Written By: GMI Reporter

More than 40% of dementia diagnoses have been shown to be wrong.  Here's what may really be going on.  

Quick Summary:

• Over 40% of dementia diagnoses may be incorrect, with many reversible conditions mimicking its symptoms
• A groundbreaking UCLA study showed cognitive decline reversal in 9 out of 10 patients using a personalized, multi-faceted approach
• Seven common conditions, including nutritional deficiencies and hormonal imbalances, can masquerade as dementia
• Natural interventions and lifestyle changes offer promising alternatives to traditional pharmaceutical treatments

Imagine this nightmare. For the last few years your mother has had serious memory problems.  She gets lost driving.  She repeats the same question to you over and over again.  She can't process new information.  She loses her train of thought in mid-sentence.  A CT scan comes back with a diagnosis of early Alzheimer's disease.  The doctors offer a prescription with little encouragement it will work. 

Do you despair? 

A new program from UCLA and the Buck Institute for Research on Aging offers new hope.  In the first study of its kind, researchers have proved that natural therapies can not only slow the progress of dementia but can actually reverse it. 

In a paper titled "Reversal of Cognitive Decline: A novel therapeutic program" Dr. Dale Bredesen showed how 9 out of the 10 subjects diagnosed with dementia got their minds back.[i]

Dr. Bredesen is a professor of neurology at The Mary S. Easton Center for Alzheimer's Disease Research at UCLA, as well as a professor at the Buck Institute.  The study was supported by multiple entities including the National Institutes of Health. 

The Growing Concern of Cognitive Decline

Cognitive decline is a major fear as we age. According to the Alzheimer's Association "dementia is a general term for loss of memory and other mental abilities severe enough to interfere with daily life." Alzheimer's disease – just one of many forms of dementia – accounts for 60 to 80 percent of dementia cases.  It affects about 5.4 million Americans and 30 million people around the world. By 2050, it's expected to grow to 160 million people globally, including 13 million Americans.  There is no effective treatment for Alzheimer's and it is already the third leading cause of death in the United States.

A Revolutionary Approach to Treating Dementia

Dr. Bredesen believes that multiple factors influence the development of dementia and Alzheimer's.  In a small study, he and his colleagues designed personalized and comprehensive protocols to reverse memory loss in 10 patients. 

The results were remarkable. Nine of the 10 participants showed improvement in their memories within three to six months of starting the program.

Six patients had had to discontinue working or were struggling with their jobs at the time they joined the study.  ALL were able to return to work or continue working with improved performance.

The subjects included five patients with memory loss associated with Alzheimer's disease.  The others had amnestic mild cognitive impairment, and subjective cognitive impairment. 

Only one patient, diagnosed with late stage Alzheimer's, did not improve.

The "Systems Approach" to Treatment

Doctors used a "systems approach" in treating the patients.  They developed a complex, 36-point therapeutic program that includes comprehensive changes in diet, brain stimulation, exercise, optimization of sleep, specific pharmaceuticals and vitamins, and multiple additional steps that affect brain chemistry.

In a press release Dr. Bredesen stated:

The existing Alzheimer's drugs affect a single target, but Alzheimer's disease is more complex. Imagine having a roof with 36 holes in it, and your drug patched one hole very well—the drug may have worked, a single "hole" may have been fixed, but you still have 35 other leaks, and so the underlying process may not be affected much.

Dr. Bredesen's approach is based on extensive testing of each patient to determine what is affecting the signaling network in his or her brain. The protocol is then personalized for the patient.  A sample protocol for one of his patients in the study included:

• eliminating all simple carbohydrates;
• eliminating gluten and processed food;
• increasing vegetables, fruits, and non-farmed fish;
• reducing stress with yoga and meditation;
• taking melatonin each night;
• increasing sleep from 4-5 hours per night to 7-8 hours per night;
• taking methylcobalamin (vitamin B12), vitamin D, CoQ10, and fish oil each day;
• optimizing oral hygiene using an electric flosser and electric toothbrush;
• hormone replacement therapy;
• fasting for a minimum of 12 hours between dinner and breakfast;
• fasting for a minimum of three hours between dinner and bedtime; and
• exercising for a minimum of 30 minutes, 4-6 days per week.

Although the downside to the program is the complexity and the number of lifestyle changes required, Dr. Bredesen noted that the only side effect of the protocol was "improved health and an optimal body mass index, a stark contrast to the side effects of many drugs."

What can you do when faced with a diagnosis of cognitive decline, dementia, or Alzheimer's disease?

The UCLA protocol recognizes that dementia can have many causes and those causes are often reversible. 

Sharp Again Naturally (www.sharpagain.org) is a non-profit organization formed in 2012 to educate the public and the medical community about the reversible causes of dementia.

Seven Conditions That Can Mimic Dementia

Here are seven areas Sharp Again Naturally suggests you investigate before accepting a dementia or Alzheimer's diagnosis. These are conditions that may cause memory loss and dementia but can be reversed: 

1. Nutritional imbalances and deficiencies. Deficiencies of omega 3s, vitamin B12, vitamin C, magnesium, selenium, probiotics, and other nutrients frequently cause symptoms of Alzheimer's and dementia.

Adhering to a balanced Mediterranean-style diet is associated with slower cognitive decline.  It's also linked to a reduced risk of Alzheimer's.

Studies also show low vitamin D levels are linked to Alzheimer's. Low folate (vitamin B9) may also lead to cognitive decline. 

Adding coconut oil may rescue a brain from Alzheimer's.  And turmeric is known to boost working memory in just one dose.  

2. Artificial food colors, flavors, and sweeteners. Artificial additives of all kinds may cause dementia symptoms.

Studies show the artificial sweetener aspartame impairs cognitive function and leads to memory loss.   

3. Prescription medication side effects. Drugs, especially pain medications, and psychotropic drugs can severely disrupt cognition.

Statins are particularly harmful.  In one study from the University of California – San Diego, 90 percent of patients who stopped taking statin drugs reported improvement in cognitive problems in a matter of weeks.  In some of the patients a diagnosis of dementia or Alzheimer's was reversed. 

Another study showed that the sleep drug Ambien increased the risk of dementia in elderly patients. 

4. Inflammation from low-level infections, mold, food allergies, and Lyme Disease. Inflammation is the body's attempt to get rid of a toxic element or organism, and so it occurs in many different situations, even root canals and urinary tract infections.

Studies suggest that mental disorders result from neuroinflammation.

5. Stress and stagnation/inactivity. Stress elevates cortisol levels, leading to inflammation, and in turn to hormone imbalances, cognitive impairment, heightened blood sugar levels, hypertension, delayed healing time, and susceptibility to disease. The body's self healing mechanisms depend on unimpeded flow of lymph, blood, and other fluids, all of which are promoted by exercise. Inactivity, by contrast, allows cellular shutdown and blockages, taxing the whole system and interfering with healing on every level.

One study showed that in patients younger than 65 years-old, 41% of dementia diagnoses were incorrect.  Misdiagnosis occurred most frequently in patients with depression or alcohol abuse.   

6. Thyroid and other hormonal imbalances. Many people diagnosed with Alzheimer's or dementia simply have low levels of T3 thyroid hormone. However, standard thyroid tests completely miss T3 levels, and Synthroid (T4) doesn't help. It is estimated that 10 to 15% of all nursing home residents may be there because of low T3.

7. Mercury and other heavy metal poisoning. So-called silver amalgam fillings contain 50 percent mercury, and that mercury is neither stable nor inert. It off-gasses, crosses the blood-brain barrier, and destroys neurons even without contact. Removing these fillings is hazardous unless done with mercury-safe protocols. 

Seeking Specialized Help

Most doctors are not expert in these causes of dementia or how to treat them. Sharp Again Naturally is building a medical advisory board and a database to get the word out. It also offers help finding functional medicine specialists, naturopaths, or doctors who practice integrative medicine who are familiar with these areas..

Conclusion

The growing body of research on reversible causes of dementia offers hope to millions of people affected by cognitive decline. By addressing underlying nutritional, environmental, and lifestyle factors, it may be possible to not only slow the progression of dementia but potentially reverse its effects. While more research is needed to fully understand and validate these approaches, the promising results from Dr. Bredesen's study and the insights from organizations like Sharp Again Naturally suggest that a more holistic, personalized approach to treating dementia could revolutionize our understanding and management of cognitive health.

Additional References

[i] Dale E. Bredesen, "Reversal of Cognitive decline: A novel therapeutic program." AGING, September 2014, Vol. 6, No. 9.

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