Dementia: There is Hope!
“Dementia is reversible” is probably not a phrase you have heard, or expect to hear in a conversation about dementia or Alzheimer’s. But using the principles of functional medicine, it is. And yes – there is hope!
A diagnosis of Alzheimer’s is terrifying to patients and their loved ones alike. It often means an uncontrollable and inevitable memory loss, loss of independence, and declining quality of life. And the prospect of living in a nursing home is something I think we would all like to avoid. There are 55 million people worldwide affected by dementia and the number is growing rapidly.
Conventional medicine focuses on finding a magic bullet - a drug that will be the answer to this massive problem. Functional medicine has started to look at the other half of the story.
There is no known effective medication for dementia. There are some that will temporarily slow the progression for a bit but they ultimately stop working. And there are no medications that have been shown to reverse dementia. Enter Dr.Dale Bredesen. Dr. Bredesen is a neurologist who has been researching dementia for many years and has found solutions.
Dr. Bredesen has found that there is not just one cause of Alzheimer's, but many. He has found 36 potential causes, to be exact. And his protocol (ReCode - for Reversing Cognitive Decline) focuses on finding which of the 36 causes a person has and treating those. Some of the most basic causes that you can look at yourself and work to correct involve exercising, getting proper sleep, eating a healthy diet and taking appropriate supplements. Some of the causes that take a deeper look to find include chronic infections, inflammation, hormone balance and toxin exposure. You can read more about these causes and their treatment in The End of Alzheimer’s, a groundbreaking book by Dr. Bredesen.
The protocol has different strategies, and is very individualized to each patient. It also has varying levels of success depending on the patient, their abilities and how advanced their dementia is – but for many this strategy has improved their quality of life, slowed the onset of symptoms, and actually reversed their dementia!
Each strategy focuses on a different aspect of health – many of which you’ve heard me talk about so many times. The first addresses diet, by implementing intermittent fasting, anti-inflammatory foods, avoiding sugar & dairy, and promoting gut health. The other strategies include exercise, sleep hygiene, stress reduction, brain stimulation, and oral health. These topics sound familiar, right?
So much of the Bredesen Protocol are actions we can start implementing in our everyday lives. If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or it’s precursor, mild cognitive impairment, getting individualized care is important. However, for those of you who are interested in preventing memory loss and dementia as you age, here is a list of things you can start doing today.
Deeply (and mindfully!) relax each day through yoga, meditation, or some deep breathing. High stress is normalized in today’s world, but is not healthy.
Move your body daily. Dr. Bredesen recommends a combination of aerobic and resistance training exercises 4-5 days per week.
Try not eating for 12 or more hours overnight so that your body can clean up any damaged neurons.
Lower inflammation and heal the gut through nutrition. You can do this by removing common allergens like gluten and dairy, and avoiding foods that are processed, sugary or inflammatory.
Make sure any thyroid/hormonal issues are being addressed and treated.
Get 8 hours of sleep per night.
Stimulate your brain by learning new things - maybe how to play an instrument or a new language. Or just try a crossword puzzle.
And avoid toxins coming in that can damage our neurons by eating organic and cleaning up your environment.
If you would like some more inspiration, check out Dr. Bredesen’s most recent book, The First Survivors of Alzheimer’s. This phenomenal book walks you through the story of real people who used the ReCode protocol to reverse their own dementia. There is hope. It’s not a pill that will fix this problem, but using the principles of functional medicine and individualized care. A little prevention now will lead to a much happier, more fulfilling life later.
In health,
Dr. Emily