SENIOR MOMENTS OR EARLY ALZHEIMER’S — Copy
So, we all find ourselves having” senior moments” therefore we must ask ourselves the following questions. Is this normal or does it represent a spectrum of disorders from asymptomatic disease to full blown advanced Alzheimer’s dementia?
Dale Bredesen, a neurologist, and researcher in Alzheimer’s over the previous 3 decades defines cognitive decline on a continuum; Asymptomatic (Stage 1), Subjective Cognitive Impairment (SCI-Stage 2), Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI-Stage 3) and late Alzheimer’s Disease (AD-Stage 4). By the time you have reached SCI or MCI the conditions for declining brain health have been in place for 20 years.
It is much easier to discover and treat root causes then it is to treat end-stage disease. Is this why my grandmother told me that an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure? In this regard, we think nothing of going for a colonoscopy at age 50. But a cognoscopy at age 45, is even more critical to our health and well-being. Checking out our mental functioning and examining our risk factors can go a long way for future prevention. Even if we are 80 years of age, I imagine 5,780,900 Canadians over 65 years-of-age in 2015 wanted to function at the highest level possible allowing for a better quality of life in our final years.
Dr. Bredesen has published hundreds of scientific journal articles and written two books I would highly recommend. Unusual, I would suggest reading his second book first, “The First Survivors of Alzheimer’s”. His earlier original book is “The End of Alzheimer’s Program.” Dr. Bredesen defines AD is as a “network failure “. Your brain cells either continue making connections, so-called neural synapses, or stop making connections, neural atrophy.
As complex as the science is AD patients are deficient in energetics, i.e., energy from glucose or ketones to fuel the brain, trophic factors (essential nutrients and hormones), and may suffer from inflammation and toxicity from one hundred plus etiologies. A useful analogy Dr. Bredesen portrays is “trying to fix Alzheimer’s dementia is attempting to patch 36 holes in your roof”. No drug, which leaves thirty-five open holes will ever cure the disease.
One thing you can do before reading his books is leaving at least 12 hours between your last meal of the day and first meal the next day and avoid eating at least 3 hours prior to bedtime. This will start you on your journey to better metabolic health. For more information you can educate yourself by watching the YouTube video below from Dec 16th this year and reading his books.
Link to YouTube video with integrative family physician Mark Hyman: https://youtu.be/Btf11afNIxw
Link to Cognoscopy: https://www.apollohealthco.com/cognoscopy/