The End of Alzheimer's? The heralded arrival of prevention and reversal with Dale Bredesen MD
Release Date: 11/01/2017
Evolving Past Alzheimer's
A familiar guest rejoins us for the show! Marwan Sabbagh MD is currently a professor of Neurology at Barrow Neurological Institute and a leader in Alzheimer's disease diagnosis and treatment. Dr. Sabbagh and his bestselling co-author and heart disease survivor, Joe Piscatella reveals new hope for treating and preventing these heart, blood vessel, and brain diseases like Alzheimer's with their new book, Strong Heart, Sharp Mind. We discuss how, for the first time in his career, Dr Sabbagh is starting to see people with very early Alzheimer's hold the symptoms at bay. He attributes, in part, to...
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The conversation had on this episode is a little complex but is an excellent review in how science is done and "how the sausage is made" in terms of medical evidence in peer review for Alzheimer's treatments. We discuss the results of the - The Alzheimer Management by Albumin Replacement - where people with mild to moderate Alzheimer's showed significant improvements after having their blood plasma exchanged in addition to receiving either IV Albumin as well as IVIg (in some of the experimental groups). The study doesn't offer an explanation of the mechanisms around why Albumin...
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In July 2021, the journal Frontiers in Neurology reported on "groundbreaking research" out of Tulane pointing to the relationship between Lyme disease and Alzheimer’s dementia. But since the 1980s our guest on this episode, Dr. Alan MacDonald, was stirring up the scientific debate by publishing and presenting data from his pathology laboratory that the bacteria - Borrelia Burgdorferi often synonymous with what's called Lyme disease, because of its association with its US origins in the town of Lyme, Connecticut. Dr. MacDonald graduated with an MD from Columbia University. ...
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This is a more theoretical episode that gives us some idea about what might be happening with the rhythms of an Alzheimer's or POST-COVID brain.
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In this episode, we go deep into the potential benefits of specialized meditation for our immune systems, brain-related proteins, Alzheimer's, cellular energy, and much more. Our guest, Dr Hemal Patel - is a full professor and serves as the Vice-Chair for Research in the Department of Anesthesiology at the University of California, San Diego.
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Earlier this year, podcast episode #65 - we spoke to Lisa and her daughters Stacy and Natalie. They told us about how they were Living Well with Alzheimer's and improving using lifestyle and personalized approach. Her cognitive decline had stabilized and seen small, but significant improvements in brain function. This episode we review some of the elements that have led to their success
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“We’re actually able to change the brain, even in the face of things like Alzheimer’s disease.” This was the statement made by our guest for this show, Dr. Ben Hampstead. Dr. Hampstead is a professor at the Univ of Michigan and leads a lab that is doing several studies using transcranial direct current stimulation for mild cognitive impairment, Alzheimer's, and other forms of cognitive impairment.
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Nikki Gould, a registered dietician at Kemper Cognitive Wellness is also joining us today to talk about what sugar can do to your brain and your overall health and how we can navigate the holidays with this information in mind.
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Trauma can be defined as any event that alters how we process, react to, and recall memories, by overwhelming the individual’s central nervous system. Additionally, trauma is defined as any event in which a person feels helpless and unsafe. It is not only an occurrence that happened in the past; instead, trauma is an event that leaves an imprint upon the body and the brain which persists to the present day.
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Dr. Nate Bergman quickly summarizes the story up the FDA's recent "accelerated approval" of Biogen's - Aducanumab (brand named, Aduhelm). He ends off with surprise about why he is excited about the approval...and it's probably not what you think! A quick, but useful listen.
info_outlineClasses of Insults Leading to Alzheimer’s
- Inflammation and the brain’s response to pathogens/infections – these trigger the creation of amyloid beta, a key chemical in the brain that destroys brain cell connections and is believed to be a key factor in the development of Alzheimer’s. Amyloid Beta is a part of the Innate Immune system which seems to be over stimulated or dysregulated in most cases of Alzheimer’s. Dr. Bredesen explains the connection of immune activation in Alzheimer’s.
- Inadequate amounts OR withdrawal of support of brain-“growing” chemicals like B12, vitamin D, and other hormones. This results in a downsizing of the networks of brain cell connections.
- Sugar toxicity – damages via:
- advanced glycation end products (AGEs) acting to damage through inflammation as well as,
- loss of cell supports because of shoddy insulin signaling necessary for healthy brain activity.
- A protective response by amyloid that bind to things that the brain perceives as a toxin – things like: copper, iron, mercury, biotoxins, infections.
- People in their 50s and early 60s tend to have the more “toxic” form.
- Problems with blood vessels and leakiness in the protective blood-brain-barrier which result in lower support chemicals and toxicity.
- Trauma, e.g., from things like concussions – which also lower chemical and hormone support as well as make the brain susceptible to all the insults mentioned above.
The story of “Patient Zero” (Minute 28:53)
Dr. Bredesen describes the first success he had with his program.
Things that induce Alzheimer’s a.k.a. “Dementogens”
- Biotoxins
- Exposures to water building and the harmful effects of mold
- Tick exposures
- Heavy Metals Exposure
- Aluminum, copper, mercury
- Water damaged building, mycotoxins
- Certain types of infections
- Concussions
- The effects of diabetes and poor diet
- Certain types of pollution
- Not enough time asleep or insufficient oxygen when you sleep.\
- Not enough exercise
Elements of a “Cognoscopy”
Because the brain changes in Alzheimer’s can creep in 20 years or more before symptoms start prevention makes a whole lot of sense. Though a cognoscopy doesn’t really exist yet in a conventional medical setting, Dr. Bredesen’s thinks that one should probably be done around age 45 to assess the risk of developing Alzheimer’s and might include the following:
- Genetic markers and blood work that elucidates Dr. Bredesen’s three metabolic subtypes (see an MPICognitions.com to find a doctor trained in the protocol).
- Functional cognitive testing using BrainHQ, Lumosity, Cog-state, CNS vital signs to see where your brain function is in a “testing environment”.
- Brain MRI with volumetrics (listen to Evolving Past Alzheimer’s podcast with Dr. Cyrus Raji episode #6 for full explanation) if someone has symptoms.
The Role of Sleep in Alzheimer’s
- Time of repair (don’t eat 3 hours before bed)
- Time for autophagy (brain cell “pruning”)
- There is a slight change in the microanatomy of the brain where some of the accumulated toxicants get “washed away”
- Sleep hygiene is important
Who typically improves with the Bredesen Program?
Dr. Bredesen mentions the “MoCA” which refers to the Montreal Cognitive Assessment. This is a screening test that won’t tell you if someone has Alzheimer’s but can give you a general indication of different levels of cognitive impairment. Dr. Bredesen mentioned that people that score 22 or greater (out of 30) are seeing improvements with his methodology. These are people that are typically early on in their disease.
Who typically does not improve with the Bredesen Program?
- People that are more “frail” (less able to exercise, etc.)
- People that are further along with the disease and have had symptoms for longer periods of time.
How much improvement do people see with the Bredesen Program?
Some people seem to get just a bit better in terms of mood, outlook, and brain function. Others get much better and almost completely back to their best brain function. Too early to say how many, but more than half of the people using the methodology report some sort of improvement.
A discussion of an upcoming Documentary of the impact on people’s lives using Dr. Bredesen’s program.
- Dr. Brdesen’s Book: The End of Alzheimer’s
- To find a Bredesen trained physician, visit Dr. Bredesen’s website – MPI Cognition
- Website: Institute for Functional Medicine