How to Prevent Dementia

Did you know that dementia starts in the brain 20+ years before symptoms appear? That means in an ideal world, we would be having conversations around dementia prevention as soon as we turn 30.  The good news is that preventing dementia can be easy and FUN! Our hope is that by the end of this article, you feel fully equipped for preventing dementia so that you, your lineage, and your clients can benefit from this knowledge. If someone you love has already been diagnosed with dementia, please know the tips and strategies in this article have been used to successfully help hundreds of people reverse their diagnosis within 6 months of implementation. Healing is always possible!

You may have heard of “the Alzheimer’s gene” so we’ll speak to this first to set the record straight. (Please note that Alzheimer’s Disease is one type of dementia, the most common type, and we will use these terms interchangeably for ease of read.) What you may not know about “the Alzheimer’s gene” is that it’s not a gene you do or don’t have. Everyone has the APOE gene, a gene that expresses itself in two numbers between “1” and “4.” For example, this writer has 2/3 APOE gene. If you have a “4” in your APOE gene expression, you are at a higher risk of dementia. However, this risk is one of many dementia risks.. most of your doctor isn’t going to tell you and are super easy to address. 

The truth about dementia prevention and reversal is that nutrition, exercise, and social connection aren’t enough even if you have a low genetic risk. Why? Let’s get into it.

One of the main problems with preventative dementia screenings is that most physicians, especially neurologists, are taught protocols that are long outdated. While the proof is in the pudding with 300K+ successful patient case studies from experts like neurologists Dr. Dale Bredesen and Dr. David Perlmutter, and neuropsychiatrist Dr. Daniel Amen, the medical field is very slow when it comes to change. And if your doctor works for Big Pharma, there is little chance they want to help you live a healthy, long life so preventative or holistic healing isn’t going to be on their offer list. After all, that would be bad for their business.

To get some context into all the dementia risks, we’re going to list out many of the most common risks in no particular order. Our goal is to get you seeing the big picture of brain health. For when your brain is healthy, your body will be healthy. You are at risk for dementia if you have a history of: concussions, low Vitamin D, hormonal imbalances, strep throat, heavy antibiotic usage in childhood, Lyme Disease, mono (Epstein-Barr virus) exposure to mold, growing up in an old house with lead paint, frequent aluminum foil and plastic usage in your kitchen, erectile dysfunction, cardiovascular issues, taking statins, untreated sleep apnea, averaging less than 8 hours of sleep nightly, prediabetes/diabetes, and mental health issues.

Of course, this is a long list. The good news is that all of these risks are measurable with the right lab work and treatable with natural remedies. The “right lab work” includes The Bredesen Lab Protocol which you can easily find online. Ideally, you would work with a functional medicine doctor who is Bredesen-certified.

You also have the option to get a brain SPECT scan alongside the Bredesen labs. Brain SPECT scans measure blood flow and brain activity and with blood flow being the #1 predictor of dementia, this is a priceless piece of medical information for you to gather. Unlike an MRI, CT, or other brain scans, a SPECT scan will show how much blood flow you’re getting to your brain so you can see any pre-dementia patterns 20+ years sooner.

This writer learned of her high dementia risk at age 28 with the above protocols- both the brain SPECT scan and Bredesen Protocol labs. It was not her fault that mono (Epstein-Barr virus), mold, mercury & lead toxicity, past concussions from sports and a childhood trip & fall, and hormonal imbalances including PCOS were at play. Without treating these issues with proper supplements, antimicrobials, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, bioidentical hormone replacement including Oxytocin, and other natural modalities, she would be well on her way to developing dementia. Now at age 39—11 years since her diagnoses and treatment—this writer has a healthier, younger-looking brain than she did at age 28.

This is why it’s so important to have this information! You may think you’re doing all the right things but there could be things under the surface going on that you are unaware of. 6 million Americans are currently living with dementia and those numbers are expected to quadruple by 2050 if we don’t face this head-on together. If you’re a woman, you are even more at risk. As a woman, we have the duty of teaching future generations how to access our highest potential so that we can co-create The New Earth with healthy brains, hearts, and energetic bodies.

For a deep dive including guided protocols, sign up for our Dementia Prevention Course today!