developing dementia.
So if you’ve ever felt that way, you’re not alone.

So… What do we know about Alzheimer’s, anyway?

What is it?

When you’re thinking holistically about brain health, know that Alzheimer’s is a very complex set of diseases with multiple overlapping causes, individualized with what’s going on with an individual.  To put it simply, Too much bad stuff; not enough good stuff going on with the individual.

Let’s Start with some Stats:

●       1 in 4 people believe there’s nothing they can do to prevent or improve it.

●       Many doctors still believe dementia is just part of aging.

●       62% of health care practitioners worldwide believe dementia is part of normal aging.

●       It’s now estimated to be the 3rd leading cause of death, after heart disease and cancer.

●       Alzheimer’s is the #1 most costly disease in America—and emotionally, the toll is immeasurable.

●       Alzheimer’s is steadily increasing (nearly 87% in the past decade), and by 2050, the number of people living with this disease is projected to triple.

That’s pretty heavy—

So… What else do we know?

Memory loss is not a necessary part of aging.

This may be hard for you to believe, since we’ve been educated differently.  But it’s true.

Would you like to know more?  Like, Causes?  There are typically several, overlapping.

Causes are Imbalances in our bodies; Imbalances of:

●       Toxins (usually one of the greatest causes)

●       Nutrients (each individual has their own needs for “recommended daily requirements)

●       Stressors

●       Structure (includes genes; includes being hit hard on the head)

●       Infections (in your mouth, or in your gut—there is a lot of very complex communication back and forth to your brain)

●       Signaling—If our brain was a country, and it needed to defend itself against invaders (infections, toxins, mold, heavy metals, stress) and we’re continually staying in that “fight and defend” mode, (using our resources to fight and defend), we’re not using our resources to build infrastructure of new neurons, and connections between those neurons. 

And if we try to fight things off and at the same time, try to build, it’s not going to work very well.  Those new neurons and connections won’t get built.

Understanding Alzheimer’s starts with understanding how the brain and body work together.

Your Brain and Body: Not So Separate After All

We now know that the brain is deeply connected to every part of the body.

So what affects our body—like inflammation, poor nutrition, toxins, or lack of sleep—also affects the brain.

That’s why it’s so important to understand what’s really going on in our modern world.

It’s got to do with the way most of us live our lives in this world today.  These are some things that hinder our brain health:

●     Processed foods; we eat these foods that are often made from grains sprayed with chemicals—to kill weeds, keep bugs out, or preserve shelf life and color. These toxins don’t just affect our bodies—they affect our brain health, too.

●     Diet drinks, often marketed as “healthy,” are loaded with artificial chemicals. In fact, research shows they are even more harmful to the brain than regular soda.

●     Regular soda or Energy Drinks —full of sugar and toxic chemicals and dyes

●     Our continual breakneck pace of life leaves us constantly in “go mode,” increasing stress, decreasing quality sleep, and also affecting our relationships—and all these work against our brain.

●     Physical inactivity is another major factor. Regular movement isn’t just for muscles—it literally boosts brain function and memory, in addition to keeping all our organs and systems (nervous system, cardiovascular system, muscular system, skin, etc.) running smoothly.

●     We’ve also been taught to fear fat, but our brains need healthy fats to function well.

These everyday habits and exposures add up over time—and they play a major role in the rise of dementia today.

Dr. Dale Bredesen, a neurologist who specializes in Alzheimer’s, explains that the brain’s communication network (made of 500 trillion connections!) begins to break down when it’s not well-supported.  These lifestyle factors all work against that support.

Dr. Mark Hyman puts it simply:  “What we do to our body, we do to our brain.”

But What If It’s Already Started?

Even if symptoms have already begun, you can still experience improvement.

Dr. Bredesen’s research has shown that lifestyle changes can reverse memory loss—even in many people with later-stage dementia. His approach involves up to 36 different personalized lifestyle changes.  Some of them are:

●       Exercise

●       Ketogenic or low-sugar diets

●     Eliminating processed foods and gluten

●       Prioritizing sleep

●       Meditation and stress reduction

●       Optimizing vitamin D and hormone levels

●       Targeted supplements

He also uses cutting-edge tests to detect brain changes up to 10 years before symptoms start.

But I Heard There’s No Cure?

Technically, and according to many traditional doctors, and also according to alz.org (the Alzheimer’s website), dementia still has “no cure”, in the traditional sense.  And medications are only effective in 10–30% of people.

However the truth is, trials have been done, and they show what these doctors see in their practices.  It can be reversed.  The trials are published in the American Medical journal.  But it isn’t being taught in the medical schools as of yet, and there are many doctors who do not recognize it As factual.
There are, though, more doctors now saying we need to stop looking for “the” drug to solve it—and start looking at the whole person instead.  That’s the right direction. 

Dr. Robert Hedaya, Functional Medical Doctor and Psychiatrist, working in the psychiatric field, says there is much new research, and new types of treatments that are proving effective, including laser, and one called HYLANE.

He says medications are useful tools at the right time, and for the right person.  But that he uses traditional medication 80% less than he did 20 years ago.

Dr. Hedaya’s not anti-therapy; he’s anti-labeling of people as having a brain illness—they have “whole body” illnesses with brain symptoms.

And when the whole body gets support—when inflammation is reduced, toxins are cleared, sleep improves, stress goes down—the brain heals, too.

Some doctors are using the ketogenic diet.  The keto diet is thousands of years old, having been used off and on for centuries.  It enhances energy production, it gets rid of damaged cells and grows new brain cells.  It also improves brain function in Alzheimer’s patients.

The Alzheimer’s Association does not promote these things as improving brain health.  So it’s easy to see why there is confusion. 

It leaves the individual to make the decision to either hope in the magic bullet, or get rid of the Standard American Diet and lifestyle, and try the things that improve your brain.  The other option is to see a knowledgeable physician and be thoroughly checked out with extensive lab work.  This is the best and most thorough way to go.

If you visit a Functional Medicine doctor for your brain health to be tested (the absolute best recommendation), they will take a deep look into your biology, your biomarkers, your nutritional status, metabolic status, hormone status, toxin levels and gut health.

The Gene…

What about if you have “the gene”?

You can’t change the Alzheimer’s gene.  But don’t get too disturbed if you know that you have the gene.  Research has shown the following:

Measuring the degree of brain shrinkage in one year, comparing:

1.     The brain of a person with the Alzheimer’s gene

2.     The brain of a person without the gene, but with a high A1C,

the rate of shrinkage is greater in the brain of the person with the high A1C.

And… We know what to do to correct this brain shrinkage:

1.     Lower your consumption of processed carbs

2.     Eat more dietary fiber

3.     Exercise every day

4.     Make sure you get restorative sleep.  So much is going on during that time—not passive activity—our brain is truly working.  Restorative sleep gives our brain the ability to “take the garbage out”.  The lymph system also works at night, to “take the garbage out”.

There isn’t a lack of information, or knowledge.  Per Dr. Perlmutter (and other researchers, scientists, neurologists and doctors), the information is out there.  It just isn’t presented to the public in a way that can be accessed: 

1.     It has to go through the firewall of the medical system, and

2.     The doctors have not been trained.

The things that matter most, like our microbiome, etc., are not being taught in medical school, even right now.

If You’re a Caregiver

If someone you love is going through this, it’s important to take care of yourself, too.
Caregivers carry a heavy load, and burnout is common.

Know this: You are not powerless. And you are not alone.
There are coaching options, tests, treatment strategies and other suggestions that can support both you and your loved one.

So What Can Help?

Briefly, again, while there’s no magic pill, people see dramatic improvements in memory and focus by making changes to their daily habits.
Here are a few that brain health doctors consistently recommend:

🧠 Exercise
It’s like Miracle-Gro for your brain—building new brain cells and boosting thinking power.

💤 Sleep
Deep sleep clears out brain waste, repairs damage, and supports memory.

🌿 Stress Reduction
Chronic stress shrinks the memory center of the brain. Practices like deep breathing, meditation, gentle yoga, time in nature, and prayer can make a real difference.

🥦 Food
Avoid processed foods, sugar, and unhealthy oils. Instead, fill your plate with clean, grass-fed or wild-caught meats, colorful vegetables, healthy fats (like clean fish and nuts, coconut & olive oil, grass-fed butter or ghee), and plenty of clean water.

💊 Supplements
Functional medicine doctors like Dr. Bredesen and Dr. Hyman often recommend:

●     Niacinamide – helps with energy and slows brain aging

●     Collagen – supports brain structure

●     Methylene blue – (under doctor supervision) helps reduce stress and support healing

●     Phytochemicals – found in deeply colored vegetables and fruits

Ready to Make a Change?

You can take action today.  And it doesn’t have to be complicated or extreme.  The foundation you can start without a doctor, with no negative effects.  The foundation of eating good, clean food, getting good exercise, getting restorative sleep, and managing your stress.

It’s everything working together.  And you don’t have to do everything all at once.

(If you set out to change everything all at once, it is possible, but you will have a greater chance of slipping off-track.)

Here’s what to do:

●     Make a plan. Start small.

●     Pick one change to try this week. (Better sleep? Better breakfast? etc.)

●     Know your WHY. Keep it in front of you. Write it down if it helps.

●     Don’t expect perfection. You’ll make tweaks. You’ll have off days. That’s OK.

●     Stick with it. Little steps forward count.

And if you’d like help creating a plan or working on your habits—I’m here to help.

You don’t have to accept poor brain health as your future.

There’s more hope than you’ve been told.

As you can see, there is more hope than most of the traditional medical field even realize.  These things (health habits) aren’t typically taught in medical school, but more and more doctors are beginning to realize the connection.

We can take steps—today—to think more clearly, feel more like ourselves, and stay present not only in special moments, but in our everyday moments too.  Every day.

If you’d like help getting started—or if you would like help to find a Functional Medicine doctor—I’d love to help you.

The Best to You, and to your Brain Health,,

Sharon

The following are good resources for this subject:

Dr. Jeffrey Bland, Functional Medicine Doctor, Nutritionist and Speaker, (jeffreybland.com)

Dr. David Jockers, Functional Medicine, and natural health expert, (Drjockers.com) (uses Keto, Magnesium, Essential Oils, Good Fats, Fasting, Good Nutrition, etc.

Dr. Mark Hyman, Functional Medicine Physician, (DrHyman.com)

Dr. David Perlmutter, Neurologist, (drperlmutter.com)

Dr. Dale Bredesen, Functional Medicine, Neurologist, Chief Science Officer at Apollo Health (apollohealthco.com)