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Senior Moments: Nothing to Joke About
Remember when you were in your 20’s. Your body and your brain were at their peak and you wondered about the obvious “dumb mistakes” of people in the older generations. Now, maybe you or someone you love is the one having these “senior moments.”
Thankfully, our brains give us a good deal of warning when they are in the process of decline. It starts out with that “senior moment” when you can’t recall a detail you know that you should have easily thought of. A momentary sense of disorientation, not being able to calculate a tip, read a map, or recall a friend’s name. Initially, it’s easy to hide these deficits. We use more post-it notes and we write things down. We set alarms on our smartphones.
Half of all 85-year-olds have Mild Cognitive Impairment or Dementia-But Warnings Start Years Earlier
We hide and deny and apologize for these lapses in brain function because we don’t think there’s anything anyone can do. Mention it to a doctor, and they’ll check a few labs and say it’s just part of aging. DON’T BELIEVE IT–BRAIN DYSFUNCTION IS NOT A NORMAL PART OF AGING. It is typical, but it is not normal. And there’s so much you can do to stop the decline. If you’re noticing these things, your brain is actively in the process of cutting the number of neurons it’s supporting. Research has uncovered dozens of factors that drive this process of cutting back and dozens of other factors that can make those neurons grow again–so much growth that it can be measured on an MRI, something neurologists thought was impossible just a few years ago!
Why We Should Never Expect an Effective Drug For Alzheimer’s
The pharmaceutical industry has spent billions on one failed drug approach after another in their pursuit of a pill to stop Alzheimer’s disease. The medical community throughout the 20th century made tremendous advancements by finding single drug agents to treat each diagnosis. But dementia doesn’t have just one cause. The problem most researchers have failed to acknowledge is that each person has a unique set of causes for their brain issues. A one-size-fits-all drug approach can never work to solve the multifactorial brain disease we call dementia.
But Where Drugs Fail, a Multifactorial Approach May Succeed
When you have this much at stake, you need a professional familiar with the most up-to-date research in dementia. You need a comprehensive prevention strategy that targets the specific factors driving brain decline. Here’s what’s involved in stopping the brain’s decline into dementia:
- Identify and eliminate factors harming the brain:
- Toxins
- Nutrient Deficits
- Inflammation
- Infections
- Insulin Resistance
- Glucose Toxicity
- And More
- Identify and incorporate factors that can grow brain cells and improve brain speed:
- Diet that is mildly ketogenic, anti-inflammatory, and high in phytonutrients
- Specific Vitamins, Minerals, and Herbal Supplements
- Physical Activity
- Brain Exercise Programs
- Stress Management
- Sleep Optimization
- Hormone optimization
What’s the Advantage of a Dietitian Brain Specialist
A dietitian can work with your physician to help make sure dozens of details are taken care of. Busy medical offices will find it very difficult to accommodate complex testing needs. Your success depends on making sure you get all of the pieces of the puzzle working in your favor.
You will need specialized testing to rule out toxins, infections, mold, and nutrient deficiencies. Genetics and various hormone tests might also be helpful in order to identify all the factors that might be driving brain dysfunction. A dietitian specializing in brain health can support your physician by providing for technical details.
We also help you with all aspects of figuring out a mildly ketogenic, anti-inflammatory diet incorporating intermittent fasting. We can help you find the best sources for meeting your nutrition supplement needs with the right evidence-based supplements at the most effective doses.
What Is at Stake?
When changes in memory, thinking, or decision-making start to become noticeable, the underlying process has often been underway for many years. Many people at this stage meet criteria for Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), a condition that can be a precursor to Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias.
For many, MCI reflects brain changes that have been developing silently for a decade or more. Recognizing that mental sharpness is slipping should be a clear signal that long-term independence, relationships, and daily functioning are all worth protecting. The encouraging news is that earlier action opens more doors: when cognitive changes are identified promptly and addressed with well-chosen medical, lifestyle, and nutrition strategies, it may be possible to slow, stabilize, or sometimes partially improve cognitive decline.
More About the Approach and the Published Evidence
These are some videos that explain the ReCODE approach:
- Neurologist, David Perlmutter, MD interviews Dr. Bredesen in his podcast.
- Dr. Sandrine Thuret presents this TedTalk where she discusses brain regeneration.
- Dr. Rhonda Patrick, Ph.D. interviews Dr. Bredesen at his home in this highly academic video.
These are the published studies for this approach:
The Research Clearly Shows That a Personalized Approach Works
No one is saying there’s a cure for Alzheimer’s. But the new data show that Mild Cognitive Impairment and very early-stage Alzheimer’s should no longer be considered hopeless diseases. Further decline may be prevented or put into remission for many or most. Larger-scale studies are planned. These will help to verify the results of this new personalized medicine approach to cognitive decline.
The pioneer of this new approach, Dr. Dale Bredesen predicts that future generations will look back on Alzheimer’s disease the way we look back on polio and other diseases of the past. For those of us experiencing these “senior moments”, these changes can’t come too soon.