June is Alzheimer's awareness month
Are you aware there is a way to naturally reduce the risk and treat the condition that affects millions of Americans each year. And did you know research is indicating that Covid causes brain damage?
This topic is of particular importance given neuro-degeneration can be reversed through diet and lifestyle factors.
This subject matter is near and dear to my heart. I have lost loved ones to this condition and have a loved one living with the disease. Additionally, I support clients who want to follow an anti-inflammatory diet to reduce their risk of developing it due to genetics and family history.
I also have been concerned about my own brain health given my bout with Covid in early 2020. I got the tell tale symptom of anosmia (lost sense of smell) and had terrible fever and headaches. I then struggled with increased anxiety and inability to cope with the overwhelming stressors of my community mental health position working with individuals with high risk behavioral issues. I struggled with brain fog and word retrieval issues. I strongly believe that following the principles I espouse in my work helped to resolve the symptoms I felt early on in the pandemic.
According to Anthony L Komaroff, MD from Harvard Health Publishing, "We now know that, unfortunately, COVID can damage the brain in many ways. When people first become sick from the virus, they may develop encephalitis — inflammation of the brain — causing confusion, difficulty concentrating, and memory problems. COVID also can trigger the onset of new psychological disorders such as severe depression or anxiety." He also reports, "A large study of MRI scans taken before and then again after people got COVID showed that COVID can actually shrink the brain somewhat and that the lingering symptoms of fatigue, pain, and difficulty thinking that can last for several years after COVID — called long COVID or post-acute COVID syndrome — may well be caused by ongoing low-grade brain inflammation caused by the virus."
Research on cognitive decline indicates the process of brain shrinkage and memory loss happens decades before more noticeable symptoms become prevalent. So what steps can we take if we want to be proactive about protecting our aging brains or the effects Covid? Let's dive into the what the functional medicine literature has to teach us on the topic. According to Dr. Dale Bresdesen, a internationally recognized expert in the field of the mechanisms of neuro-degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer disease and author of the book, The End of Alzheimer's, Alzheimer's is a protective response to a wide variety of insults to the brain: inflammation, insulin resistance, toxins, infections, and inadequate level of nutrients, hormones and growth factors.
Dr. Bredesen counsels patients to find out which of the insults in a given unique individual needs to be addressed and then provides a personalized lifestyle plan. He focuses on a Keto Flex 12/3 Re CODE protocol diet which triggers ketosis and lets the brain restore itself through a fast that lasts a minimum of 12 hrs.
The diet's main goals are to help restore proper brain growth and reduce neuro-inflammation, increase insulin sensitivity and excrete toxins.
Bredesen's study followed a low-glycemic, low-inflammatory, low-grain diet. They eliminated all gluten and processed food from their diet, and increased their intake of vegetables, fruits, wild fish, grass-fed beef and organic chicken.
The program is by no means a one size fits all approach and focuses on restorative sleep, targeted supplementation, exercise and brain training.
As a functional nutrition counselor, brain health is important to me. Especially in light of research indicating how Covid affects the brain and the statistic on the millions of people diagnosed with Alzheimers. Prevention and treatment of Alzheimer's disease is an interest of mine in addition to helping those struggling with autoimmunity, digestive and mental health complaints. I've spent many years of my career in the mental health system visiting nursing homes. Seeing so many people suffering with dementia is alarming! Given my loved one's diagnosis and since having Covid and concerns for my own brain health, has left me feeling more passionate about empowering and motivating others to help prevent and treat neuro-degenerative conditions. I am versed in Dr. Bredesen's Recode 12/3 protocols and would love to support those wanting to take a proactive approach to lessening their risk and improving their brain health through functional nutrition anti-inflammatory diet and lifestyle modifications.
To learn more about Dr. Dale Bredesen and his work click the link to Apollo Health's below.
