If we’ve heard it once, we’ve heard it a thousand times (at least): A proper diet along with regular exercise can reduce the risk of developing diabetes, heart disease, cancer, osteoporosis, dental disease, and Alzheimer’s disease (AD); weight can be managed, strength and stamina increased, and moods enhanced. Now, before you say “this is old news” and tune me out, please read on. I want to share some hopeful information.
We’re aware that AD affects 5.4 million Americans and is steadily on the rise; the need for effective prevention and treatment has never been more important. In October 2014, Dr. Dale Bredesen described the results of a small personalized therapeutic program designed to achieve metabolic enhancement for neurodegeneration (MEND).
The program consisted of
- Modifying diet by eliminating simple carbs and processed foods and adding more fruits, vegetables, and fish to daily intake
- Taking daily doses of Omega-3 (2000mg), vitamin B12, vitamin D3 (2000UI), CoQ10 (200mg), and coconut oil
- Fasting at least 12 hours between dinner and breakfast, with no food 3 hours before bedtime
- Increasing physical activity to 30 minutes 4-6 days a week
- Managing stress through participation in yoga, meditation, imagery, music
- Getting 7-8 hours of sleep per night using melatonin (.5mg)
- Stimulating the brain with word, memory, and thinking games, reminiscing, and/or art and music therapies
- Establishing good oral hygiene habits
- Balancing hormone levels
I am not diagnosing, prescribing, or promising anything here. But of the ten participants who had memory loss associated with AD, nine showed noticeable improvements at the end of six months; one failed improvement due to late stage AD. The study provides enough evidence to consider adopting better health habits; the combination of proper diet, regular exercise, adequate sleep, stress management, brain stimulation, hormone balance, and oral health helped PREVENT memory loss and IMPROVED cognitive functioning among study participants. In fact, six of the ten had quit working or were struggling to perform job related duties when the program began; they all returned to work and have successfully maintained healthy bodies and minds.
~Tamara Nixon, BS, CHES
