I am covering Alzheimer’s again this month as I hear more and more about how this dreaded disease is affecting people in our area. So often, I hear people talk about how there is nothing you can do about it, how it is incurable and deadly. This information is misguided at best.
It’s true that “medically” there is nothing you can do. There are no drugs which successfully treat or even improve Alzheimer’s. Aricept offers a slight slowdown, but it’s only temporary. Aducanumab doesn’t even work1, yet it received FDA approval under immense industry pressure. It was a very expensive failure, but at least it’s something.
At the same time, natural approaches have been totally ignored. Dr. Dale Bredesen is a neurologist from the Buck Institute in California who has recently published a book called “The First Survivors of Alzheimer’s.” In his book, he highlights some of his patients who “used to” have Alzheimer’s. Yes, I said they “used to” have Alzheimer’s. As in the past. Cured. Gone. He likes to say that Alzheimer’s is now optional.
These thoughts are remarkable in many ways. First, that there is a cure out there and very few people (and doctors) know about it. Second, that you have not been told about it. For my part, I have tried. This is the fourth article I have published on using the Bredesen Protocol, which I have been certified in. I have had some people take advantage of this, but not many. In the meantime, the idea that there is nothing you can do about Alzheimer’s continues to be pushed. Part of the problem is that the answer is based on natural approaches, and no pharmaceutical company is going to support that.
Natural Approach to Addressing Alzheimer’s
So, what is the Bredesen Protocol? Most importantly, it is the only approach that has been shown to improve and cure Alzheimer’s. It is based on several main concepts. These include diet, exercise, sleep, supplements, nutrition, stress, detoxification, and brain stimulation. Knowing when and how to apply these components is what requires an expert. Some of these things are no brainers — get more exercise, get adequate sleep, eat healthy. But many components require lab and diagnostic testing. A blood draw will identify the primary components that are driving the dementia in your specific case. Then treatment can be prescribed and applied, and progress tracked.
To date billions of dollars have been spent on finding ways to eliminate the amyloid plaques and tau-proteins that are found whenever Alzheimer’s is present. The lack of response shows that this has been the wrong approach (although millions continue to be spent on this unproven research). One expert said that thinking that amyloid plaques are causing Alzheimer’s is like watching a speedboat go by and thinking the wake is pushing the boat. The plaques are a by-product of the processes that cause the hypofunction of the brain cells involved. You need to determine metabolism, inflammation, trophic factors, and toxin status. Once these are cleaned up, the plaques go away on their own and neuronal function is restored.
I was honored to be a co-author of a paper published by Dr. Bredesen along with other industry leaders including Dr. Dave Perlmutter and Dr. Rick Johnson2. This paper appeared in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. In this paper, Dr. Johnson, the lead author, points out the significant impact that fructose in our diet has on driving Alzheimer’s. Fructose leads to hypometabolism of the neurons — neurons need a lot of energy to function. High fructose corn syrup has been increasing in our diet since the 70s. So has Alzheimer’s. See a connection? This should lead people to understand how dietary changes can improve Alzheimer’s. How the choices you make can determine the presence and progress of dementia.
My hope is that by now you no longer think of Alzheimer’s as incurable. It takes some work, some dedication, and some changes in lifestyle, but it is doable. There is hope. And it’s being offered right here in Fairmont. Tell others. Share the good news. Alzheimer’s can be a thing of the past.
Dr. Burtis, D.C., M.S., CFMP, has been providing natural healthcare to the Fairmont area at Burtis Chiropractic Center for over 30 years. He uses a combination of chiropractic, nutrition, and functional medicine to help individuals restore and maintain health and healing through individualized care plans. The mission of Burtis Chiropractic Center is to provide transformational healthcare that takes an individual’s life to the next level. We strive to be a solution for families to experience transformational healthcare and help create vibrant and resilient lifestyles that can be passed to future generations.
Resources:
- JAMA Internal Medicine. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2792897
- Could Alzheimer’s disease be a maladaptation of an evolutionary survival pathway mediated by intracerebral fructose and uric acid metabolism? https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0002916523000047