Keeping our minds sharp with our memory intact is, for most of us, the key to aging gracefully and happily. Losing words, forgetting interactions, misplacing important items strike fear into our hearts as we imagine disappearing into the abyss of Alzheimer’s or some other form of dementia.
Alzheimer’s Disease is the 6th leading cause of death in the U.S. and that is projected to triple over the next three decades. 45 million out of the currently living 318 million Americans will develop Alzheimer’s Disease. It is destroying lives and driving up healthcare costs.
But there is now hope!! There are evidence-based practices that we can embrace to protect our brain health. For over thirty years, researchers, led by Dale Bredesen, MD, PhD, have been exploring the causes of Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia and have discovered that these diseases begin decades before an actual diagnosis and, most important, that there are multiple varieties of insults, many environmental, that slowly and quietly lead to neurodegeneration. They have proven that, armed with this knowledge, we can choose to make meaningful changes in our lives to reduce the impact of these factors on our brain health.
Dr. Bredesen and his team have disrupted the mainstream view of cognitive decline by identifying six major causes (with 36 sub factors) that result in an imbalance in the brain’s neuroplasticity signaling and can trigger a downsizing in the brain’s ability. The concept of dementia stemming from a single source that could be negated by a pill has been largely debunked. Instead, the Bredesen-trained Protocol Practitioner zeros in on the most significant one or two of the six causes, informed by a very extensive series of tests. The goal is to change the client’s biochemistry to create more ideal conditions for the brain to thrive. They accomplish this, largely, through what has become known as the Bredesen Seven – lifestyle, nutrition and environmental modifications. At its heart, this is data-driven, personalized medicine at its best.
For those wishing to be proactive and prevent cognitive decline, the protocol is called PreCODE. For those already experiencing the effects of subjective cognitive impairment (SCI), mild cognitive impairment (MCI), or early Alzheimer’s disease, the protocol is called ReCODE. The Bredesen-Protocol programs are administered by Apollo Health https://www.apollohealthco.com.
If you are interested in learning more, I am a Bredesen Qualified Report Practitioner/Coach. I work directly with clients enrolled in PreCODE and with clients and their Bredesen-Trained Healthcare Provider, who are enrolled in ReCODE. I would be happy to set up a complimentary, no-obligation call to discuss the protocols.