Fighting Alzheimer’s, Part 1




Intelligent Medicine show

Summary: Amy Berger, author of "The Alzheimer's Antidote," challenges the current paradigm whereby we search for blockbuster drugs to inhibit amyloid plaque in the brain. To date, promising "magic bullet" cures have been ineffective at reversing dementia. Instead she proposes a comprehensive metabolic and lifestyle approach, which has been validated in early clinical trials. What does insulin have to with the decline of brain function? How can low-carb and ketogenic diets help? Why might a low cholesterol diet be harmful for the brain? What role for medium chain triglycerides? What supplements can slow progression? Why is exercise beneficial for staving off cognitive decline? What role does chronic stress play? Why might certain drugs (statins, acid blockers, etc.) accelerate mental decline? What tests predict risk for dementia? Is there a gluten connection? Does high homocysteine forecast memory problems?