Evolving Past Alzheimer's

What if what we thought to be the primary cause ofAlzheimer'swas not true? Dr. NateBergman delves into a research article published by Dr. Weaver to assess if the primary cause of Alzheimer's can be limited to only the amyloid area. For years it has been believed that the main causes of Alzheimer's disease are the abnormal build-up of proteins in and around the brain cells. The main toxic protein involved in this is called the amyloid beta which accumulates and builds up like plaque around the brain cells. However, in recent times, the hypothesis that originated in 2006 and was believed by many was brought into question leading to research being done on the alternative hypotheses and waiting on funding to expand the area of study accessible. The role of amyloid beta has been kept in focus when planning and prescribing Alzheimer's disease treatment to patients suffering from it. However, it is essential to understand that one person's Alzheimer's is not the same as another's. Thus, one treatment cannot be the answer for everyone. Such observation requires that this matter is dissected further to evaluate what is the core cause of the disease, how it varies, and what Alzheimer's treatment can prove to be effective against the disease. For more information about your assessment options for cognitive issues or Alzheimer's, contact Kemper Cognitive Wellness in Cleveland, Ohio. Email: info@kemperwellness.com Website: https://kemperwellness.com/ Phone: (216) 337-1400.

In This Episode You Will Learn: Where are you in your career right now?  Neuroscience research is fascinating. Dr. Ted is most interested in attention, perception, and memory. These three things work together harmoniously because you can't remember something you ignore, and it's difficult to notice something if you don't perceive it in the beginning.  Dr. Ted studied how the brain encodes beats. He uses music perception to enable people to pay attention, listen, and remember information. He worked with Adam Gaza and researched aging's attention, memory, and perception. Their research indicated that some memory issues stem from attentional issues, inhibiting irrelevant information. How does this process change as we grow?  It's not a problem with memory capacity; it's more on the intentional filtering issue. When you add distraction (in a lab setting), adults will show deficient memory performance compared to young adults when you test them on the content they were told to remember. But if you test them on the content they were supposed to ignore, older adults remember the better.  The research now is more on assessing the different potential therapeutics to help people focus their attention and improve their memory performance. There are two ways: musical training to facilitate attention to memory performance and noninvasive neurostimulation using a magnetic field of electrical currents to retrain neuro oscillation that underlies attention to memory processes and rescues the brain's cognitive abilities to mediate age-related problems.  What aspects of perception do you focus on?  Dr. Theodore focuses on perceiving or experiencing things such as the sound of one's voice or picture. Dr ted is focused chiefly on vision and audition. That's humans' ability to see and ability to hear. The brain has a region dedicated to visual processing and another region for auditory processing. These regions are highly connected.  The brain can ramp out or tune out noises. Like a radio equalizer, the brain controls the volume to either ramp up a particular sound to hear more or tune out from other background noise. You can focus on one person's voice even in a noisy crowd.  Why is brain oscillation significant?  Brain oscillation means the frequencies at which the brain and neurons are firing. They become active at different frequencies. When you sleep, you get these slow bursts of activities. We call these delta waves.  The neurons can burst in a range of thousand hertz. The brain oscillates at lower frequencies, but the other neurons pick up the slack. If you record a large group of neurons, you will get high frequencies.  Dr. Ted uses EEG or fMRI to look at large swabs of the cortex. It includes hundreds of thousands of neurons in one group. When you get that number of neurons synchronously firing together, you get temporal resolution and can detect oscillations. While you can't get the resolution you need for an individual neuron, you can get a lot of exciting information from 70 Herts and below.  What would the program look like? The research is mainly on assessing how attention, memory, and perception. We are looking at the interaction of these things across the lifespan, how it degrades potentially as people get older, and how we might be able to remediate that. In studying the brain, they've identified specific mechanisms for specific interventions.  The frontal theta activity seems to be involved in the complex cognitive function of one's multitasking ability. For example, one study looked at how people multitask. Research shows that people peak at multitasking in their twenties, which declines as they age. The process was a little car simulation where respondents had to drive a car and respond to street signs.  The goal was to assess how w brain can multitask by driving a car and responding to streetlights simultaneously. Younger adults were better at it, but a month into playing the simulation paradigm, older people were able to improve their multitasking abilities.  It shows that frontal data is related to one's ability to focus your attention and remember objects.  Another study was done to shorten the brain's improvement to multitask. They had young adults at their peak, stimulating their brains at six Herts. It's what they call theta stimulation. Results showed that after an hour, this group improved this multitasking ability as opposed to those who could feel the stimulation but didn't get the total dose.  This method was then replicated in older adults. The session ran over an hour initially. But for the older adults, the protocol was done in three days.  The Variables There are a lot of individual variabilities here since not everyone responds the same to the treatment. Even then, we can now estimate the conductivity and resistivity of the skin, the scalp, the cerebral spinal fluid, the gray matter, and the white matter in the brain.  But, to do that, we needed to have an actual picture of each brain. Dr. Ted and his team brought the respondents for an MRI to take a high-resolution picture of their heads, including the scalp, the brain, and the CSF. The results allowed them to assign resistance to all the tissue types. Eventually, they were able to get into each person's brain.  It's helpful to know that the efficacy of stimulation can be affected by one's anatomy. As a person ages, the brain degenerates and shrinks a bit. The more it does, the less current is likely to go into the brain. When dealing with an aging population or people with neurodegenerative disorders, that's important. When dealing with an aging population or people with neurodegenerative disorders, that's important.  People with more atrophy will likely need a higher dose of stimulation for the current to reach the brain. This result helps us understand the individual differences of people. Other brains work faster, so they need fewer pulses per second for the current to reach the brain. It means people won't function as efficiently when stimulated at the inaccurate Hertz level. This means that brains need to oscillate at a frequency that matches.  What does this mean for people with neurogenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's?  Intensity is an important question here. They tried different intensities, showing that the higher the intensity, the more effective it is. However, they still saw some improvements in memory, even with lower intensities. Lowered beta-load is one of the biomarkers associated with Alzheimer's. With the stimulation, we saw an increase in microglia. These neurons help clear the amyloid plaques. TACS is a more practical solution than other types of neurostimulation requiring complicated electronics. If this demonstrates the efficacy, it can be used with other treatments for Alzheimer's. The study is still in the research phase, but still, this is a practical solution.  What's great about this neurostimulation is that if you stimulate a node of network regions that are functionally connected, you can manipulate brain activities. Even if the stimulation doesn't reach the hippocampus, if they're able to hit a region of the cortex that communicates with the hippocampus, then it's believed that it can impact the hippocampus and fire out activities in the rain.  TACS Stimulation It's hard to hit a specific quadrant in the brain and stimulate it. It takes some time before the stimulation can start seeing real effects. Right now, it's still in its early stages. So, it's just about seeing what works, understanding the why, and looking for answers.  Everything comes at a cost. There are activities that people do that affect how the brain functions and be stimulated. The same is accurate with the hertz and other frequencies. The stimulation and work may impact the brain at a specific frequency. People could be doing other things to improve multiple functions, but at the moment, science is doing this, and hopefully, it bears good results. About the Guest: Dr. Theodore Zanto  Director of Neurology at Neuroscape and Assoc Prof at UCSF.  He specializes in brain imaging and non-invasive studies on the brain, especially on attention, perception, and memory studies. For more information about your assessment options for cognitive issues or Alzheimer's, contact Kemper Cognitive Wellness in Cleveland, Ohio. Email: info@kemperwellness.com Website: https://kemperwellness.com/ Phone: (216) 337-1400.

6 Effective Ways of Heart Disease Prevention Anyone who wishes to optimize health by protecting the heart and brain must listen to this! Dr. Marwan Sabbagh and Joe Piscatella combine the six most effective principles for heart disease prevention. They unfold valuable heart and brain facts in their new book Strong Heart, Sharp Mind, which are equally beneficial for the prevention of Alzheimer's disease. In a way, they open hope for effective heart disease treatments, dealing with Alzheimer's, and other brain ailments with a multidisciplinary approach. What is good for your heart is good for your brain and ultimately contributes to your overall healthy lifestyle. This episode guides listeners to optimal well-being using a 6-Step Brain-Body Balance Program. In this discussion, he adds that the mechanism that underpins heart disease symptoms considerably overlaps with the symptoms of Alzheimer's. Therefore, aggressively managing the cures for one has two or more benefits. How Is Heart Disease The # 1 Cause Of Death Worldwide? Researchers agreed that cardiovascular arrest, high blood pressure, and cholesterol are risk factors for many other diseases like Alzheimer's. High blood pressure is one of the mechanisms overlapping Alzheimer's and heart disease symptoms, making it the most deadly disease of all time. Dr. Sabbagh believes aggressively managing cholesterol and high blood pressure might considerably help heart disease prevention through natural anti-inflammatory processes. He adds that saturated fats are bad for the brain, which triggers amyloid (an unhealthy protein in the brain), hindering ongoing heart disease treatment. Is High Blood Pressure A Contributor to Heart Disease? National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicines analyzed the whole shebang, including diet, cognitive stimulation, exercise, health conditions, etc. They came up with their thorough and expert analysis that blood pressure management, mental stimulation, and exercise were the only three things that showed sufficient evidence to recommend them in clinical practices. Several other health organizations are researching, concluding that high blood pressure management is the ultimate risk reduction strategy for the heart and brain. What Are Neurobics? Neurobics are brain exercises that aid in healthy mental activities and prevent severe diseases such as Alzheimer's and heart disease. Dr. Sabbagh suggests Neurobics as a way of simultaneously doing physical activity and cognitive stimulation. In the book, the author outlines the perfect Neurobics that can improve heart function and blood vessel health. Transforming The American Diet into A Healthful Way to Eat According to Berkeley Wellness Letter, Nutrition Actions, and Tufts Newsletter, modest dietary changes can help fight heart disease symptoms. Similarly, one fish meal a week, two berries a week, and two vegetables a day can reduce Alzheimer's disease risk. Managing Alzheimer's with A Good Sleep Regimen Sleep apnea is a huge risk for heart attacks as well as a considerable risk for cognitive decline. Quality sleep is the procedure by which your brain removes the amyloids. That's why Dr. Sabbagh refers to sleep as an easy fix to our mild cognitive illness. Exercise during the daytime, regular meal times, waking up, and going to bed are far more beneficial than sleeping pills. Also, there is a link between inadequate sleep quality, plaque building, and high blood pressure. How Stress Management Is Vital To Defeat Heart Diseases A person's mental health can positively or negatively impact their physical health, and the risk of heart failure may increase with high blood pressure. So, they refer to a phenomenon called 'hippie genetics,' which has secondary benefits in dealing with stress and reducing risks for heart disease. As said, you are more likely to be stress-free if you are physically active and socially connected, leading a healthy lifestyle. Keep your heart pumping and passions alive by knowing what is good for you. If you have people that support you and share the same bond, you are more likely to be mentally healthy. The people who practice cognitive stimulation are the people who exercise and eat right and ultimately lead a healthy lifestyle. However, it is more important to practice mental stimulation even if you have heart disease symptoms or Alzheimer's. The book gives you a great plan to follow that. About the Guest: Marwan Noel Sabbagh, M.D, formerly the Director of the Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health at Cleveland Clinic, is internationally known for his expertise in the brain and vascular disorders like Alzheimer's and related dementias. For more information about your assessment options for cognitive issues or Alzheimer's, contact Kemper Cognitive Wellness in Cleveland, Ohio. Email: info@kemperwellness.com Website: https://kemperwellness.com/ Phone: (216) 337-1400.

The conversation had on this episode is a little complex but is an excellent review in how science is done and "how the sausage is made" in terms of medical evidence in peer review for Alzheimer's treatments.   We discuss the results of the AMBAR trial - The Alzheimer Management by Albumin Replacement - where people with mild to moderate Alzheimer's showed significant improvements after having their blood plasma exchanged in addition to receiving either IV Albumin as well as IVIg (in some of the experimental groups).   The study doesn't offer an explanation of the mechanisms around why Albumin and IVIg might have been effective, but a robust conversation about the research and the durability of the positive results ensues.   Our guest is an international leader in Alzheimer's, Mercé Boada Rovira MD, PhD founder and director of the ACE Alzheimer's Center in Barcelona, Spain. Dr Boada has led and published results of over 100 Alzheimer's prevention and treatment trials over the many decades of her career.   This episode was co-produced and co-hosted by, Brett Graham, MD. Brett is a 2nd year neurology resident at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.   What is plasma exchange?   Also called plasmapheresis or PLEX. A procedure in which a machine is used to separate the liquid part of blood from the blood cells and then filtered similar to dialysis except that in plasma exchange big things like protein and antibodies are removed whereas in dialysis smaller molecules and electrolytes are the target. Because proteins are removed from blood in the process they are usually replaced with something like albumin afterwards. This treatment is mostly commonly used in treating certain autoimmune diseases like myasthenia gravis, Guillan Barre Syndrome, and thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) but it is also used in diseases where too much of a particular substance builds up in the blood such as in multiple myeloma or familial hypercholesterolemia.   What is albumin?   Albumin is the main protein component of blood that serves to balance concentration gradients between the blood and tissues as well as shuttle many other molecules through the bloodstream. This is removed during plasma exchange and so must be at least partially replaced after a session. What is IVIG?   IVIG stands for intravenous immunoglobulin and is basically pooled antibodies from blood donors, which when administered to a patient have a variety of effects, many of which are still not fully understood, but you can basically think about these antibodies non-specifically binding to and neutralizing autoantibodies and other bad stuff in the blood. Again, this is most commonly used to treat autoimmune diseases.   For consultation or evaluation by Dr Nate Bergman call, 216-337-1400 or visit our website www.Kemperwellness.com  

In July 2021, the journal Frontiers in Neurology reported on "groundbreaking research" out of Tulane pointing to the relationship between Lyme disease and Alzheimer's dementia.  But since the 1980s our guest on this episode, Dr. Alan MacDonald, was stirring up the scientific debate by publishing and presenting data from his pathology laboratory that the bacteria - Borrelia Burgdorferi  often synonymous with what's called Lyme disease, because of its association with its US origins in the town of Lyme, Connecticut. Dr. MacDonald graduated with an MD from Columbia University.  He has completed 35 years of research in Borrelia and Lyme disease and has published numerous peer-reviewed articles on the pathology of Lyme and its role in Alzheimer's, dementia, and other diseases. This show is dedicated to my mother, Susan Bergman MD, the #1 fan and supporter of the show - who was the first and coolest pathologist I've ever known. For more information on how you can prevent or push back against Alzheimer's and other dementias visit Kemperwellness.com or call (216) 337-1400.  We have support programs, virtual classes, and many other options. Consider supporting the Evolving Past Alzheimer's podcast at patreon.com/evolvingpast so we can continue to bring you the information most helpful to you.   3:00 - What is a pathologist?  9:35 - Why Alan believes some of Alzheimer's cases have microbial origins  15:07 - Why has it taken so long to recognize chronic Lyme disease?  24:34 - What percentage of Alzheimer's patients have microbes like Lyme in their body?  28:42 - How to get a diagnosis with Lyme  42:12 - The possibilities for the treatment of Lyme disease 

This is a more theoretical episode that gives us some idea about what might be happening with the rhythms of an Alzheimer's or POST-COVID brain.  Our guest, Dr Thom Cleland, is a professor of theoretical and systems neuroscience at Cornell University.  His research is particularly focused on the mammalian olfactory system and on the emergent dynamical networks that govern communication and information transfer among brain areas.   We talk about brain circuits, neuronetworks and how this relates to our sense of smell and Alzheimer's in general. For more information on how you can prevent or push back against Alzheimer's and other dementias visit Kemperwellness.com or call (216) 337-1400.  We have support programs, virtual classes, and many other options. Consider supporting the Evolving Past Alzheimer's podcast at patreon.com/evolvingpast so we can continue to bring you the information most helpful to you.   1:42 - What we can learn from looking at brain waves  8:58 - The olfactory system and how it works  13:57 - What happens to people's brain waves when they are experiencing dementia processes  24:43 - How the olfactory system connects to the memory and can help with dementia intervention  36:18 - Is losing the sense of smell a sign of neurodegeneration? 

In this episode, we go deep into the potential benefits of specialized meditation for our immune systems, brain-related proteins, Alzheimer's, cellular energy, and much more. Our guest, Dr Hemal Patel - is a full professor and serves as the Vice-Chair for Research in the Department of Anesthesiology at the University of California, San Diego. If you are skeptical about meditation I urge you to check out this episode so that you Click here is a link to Dr. Patel's talk at a recent Joe Dispenza conference. For more information on how you can prevent or push back against Alzheimer's and other dementias visit Kemperwellness.com or call (216) 337-1400.  We have support programs, virtual classes, and many other options. Consider supporting the Evolving Past Alzheimer's podcast at patreon.com/evolvingpast so we can continue to bring you the information most helpful to you.   12:47 - how cell membranes can cause or prevent Alzheimer's  15:52 - using meditation and other methods to strengthen cell membranes  28:31 - how you affect people around you by practicing meditation  37:23 - can meditation prevent you from contracting COVID-19?  44:16 - getting started with meditation 

Earlier this year, podcast episode #65 - we spoke to Lisa and her daughters Stacy and Natalie. They told us about how they were Living Well with Alzheimer's and improving using lifestyle and personalized approach. Her cognitive decline had stabilized and seen small, but significant improvements in brain function.  This episode we review some of the elements  that have led to their success: 1) Hiring a personal assistant for Lisa as opposed to a caregiver to force her to do things 2) Inspecting & moving out of a water damaged "moldy" home and why they did this 3) How they continue to iterate and push back against her Alzheimer's process, some tools and tricks that are working for them every day.   For more information on how you can prevent or push back against Alzheimer's and other dementias visit Kemperwellness.com or call (216) 337-1400.  We have support programs, virtual classes, and many other options. Consider supporting the Evolving Past Alzheimer's podcast at patreon.com/evolvingpast so we can continue to bring you the information most helpful to you.   4:44 - What has happened since we last spoke to Natalie and Stacey  7:27 - How Natalie and Stacey revolutionized typical dementia care through choosing a personal assistant over a caregiver  12:45 - What they discovered from mold tests in their mother's home  29:15 - Navigating the process of moving their mother to a safer home  34:50 - What kept Lisa motivated to keep doing the work  41:48 - How is Lisa doing right now overall?  47:10 - The ins and outs of the system that keeps the family on track with the treatment plan 

“We're actually able to change the brain, even in the face of things like Alzheimer's disease.” This was the statement made by our guest for this show, Dr. Ben Hampstead. Dr. Hampstead is a professor at the Univ of Michigan and leads a lab that is doing several studies using transcranial direct current stimulation for mild cognitive impairment, Alzheimer's, and other forms of cognitive impairment.  We talk about his work and compare it to some of our own results with our patients.  Exciting and thought-provoking! To learn more about the exciting work being done by Dr Hampstead https://medicine.umich.edu/dept/psychiatry/benjamin-hampstead-phd-abppcn To learn more about what we do in our clinical practice at Kemper Cognitive Wellness visit kemperwellness.com  We are located in Cleveland, Ohio.  Or call us at (216) 337-1400.   1:55 - How we are able to change the brain even in the face of Alzheimer's disease  9:00 - Technologies that can be used to treat cognitive decline  31:24 - Measuring the results of the non-pharmacological treatment methods  37:51 - Making medicine more personalized  47:22 - How these treatment plans can be used to prevent cognitive decline before it starts 

Halloween is here and the other holidays are just around the corner, so we need to discuss sugar. I share about a conversation I had with Dr. Dale Bredesen about the importance of eating right when trying to prevent cognitive impairment. It has been a long time where food and wellness was not included in the treatment plan for patients with Alzheimer's and Dementia, but it's such a crucial part of preventing and slowing the progression of cognitive decline.  Nikki Gould, a registered dietician at Kemper Cognitive Wellness is also joining us today to talk about what sugar can do to your brain and your overall health and how we can navigate the holidays with this information in mind. 6:39 - Is there a healthy amount of sugar?  11:05 - How sugar is hidden in the American diet  15:38 - Taking the first steps towards sustainable change  20:30 - Keeping sugar intake at a reasonable level during the holidays  25:04 - Supporting family members during the holidays if they are struggling with their health

Untreated and unresolved trauma is now considered to be a risk factor and contributor to Alzheimer's dementia.    Trauma can be defined as any event that alters how we process, react to, and recall memories, by overwhelming the individual's central nervous system. Additionally, trauma is defined as any event in which a person feels helpless and unsafe. It is not only an occurrence that happened in the past; instead, trauma is an event that leaves an imprint upon the body and the brain which persists to the present day.   Our guest for this episode, Dr. Ilene Naomi Rusk completed her PhD in Neuropsychology and Psychopharmacology in the UK , and Fellowships in Neuropsychology.  She has dedicated her career to studying novel treatment strategies for Alzheimer's Disease and sees trauma as a root cause of many illnesses. She is the author of several peer reviewed articles. Dr Rusk co-founded the Brain and Behavior Clinic over 25 years ago and currently directs the Healthy Brain Program in Colorado.   4:20 - Defining trauma through reflecting on a patient story  7:26 - How trauma influences more than just the brain  16:06 - A trauma informed approach to treating neuro degeneration  21:50 - Identifying cognitive decline symptoms in patients who struggle with other mental illnesses or trauma  33:24 - Classic signs of unresolved trauma in the older generations  42:44 - How to deal with unresolved trauma in someone before it becomes cognitive decline  56:12 - How long does it take to see improvement when working with trauma-informed techniques?    Strategies to improve the brain and nervous system: traditional talk therapy (eg with a psychologist) Simple deep breathing dance and movement waling Qi Gong, Tai Chi, Yoga other coregulatory exercises DisasterShock.com is a resource for people struggling with the stressors and traumas. It includes: opportunities for social connection/coregulation (including on-line) craft projects walking For more many more tools and strategies visit Ilenenaomirusk.com   To learn more about the BrainFit program at Kemper Cognitive Wellness visit kemperwellness.com

Dr. Nate Bergman quickly summarizes the story up the FDA's recent "accelerated approval" of Biogen's - Aducanumab (brand named, Aduhelm). He ends off with surprise about why he is excited about the approval...and it's probably not what you think! A quick, but useful listen.   In this episode we talk about… The terms of the approval of the drug What Aducanumab was able to accomplish in Alzheimer's patients The circumstances that led to Aducanumab being approved Some of the problems that arise with Aducanumab Why I am excited about Aducanumab

In this episode, we talk with Lisa, a woman in her early 70s living with Alzheimer's.  Lisa is a patient of Dr. Bergman at Kemper Cognitive Wellness.  Lisa is joined in this conversation by her daughters, Stacy and Natalie.   We discuss the successes and challenges they have had as a family living with Alzheimer's disease.  Lisa shares her thoughts about being diagnosed as well as the hope and results they have had since starting on a journey of living well with Alzheimer's. This episode is an important listen for anyone with doubts, reservations, or skepticism around a precision, functional medicine approach to the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Note: names/identities were changed to preserve anonymity.   1:50 - what it was like to get diagnosed with Alzheimer's and how the family responded  12:13 - living with Alzheimer's during the events of 2020  14:33 - beginning treatment at Kempler Cognitive Wellness  19:05 - how patients can navigate the healthcare system to find the best treatment plan for their diagnosis  24:58 - implementing your treatment plan and navigating the necessary lifestyle changes  36:34 - results that this family has seen from this treatment plan  45:33 - maintaining motivation in a world where we don't see a lot of people who are living their lives with Alzheimer's  53:48 - processing the permanent lifestyle changes that are involved with Alzheimer's treatment plans  55:44 - what “success” looks like with Alzheimer's treatment 

In this episode, we hear the argument in favor of the new Alzheimer's drug, Aducanumab (Aduhelm).  Dr. Marwan Sabbagh is a clinical and research leader at the Cleveland Clinic's Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health. He was a doctor that saw patients in one of the trials that led to the FDA's Accelerated (provisional) Approval.  Note: Dr. Sabbagh notes his disclosure as an advisor to Biogen, the maker of Aducanumab. We discuss what Dr. Sabbagh noted in his own patients involved in the recent Phase 3 clinical trial of Aducanumab. Controversy over the FDA's decision and why Dr. Sabbagh's 25+ years of diagnosing and treating Alzheimer's makes him optimistic about this drug. Dr. Sabbagh talks through who he thinks might be a good candidate for Aducanumab, the drug's known practical side effects, and how people might get access to the medication in the near future. Ultimately, Dr. Sabbagh sees people in the near future living with Alzheimer's like a chronic disease much like HIV or diabetes, or even cancer. This episode presents a slightly different perspective than many of our listeners are used to.  We hope you find it useful.   2:33 - what is this new drug and how does it actually treat Alzheimer's  5:28 - Why Dr. Sabbagh is optimistic about this new drug  11:43 - Reasons for some of the skepticism around the study  14:11 - Dr. Sabbagh's observations of the people who have taken the drug  21:10 - What are the risks of taking the drug?  27:08 - Responding to the criticism of the drug  32:30 - Other promising drugs that may be available in the future for Alzheimer's patients  37:18 - How do people get access to this new drug? 

This week we will do almost a Part 2 from the last episode with Drs Dale Bredesen and Kat Toups.  In that episode, we featured recently released results data on MedArchive from a clinical trial in which 84% of 25 patients with early Alzheimer's Disease and Mild Cognitive Impairment improved with a Precision Medicine approach.   With that in mind, we want to get another perspective from the other 2 physicians who led this ground-breaking clinical trial. This week we are joined by Doctors Ann Hathaway and Deborah Gordon. We dive deeper into the details of testing, treatment, and people involved in this trial. The study results (not yet available in a peer-reviewed journal) were released here https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.05.10.21256982v1.full.pdf Precision Medicine Approach to Alzheimer's Disease: Successful Proof-of-Concept Trial   5:07 - how the care for the patients in the study is different from the normal protocol  8:40 - getting the study group to work with the technology required for the study  19:07 - some of the reasons patients were not able to be successful  25:23 - how they helped their patients create sustainable lifestyle improvement  34:48 - viral infections that contribute to Alzheimer's and how they approached treating that  44:52 - why is hormone replacement so important for cognitive recovery?  51:15 - bacterial infections that can lead to cognitive decline  1:11:15 - criticisms they will apply to future studies 

Our guests today are Drs Kathleen Toups & Dale Bredesen. Link to the study results just released online: https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.05.10.21256982v1.full.pdf   Important to note, this has not yet been peer-reviewed yet. 25 participants in this group, underwent a 9-month trial. 21 people improved, 1 person no real changes and 3 people got worse to some degree.   2:32 - what is MedArchive and have these study results been peer-reviewed yet?  5:05 - the results of the study and what they learned about cognitive impairment  10:23 - how they determined the cutoff for the participants in the study  17:15 - lessons Dale brought into the study from his previous trial  23:53 - how they proved that environmental factors were leading to cognitive decline  31:03 - key attributes to people who are successful in improving during the study  35:07 - main factors that lead to exposure to toxicity  44:34 - the decision to study genetic factors of Alzheimer's and cognitive decline  50:26 - responding to criticisms of the trial  58:58 - plans for a follow-up trial   

Deborah Kan is a former executive producer with the Wall Street Journal. In 2017 she founded the website BeingPatient.com, a comprehensive website dedicated to Alzheimer's news, stories, and support. This interview covers how Deborah sees the current world of Alzheimer's research and trends in brain health and wellness.   5:42 - Being Patient and how it serves people who are taking care of loved ones with Alzheimer’s  8:35 - Early signs of Alzheimer’s that are often overlooked  17:17 - How the dementia space is evolving with the rise in early diagnosis 20:25 - Why there are more women diagnosed with Alzheimer’s than men  26:09 - The importance of prevention over curing  31:04 - Functional medicine in Alzheimer’s treatment for the people who can’t wait for the science  37:10 - Education and prevention for Alzheimer’s that everyone needs 

This is a really unique and important episode. We are witnessing a sea change in dementia. More people are being diagnosed, earlier and younger. And people are figuring out how to actually fight back against the disease and taking ownership of their condition. My guest this week on the Evolving Past Alzheimer's podcast, Chrissy Thelker, was diagnosed with Vascular dementia at age 57 and nearly 5 years later is still living on her own, driving, and living a life of incredible purpose... her story inspires, but she also gives useful information for anyone out there working through the early stages of the disease. This is one you're crazy not to listen to....an amazing episode!   2:00 - What it was like to receive a dementia diagnosis 6:22 - Why a dementia specialist refused to take Chrissy on as a patient 9:44 - How Chrissy followed the Bredesen protocol to slow her dementia symptoms and almost completely prevent herself from getting worse 14:56 - What it’s like to live with dementia 19:22 - How to balance fighting against the dementia with tending to your new needs living with the disease 21:22 - “You have to monitor yourself, and if we all learned from a younger age that it’s ok to rest, we would all be doing better in our health.” 23:37 - What does it mean to live with purpose after a dementia diagnosis? 29:45 - What it feels like to hear “you don’t look like you have dementia” 37:31 - How Chrissy thinks about the future 43:54 - Some major conversations happening in the DAI community and people living with dementia - the connection between sleep and brain health 48:33 - “Dementia is like a spider web. We need treatments to help manage the different aspects and symptoms rather than a cure.” 52:40 - Why organizations working towards treatments and cures need more people suffering from the disease at the table 1:00:00 - “Have those conversations early in receiving your diagnosis about your driving and other aspects of your independence.” 1:06:16 - How has COVID impacted her function as someone living with dementia   Resources Mentioned Chrissy's Book - For This I'm Grateful Chrissy's Blog Dementia Alliance International

Some listeners have requested more personal stories of people improving and how they are doing it.  In this episode, we want to introduce you to an amazing couple, Betsy and George Muller.  George suffered a major brain injury as a result of his heart stopping about 4 years ago.  Fortunately, he has successfully recovered from the brain injury and this is the story of how the Mullers did it! If you're interested in more details of the Muller's journey, check out Betsy's book -  The Comeback - An Energy Makeover Love Story (available on Amazon and Audible).   9:24 - What George and Betsy have learned about brain health and brain resilience from their experience  14:41 - How meditation can help anyone who is suffering from a cognitive issue or their caregiver  17:33 - Tapping into the power of routine to help someone recover cognitive function  18:44 - The connection between heart health and brain health  21:43 - How to deal with some of the challenges of navigating a loved one who needs a caregiver  26:59 - How to keep your brain as healthy as possible      Several Resources were mentioned that are relevant to folks with Alzheimer's and other dementias. Among them: AlzU.org - comprehensive website for evidence-based, Alzheimer's education led by previous guest Richard Isaacson MD.  Lumosity Brain Training  Donna Eden Energy Medicine - Betsy recommends do this with your partner of someone with dementia you are caregiving for. It takes only about 6-7 minutes.

We get many questions from listeners and people seeking Alzheimer’s prevention and early intervention about the risks and benefits of hormone therapies, such as estrogen and progesterone. Our guest this episode, Felice Gersh MD and co-authors recently published an article entitled: Postmenopausal hormone therapy for cardiovascular health: the evolving data   In this episode we talk about: Hormone Therapy in this episode is referring to Estrogen (ie estradiol) and Progesterone. 4:29 We talk about the ideal forms to take 10:28 We discuss doses and the best way to monitor for safety and effectiveness according to the recent journal article. 15:55 - Hormone Therapy’s potential benefits to heart and brain of Estrogen. 21:15 - How estrogen might help the natural process of inflammation that occurs in women’s bodies after menopause. 40:28 - Why it might make more sense to start estrogen therapy earlier rather than later. 48:50 - Considerations for starting estrogen after age 60 or more than 10 years after menopause and how long it may take to see results.

In this episode, you'll meet the co-founders of Kemper House and Kemper Cognitive Wellness.  Betty and Kristin Kemper talk about the ideas that inspired them to start: 1) Kemper House - a dedicated assisted living environment pushing the boundaries of what people thought was possible for Alzheimer's and dementia care 2) Kemper Cognitive Wellness - one of the nation’s leading companies for Alzheimer's and dementia prevention, support, and services. We treat everything from brain fog and ADHD all the way through dementia   You'll also hear from Cheryl Freed, Vice President of Learning & Education at Kemper and family dementia coach at Kemper Cognitive Wellness on the principles that shape living well even with a diagnosis of Alzheimer's or dementia. Finally, we'll tell you about our latest project that we are so proud of - a course for Caregivers of someone with Alzheimer's or other dementia - called, Live Well with Dementia.  Learn more at: Livewellwithdementia.com   Learn more about the work at Kemper: Kemperwellness.com kemperhouse.com   7:48 - What they learned when Kristen’s father and Betty’s husband ended up in the care of their organization  10:49 - The mission of Kemper Cognitive Wellness to catch cognitive decline early  13:13 - What it is like to work in the innovative environment of Kemper vs a traditional assisted living model  15:25 - What can you do when you recieve a diagnosis?  20:03 - What does success look like when someone is moving through the later stages of Dementia? 23:50 - What does success look like when a loved one is at the end of their life? 

We have discussed, photobiomodulation in several past podcasts.  It’s essentially shining lights on the head in order to positively influence brain function.  Growing research supports the use of photobiomodulation for Alzheimer’s and other dementias.  In this episode, we review the hot off the press positive results of a recent clinical trial done by Dr. Berman's group at the Quiet Mind Foundation and his colleagues at the Texas A&M Dept. of Neurosurgery using 1068nm transcranial and intraocular photobiomodulation to treat early to mid-stage dementia.  This was a randomized, double-blind placebo-control trial. Several of the folks using this "light helmet" for 6 minutes, twice a day for 8 weeks had significant improvement in memory and cognition.  Dr. Berman recounts his experiences and talks about where similar devices to the one used in this trial can be obtained.   In This Episode 2:24 - What is photo-bio-modulation?  6:11 - The clinical trial Marvin just completed on Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s patients and what the results taught them about the laser treatments  16:43 - How does this intervention fit into the current dementia-care model? Does it slow the progression of the disease? Does it help increase the number of good days?  19:03 - The importance of functional medicine elements in the treatment of dementia and use of photo-bio-modulation  21:03 - Is this device commercially available? And how much does it cost?    Links  Quiet Mind Foundation 

Joette Calabrese, an international homeopathic consultant, author, educator, and sought-after speaker who teaches around the world. As a physician, I admit that I have some skepticism towards homeopathy, but when it comes to Alzheimer’s and Dementia, I am open to anything that works as long as it’s safe.    In this interview, we talk about what homeopathy is, the safeness and effectiveness of homeopathic treatments, and how you can use homeopathic remedies if you are a caregiver of someone with dementia to benefit yourself and your loved one.   1:11 - “Homeopathy shines in areas where there are no solutions, and modern medicine leaves us great big gaping holes for us to fill.” - Joette Calabrese  3:34 - What is Homeopathy and when is it useful?  8:35 - Are homeopathic treatments a placebo effect?  15:06 - What are the side effects to homeopathic treatments?  17:36 - Homeopathic remedies Joette used to help her mother with dementia  22:11 - How could homeopathy slow the progression of Alzheimer’s  28:56 - “I’ve been doing this for over 34 years and I am still amazed.” - Joette Calabrese 29:19 - Can you get started with homeopathy yourself, or do you have to see an expert?  44:05 - How long does it take to see improvements with homeopathic treatments?  46:50 - How you can use homeopathy to support your own health if you are in the position of being someone else’s caregiver    Find Joette Online

James O’Keefe is the director of preventative cardiology at St Louis Mid-America Heart Institute in Kansas City and a professor of medicine at the University of Missouri. Dr O’Keefe taught me that checking your blood sugar right after you eat is really important. And even healthy people may see a huge spike in their blood sugar right after they eat.  Many different chronic diseases are linked to problems with blood sugar. Dr. O’Keefe recently published a paper on the pesco-Mediterranean diet as the ideal way to eat for heart, brain, and overall health.   5:12 - Advantages of the Pesco-Mediterranean diet for preventing cardiovascular problems  12:33 - Dr. O’Keefe’s perspective on the ketogenic diet  16:38 - How dairy can cause inflammation  23:25 - “Erectile dysfunction is the canary in the coal mine. It is an early warning system of trouble with lifestyle.” 24:09 - How to test endothelial function and measure lifestyle changes that need to be made before real problems manifest  29:51 - Exercise for brain function and Alzheimer’s prevention  46:50 - Is fish oil good for your health? 

Part 2 of the conversation with Francisco Gonzalez-Lima. We are talking about Methylene Blue as a potential therapy for Alzheimer’s. This is something that you can access yourself with the proper research needed to obtain a pharmaceutical grade. We talk about its potential as a therapy for early intervention and prevention of Alzheimer’s. Part 1 of this interview was released two weeks ago, where we talk about brain bioenergetics and laser treatments as a therapy for Alzheimer’s.   0:30 - The “magical properties” of Methylene Blue  10:44 - What do people feel like on Methylene Blue?  25:40 - Benefits of Methylene Blue for early intervention and prevention of Alzheimer’s  35:47 - Why it is so difficult to find Methylene Blue. Is it poisonous? 

This is a super technical episode. The guest is a world leader in brain energy and its impact on cognition and cognitive change that leads to Alzheimer’s. We had to break this episode into two parts. The difference between early-onset Alzheimer’s (which is usually genetic) and late-onset Alzheimer’s that usually happens after age 65. Dr. Gonzalez-Lima argues that there is a common pathway, a problem with the way the brain produces energy, which leads to late-onset Alzheimer’s. The causes of this can be multiple, and the major one is simply getting older. So as individuals, we have to lead healthy lifestyles to push back on these changes. The earliest changes in the brain are different than are commonly understood. They are changes in the way the brain metabolizes energy. These changes show up long before the common atrophies we see in Alzheimer’s patients. Many of the factors that lead to the development of Alzheimer’s are vascular. Test that may help catch Alzheimer’s before cognitive symptoms… Carotid Intima-Media Thickness Test (CIMT) EEG or QEG - brain maps Genetics, head injuries, and brain trauma are other factors that can lead to Alzheimer’s. There are also some infections and viruses that can be associated with the development of the disease. Environmental toxins are a new cause that is being accepted worldwide by even the most conservative organizations. We finish by talking about mitochondria therapy, a low-level laser therapy, where photons are shot into the brain’s photon acceptors. It essentially makes more space, making the cells more likely to bind and use oxygen. The main risk with this laser is the need to protect the eyes. Ultimately, the hope is that this treatment can be done with LED lights, and people can do it themselves. The ketogenic diet can help repair even a damaged brain. We have seen a number of people improve through adopting this diet, even though it can be difficult to sustain, and I don’t recommend sustaining it for long. That conversation will lead us into part 2 which will be released in two weeks.   12:17 - Fundamental problems in the brain and nervous system that are leading to diseases like Alzheimer’s 21:05 - Why are some brains more vulnerable than others to Alzheimer’s? 38:48 - A practical way to assess cerebral brain flow 40:02 - Laser light treatment to help with brain flow 1:09:39 - The ketogenic diet and its potential to help with improving cognition  

Dr. Dale Bredesen is a neuroscientist of the first order as well as a truly pioneering doctor in the fields of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s research.  In 2014, Dr. Bredesen published a widely publicized case series of 10 people who improved from cognitive decline.  He has gone on to teach thousands of practitioners his methodology.  At the time of recording this episode, there is a clinical trial well underway testing his methodology. Dr. Bredesen is the author of numerous scientific papers as well as the author of New York Times bestseller, The End of Alzheimer’s. Most importantly, Dr. Bredesen’s work brings hope and potential solutions for those struggling with Alzheimer’s and other forms of cognitive decline.   In This Episode  “The field has argued that some drug is going to be out there that will work, and they haven’t. So we wanted to start from ground zero.” The root cause of Alzheimer’s Subjective cognitive impairment vs mild cognitive impairment Factors that determine if you can reverse cognitive decline and how much you can improve “Chronic illnesses like Alzheimer’s are working against the physician because they are keeping people from coming to you for years.” How long the results hold after cognitive improvement and what you can do to retain the results The “pandemic within the pandemic”, how COVID-19 and Alzheimer’s are connected “The Five Personalities”, sub-types of Alzheimer’s “We should never follow Alzheimer’s with a period. Alzheimer’s due to what?” What is the ketoflex diet, and why ketone energy is so important in Alzheimer’s and cognition? What is detoxification, and how does it play into Alzheimer’s treatment? The role of psychotherapy in Alzheimer’s prevention and how to deal with apathy during treatment Links  The End of Alzheimer’s Read Dale’s Publications Evolving Past Alzheimer's 

The field of preventive neurology is coming.  Detection of early brain damage is critical and our guest this episode, Darmiyan appears to have developed this technology. A highly technical, but potentially game-changing episode. Darmiyan is a medical image processing company currently focused on applying ai technology for early detection of neurodegenerative brain conditions like Alzheimer’s. Changes in the brain early on lead to Aleztheimers before symptoms develop. If we can learn to detect these changes before symptoms manifest, then there is more opportunity for prevention.   In This Episode: 1:04 - What the technology is and what it can see  5:18 - Discoveries they have made about early Alzheimer’s prevention and how the test works  12:04 - “This is one of the tests that is going to change the course of action.” 14:04 - The accuracy you can expect from the test  17:10 - The criteria for diagnosis with the test  20:22 - What is on the horizon for Darmiyan? 21:50 - “If you wait for the person to be close to dementia that it’s visible on the MRI, that is too late for treatment actions.” 27:26 - Interventions that can improve results after early detection  29:24 - When this technology will be more widely available to people who want to detect degenerative diseases before they have symptoms     Links  Darmiyan’s Website

In Feb 2018 Michele Mootz started the CrossFit Wellness Program focused on bringing CrossFit to populations that were not being addressed including those with serious chronic diseases as well as aging adults over 65 including those with cognitive impairment.  We discuss the tremendous benefits they have seen to date. We also discuss the impact COVID has had on this program and the overall health of this community of individuals. Michele Mootz was a Physical Therapist for 13 years before starting work with CrossFit.  She is currently the Program Director for CrossFit Wellness as well as a Flowmaster for CrossFit Training Department.   In This Episode: 1:23 - What is Crossfit? 2:29 - Michele’s journey from working as a physical therapist to CrossFit 9:45 - “The recipe to try to get our patients healthier doesn’t change, we are just paying closer attention to more high-risk factors they walk in with.” - Michele Mootz 11:12 - Results Michele has seen with the members of her gym 14:18 - “The foundation of CrossFit has always been that the movements are functional movements.” - Michele Mootz 17:03 - How CrossFit can improve areas of your life outside of just physical fitness 21:33 - “One of the mistakes that have been made by me and other CrossFit gyms is trying to integrate everyone into one class.” - Michele Mootz 22:54 - How likely is an injury in Crossfit? 27:23 - What the senior CrossFit classes look like 29:57 - How long it takes to see the results of CrossFit     To inquire about a local class or to join CrossFit's zoom offering: michele.mootz@crossfittraining.com  OR classinfo@crossfit.com The zoom class discussed in this episode occurs at 9am Pacific time.

In this episode we talk with neurologist Suzanne Gazda MD. Dr Gazda is an authority on neurodegenerative diseases and offers more insight to balancing the "mental" vs "physical" risks in the age of coronavirus and social distancing. We focus on inflammation, auto-immune disease, Alzheimer's, and isolation.   

This is a review of the neurological symptoms that are associated with COVID-19.  We discuss the implications of COVID-19 on Alzheimer's disease and other dementias.  We discuss what you can do to protect yourself.     This is not medical advice, please ask your healthcare provider before taking action to find out what is right for you.    Protection: -N95 mask (or at least a cloth or surgical mask) -Low Inflammatory diet (low in processed foods that come out of a bag or box) -Increased exercise/movement - 20-30 minutes of moderate intensity 4-5 times per week.  -Good sleep - 7-9 hours according to your chronotype (biological rhythm)  -Managing stress- we outline box breathing technique   Supplements that likely offer immune support   -Zinc citrate or picolinate or acetate. about 30-60mg.  -Quercetin - 1gram twice a day  -N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC) - 600-900mg by mouth twice a day  -Resveratrol - 100-150 mg daily  -Curcumin 500-1000mg twice a day  -Vitamin D3 -3000-5000 IU per day  -Vitamin C - 1000-3000mg daily (can be taken as 1000mg two or three times per day)   If you would like information on where and how to obtain high quality supplements, dietary advice, stress management tools please email info@kemperwellness.com, that is our company. And we can direct you to those resources.    If you have questions or comments that you would like us to address please find us on social media or email nate@evolvingpast.com 

Dr Michael Fossel received his MD and his PhD from Stanford University. He has published numerous articles in both high impact medical journals and popular press.  His book The Telomerase Revolution was hailed by the WSJ as one of the five best science books of 2015.     In this episode we discuss the promise telomeres and telomerase therapies for Alzheimer's and dementia. Deep dive on epigenetics and the role of glial cells in the process.     

This is the second part of a rich discussion between Anita Saltmarche and Dr Nate Bergman.  It features transcranial photobiomodulation (PBM), or shining LED light energy into the brain.  Anita has led numerous clinical trials and has over 17 years of experience with this technology. A good discussion about which devices, how much to use, and more information about the VieLight product.  

This is the first part of a rich discussion between Anita Saltmarche and Dr Nate Bergman.  It features, transcranial-photobiomodulation (PMB), or shining LED or low level laser light energy into the brain known.  Anita has led numerous clinical trials and has over 17 years of experience with a variety of photobiomodulation applications. We talk about near-infrared and red light, the important wavelengths and intensities of over the counter and prescriber only devices. We specifically look at the research around the VieLight product. 

The first of a 3-part series on light therapy (AKA: Photobiomodulation). This is an interesting discussion of light therapy helmet used with a 64 year old woman with significant Alzheimer's type cognitive impairment. With Dr Joe Diduro DC from ProNeurolight.  

This is, Dr Nate Bergman on a solocast chatting about 3 cases of improvement with Alzheimer's and cognitive impairment. We are excited to be part of the changing conversation within the Alzheimer's and Dementia communities.  Increasingly, the question isn't so much IF someone will improve, it's more of a question of how much.

In the first episode with Dr Richard Isaacson we discussed his journey towards the recent Oct 2019 publication which was the first forward looking designed paper showing improvements in people at-risk for developing or with early symptoms of Alzheimer's.     In this second episode we discuss Richard's idea around how mitochondria might be a root-cause for Alzheimer's disease. We talk about different "personalities" of early Alzheimer's and how this might be related to lab levels and cognitive function tests.   Other items we discuss towards a personalization of an approach in Alzheimer's are hormone replacement therapy in Alzheimer's disease and prevention.  Cocoa flavanols, Intermittent Fasting, Ketogenic diet, metabolic goals and targets, body fat and quite a bit more.     One more note, please understand that none of this should be construed as medical advice. Please consult your local qualified medical authority, even if only considering lifestyle modifications like fasting of any kind or nutritional ketosis.

As our listeners know I get particularly excited about having certain guests on this show.  This episode is one of those guests!  I have been after Dr Richard Isaacson for over a year now and I had to make a special trip to NYC to go bang on his door to get his attention here...but the reason I am so excited is because the kind of work that Richard is doing is truly pioneering in the Alzheimer's community and his recently published paper.  We'll talk about this in great detail, but by way of introduction.   Dr Richard Isaacson finished both his undergraduate degree as well as medical school in just 6 years. Completed his neurology residency at Beth Israel Deaconess/Harvard Medical School and now serves as the Director of the Alzheimer’s Prevention Clinic at Weill Cornell in New York City.  Finally, and perhaps most important, he and his wife just welcomed their first child into this world....congratulations and Welcome to the show, Dr Isaacson!   This is a great episode where we discuss a first-of-its-kind (prospective design) paper showing that early interventions work to prevent Alzheimer's and treat early symptoms. An episode not to be missed. A deep discussion of the research and some of the controversies surrounding Alzheimer's research.

In this episode we explain non-invasive electrical stimulation, specifically transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS).  These techniques are used to alter brain function for the better. They harness and modulate the neuroplastic responses in the brain.   Our guest, Dr. Adam Woods, is cognitive neuroscientist and Assistant Director of the Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory (CAM) at the McKnight Brain Institute at Univ of Florida. He is a national leader in the field of transcranial electrical stimulation (tES), leading the largest tES trial in history, publishing the first comprehensive textbook in the field, and led multiple field standards papers. In particular, we focus on transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS).    We talk about how these techniques enhance cognition in the aging brain and potentially Alzheimer's disease. These effects are being observed in pilot trials and now being tried on larger groups.   We discuss memory networks and functional MRI findings related to tES interventions.    This is highly technical episode, but well worth it for the information.    Click here information about Dr Woods and his work.

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Dr McEwen explains her study of older adults with cognitive decline and begins by explaining what are the subjective assessment she used in her studies to label cognitive decline. The effects on cognitive functioning social experience and physical challenge of a group exercise class was the focus of the study.  Discussion of what is similar and difference between psychosis and Alzheimer’s.  The discussion to turns to how Dr McEwen ties together all the various indicators she is researching and the CogFit exercise program is laid out.   Dr McEwen also works at Genius Gyms and helps translate some of her research into practical applications for a variety of people who could benefit from the cognitive training. She is also help to develop an app that help people do these exercises on their own as well. The discussion concludes talking about the other ways these exercises can help with emotional, attentional or executive function problems by addressing underlying cognitive problems.  Dr. Sarah McEwen is a Cognitive Psychologist, the Director of Research and Programming at Saint John’s - Pacific Brain Health Center in Santa Monica, CA.  

We're back on track...here's a really helpful discussion covering why neuropsychological testing is important if you are dealing with memory loss, cognitive impairment, Alzheimer's, Traumatic Brain Injury, and even problems with mood (such as anxiety and depression).   Kristine Lokken PhD is a functional neuropsychologist with a passion for helping people restore brain health. Her extensive background in clinical research, medical neuropsychology, and holistic wellness merged together to create the Brain Health Institute (BHI).   In addition to her work at BHI, she served as the Director of the Rehabilitation Neuropsychology Service at the Birmingham VA Medical Center and instructed as a Clinical Assistant Professor at University of Alabama at Birmingham.  She has maintained a private practice for over 15 years, and has seen thousands of patients with varying neurological and psychological issues in her clinical work. Dr. Lokken has published several articles in peer reviewed journals and has lectured extensively on brain health.  Since the time of the recording of this episode Dr Lokken has relocated to Seattle, WA to be part of the Brain Health and Research Institute. Neuropsychologic testing is essential to make a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s or other dementia.  This episode explores the role of a Neuropsychologist in a holistic approach to cognitive care. Our discussion begins by focusing basic definitions within the field of neuropsychology.  We discuss what is coming down the line in terms of early recognition of Alzheimer’s from a neuropsychologist’s perspective. Later we take a deeper dive into the best tests or areas to test for early recognition. We touch on some of Dr Lokken’s recently presented evidence that homocysteine may be one of the more useful and affordable biomarkers to look at.  Dr Lokken talks about the value of online cognitive tests versus being evaluated by a Neuropsychologist. The discussion continues by looking at self-reported cognitive decline and what you can do if you feel you are worried about it. We finish talking about how the medical community has changed its perspective on prevention going back to the end of 2018 and what is possible in the future in terms of prevention. 

Dr Nate Bergman welcomes you back for season 2 of the Evolving Past Alzheimer's Podcast.  This season we're talking Neuropsychology, new approaches that incorporate both the brain and body for better results, begin talking about transcranial electric stimulation approaches to Alzheimer's and issues of cognition. We will also continue to discuss ways to optimally age in our bodies while our minds and spirits continue to soar!

Sara Gottfried M.D. is a mother, wife, Harvard-educated physician, keynote speaker, and author of three New York Times bestselling books, The Hormone Cure (2012), The Hormone Reset Diet (2015), and her latest book Younger: A Breakthrough Program to Reset Your Genes, Reverse Aging, and Turn Back the Clock 10 Years (2017). For the past 25+ years, Dr. Sara has been dedicated to helping women feel at home in their bodies with functional medicine. After graduating from Harvard Medical School and MIT, she completed her residency at the University of California at San Francisco. She lives in Berkeley, California with her family.   Dr Sara, shares what she learned from her own journey towards health highlighting how jumping straight to bioidentical hormone therapy isn't always the best option.    Dr Sara lays out the issues of hormones in perimenopausal and the implications in Alzheimer's disease. The dramatic hormone shifts in perimenopause into the menopausal transition make women more vulnerable to Alzheimer's disease.   We discuss the concepts of bioenergetics, glucose "hypometabolism" and mitochondrial changes in pre, peri, and postmenopausal changes. The premenopausal state is protective against brain changes leading to Alzheimer's.    The HPA axis, or the control system for stress and hormone system, becomes dysregulated. Dr Sara describes how symptoms such as anxiety and depression may in fact may not be the diseases themselves, but harbingers of Alzheimer's and cognitive impairment.    Dr Sara's Basics for Estrogen and Hormone Balance: Food choices: basics of water, increased fiber, magnesium Assessing nutrient gaps (organic acid panels, essential fatty acid, oxidative stress panel) Assessment of microbiome (looking for infection, dysbiosis, beta-glucuronidase, etc) with Functional stool testing. Looking at Estrogen metabolism (estrone, estradiol, estrone) this can be done with dried urine testing and other testing to determine how your body is breaking down estrogen and if it is getting rid of it efficiently stool testing with beta-glucuronidase An approach to identifying and actively managing stress and to develop stress resilience Using a the Perceived Stress Scale to assess Measure blood cortisol, dried urine testing Core supplementation: magnesium, DIM (di-indolylmethane). Advanced maneuvers (of course, in the context of overall lifestyle changes) Phosphatidylserine 300-400mg - in divided doses or all at once or at bedtime Lavela (pill form of Lavender) for anxiousness - can get on Amazon Chasteberry - helps perimenopausal women who still get a menstrual cycle. Helps raise progesterone (a neurosteroid that helps to soothe the female brain). note: this can take 2-4 weeks to see a change Dr Sara often recommends: "Fertility Blend" brand name   When does Dr Sara move to using bioidentical hormone replacement? after basic lifestyle changes:  Step 1: Navigate stress (less coffee and alcohol). add flax seeds to a morning shake/smoothie (eg 2 tablespoons) Step 2: Chasteberry, Siberian rhubarb, Maca (see Dr Sara's books esp The Hormone Cure for doses and timing and alot more strategy) Step 3: Consider bioidentical hormones estradiol patch with micronized progesterone esp for perimenopausal women. she tries to use the lowest dose for the shortest time possible. she see's about 10% of her patients end up going on hormone replacement.    Towards the end of the interview (minute 50) we take a fairly deep dive into using bioidentical hormone therapy in women that are a bit older than perimenopausal ages and the controversy surrounding this issue.    Dr Sara also lets the cat out of the bag with a new book on Brain that's coming out soon! listen towards the end of the interview for that. "The Brain, Body Diet" - a Functional Medicine approach.   For more information Visit Dr Sara's website at: saragottfriedmd.com   Also read her recent article on Women, Hormones, and Alzheimer's. 

As Co-Directors of the Alzheimer’s Prevention Program at Loma Linda University Medical Center, Dr. Ayesha and Dr. Dean Sherzai, through research and their extensive collective medical backgrounds, work to demystify the steps to achieving long-term brain health and the prevention of devastating diseases such as Alzheimer’s and dementia. They are also the authors of the much acclaimed book, The Alzheimer's Solution: A Breakthrough Program to Prevent and Reverse the Symptoms of Cognitive Decline at Every Age    They call their basic program NEURO which stands for,  Nutrition Exercise Unwind (from stress) Restorative sleep Optimize cognitive and social activity.    Currently TeamSherzai works at Loma University, the only recognized Blue Zone in the United States. They are currently studying how the Loma Linda community, which is largely a vegetarian-based, health-focused community has such a significantly lower number of cases of Alzheimer's.    We discuss the role of "good" vs "bad" fats and an expanded scoring system to determine the best diet to avoid the risk of strokes and brain damage.     The highlights from this episode we discuss: omega 3 fatty acid supplements tofu/soy organic vs non-organic (simple key: try to know where your food comes from) proton pump inhibitors (ant-acid medications) statin (anti-cholesterol medications) the relationship between vascular disease (blood vessel issues) PREceding Alzheimer's Dose of exercise - 20-35 minutes per day. 4-5 days a week. to the point of mild breathlessness/pointing. Also, leg strength seems to correlate with brain strength.   "Living a Purpose Driven Life" - Team Sherzai has found that to enhance cognitive/neuronal "connectivity" is to sustain a combination of ongoing complexity, challenge and connection to a larger purpose. Keep these in mind as we make our decisions in the 2nd half of life! Experimental labs/biomarkers for brain and neurodegenerative disease (exosomes, oxidation family, VEGF)   Find more about Drs Dean & Ayesha Sherzai's work in their new book  - The Alzheimer's Solution

We are going to pick up where we left off last week talking to Dr Mary Ackerley about mold and the phenomenon called Inhalational Alzheimer's. Last week we spoke about the diagnosis side of mold related cognitive impairment. this week we speak about treatments.    For the second part of the show we pick up where we left off talk about a program that is available online called,The Dynamic Neural Retraining System.     -Step One Remediation- you have to get away from the mold/mycotoxin/biotoxin exposure. Make sure to use a qualified Indoor Environmental Professional (IEP). This can often be the most difficult    -Step Two Basic Treatment  binders such as cholestyramine, clay, charcoal and other assessing and treating MARCoNS - a colonization of a certain type of staph infections. can be treated by specific nasal sprays or ozone. addressing hormones - such as estrogen, DHEA, testosterone.  VIP (vasoactive intestinal peptide) - a natural hormone. this perhaps encourage the growth of grey matter in the brain (FDA safety data has not yet been shown).   -Step Three Advanced Treatment in cases beyond simpler mold/mycotoxin cases into coinfections. This includes looking deeper at hormones or infections or parasites. addressing Mast cell activation/Histamine issues - gut issues, flushing, itching, tongue and throat swelling, POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome), dysautonomia. dealing with patient with Traumatic Brain Injury or serious psychiatric illness   Dr Ackerley is a co-founder of ISEAI, the International Society of Environmentally Acquired Illness. Society members are dedicated to researching and quantifying symptoms and treatment approaches from biotoxin mediated inflammatory illness.

Our guest today is Dr Mary Ackerley MD, Dr Ackerly is a Harvard and Johns Hopkins trained board certified psychiatrist.  She holds active medical licenses in Arizona and Florida.  Mary also is a co-founder of ISEAI, the International Society of Environmentally Acquired Illness. Society members are dedicated to researching and quantifying symptoms and treatment approaches from biotoxin mediated inflammatory illness.   She is probably most well known for her internet article entitled “Brain on Fire” (related YouTube) which is a summary of the neuropsychiatric implications of biotoxin illness and her practice My Passion 4 Health is located in Arizona.   She was also a co-author on an article with a previous guest, Dr Dale Bredesen called, Reversal of Cognitive Decline in Alzheimer's Disease. - this was sort of an expose of a novel concept called, Inhalational Alzheimer's.    Disclaimer: please note, this show like all shows on the podcast is not meant to be medical advice. it is not intended to diagnose or treat any health condition. please see your personal health care provider for diagnosis and treatment.    We discuss what is meant by Inhalational Alzheimer's.  It focuses on the fact that toxins - like mycotoxins and others - come in through the nose to infiltrate the brain.     Dr Ackerley describes the first cases she saw with cognitive impairment and the symptoms involved.    When did you first notice cognitive symptoms specifically related to mold and biotoxin exposures   To help make a diagnosis of mold related cognitive decline - Dr Ackerley uses a persons story (patient history) and his/her symptoms inflammatory labs such as TGFB-1, MMP9, Complement 4a, VEGF Urine Mycotoxin testing volumetric MRI (see previous episode 6 with Dr Cyrus Raji episode) Dr Ackerley uses the NeuroReader Triage brain report she notes thalamus and amygdala enlargement basal ganglia atrophy

We are going to take a little different turn this week and perhaps take a look into the future a little bit.   We glad to have with us, Ira Pastor, Chief Executive Officer – Bioquark Inc.    Ira has over 30 years of experience across multiple sectors of the pharmaceutical industry.  Currently, he is also a Board Member of RegenerAge  a clinical company focused on expedited translational therapeutic applications of regenerative and rejuvenative healthcare interventions, the Reanima Project (http://www.reanima.tech), and member of the World Economic Forum's Human Enhancement council.    Ira's company is applying a technology called combinatory biologics to essentially regrow tissue! check this show out....   Learn more about Ira and his work at BioQuark here

According to Dr Gabrielle Lyon losing muscle is tantamount to losing brain tissue which is one of the core processes that occurs in Alzheimer's. Dr. Gabrielle Lyon is a Functional medicine physician focusing on Muscle-Centric Medicine. She leverages evidence-based medicine with emerging cutting-edge science to restore metabolism, balance hormones and optimize body composition. Prior to her foray into medicine, Dr. Lyon was a national semifinalist in Fitness America, and a professional fitness model. Dr Lyon currently works as a practicing physician in New York City. She recently co-authored a chapter in a textbook, the Chapter is entitled "Metabolic Interventions for Sarcopenic Obesity." What is sarcopenia? Sarcopenia is age-associated loss of muscle mass and function.    When sarcopenia AND obesity are both going on in someone they compound each other.    Dr Lyon maintains that there are signs of muscle loss long before actual sarcopenia sets in.    Interestingly, obesity is somewhat analogous to aging in that both are low grade inflammatory/catabolic/breakdown states where healing becomes more difficult.    Dr Lyon's Ideal Body Weights   -Women 15-20% body fat -Men 12-15%   How does this get diagnosed or assessed?  DEXA scan Gait Speed  time yourself to see how long it takes you walk 4, 5, or 10 meters repeat this twice (walking at a comfortable pace for you) an average speed of

We have spoken about the effects of stress and memory. This week we will talk about how stress effects memory. FAIR WARNING: This episode is super technical. This will be great for the geeks, nerds, and mechanism seekers among us. BUT HAVE NO FEAR, because practical information does emerge from this episode thanks to our guest's mastery of this subject. Grant Shields is a Ph.D. candidate in psychology at Univ of California in Davis working with both Andrew P. Yonelinas in the Human Memory Lab and Brian C. Trainor in the Behavioral Neuroendocrinology Lab. He also works with a previous guest of ours, Dr George Slavich, at the UCLA Laboratory for Stress Assessment and Research. Grant's research is aimed at understanding why our cognitive functions fail us when we seem to need them most. In particular, he studies the effects of stress on both memory and executive functions as well as the biological pathways through which those effects occur...and that is exactly what we want to know about. What is stress? In Grant's research he is speaking about "acute" stress which is a limited, subjective experience of a stressor (eg a car crash). This is distinguished from "chronic" stress which is the subjective experience of an ongoing stressor (eg getting a diagnosis of a terminal disease like Alzheimer's). Classically, a stress response is evoked if an event is uncontrollable, unpredictable, ambigious or has a social threat component to it. Acute stress is completely adaptive. in other words we typically are capable of experiencing this and moving on. Responses to acute stress can be useful. However, these responses can become maladaptive or inappropriate which can in turn be harmful. Chronic stress is not yet known to ever be beneficial. Phases of Memory -Encoding - the phase of learning something new Stress at encoding can enhance or impair learning and memory. it enhanc Postencoding/consolidation period - last about about 60 minutes just after learning something new Memory for something you just learned can enhanced by stress Retrieval phase or postreactivation phases What Stress Hormones/Glucocorticoids do to Memory It isn't just cortisol that has an impact on memory. Grant explained that, within the hippocampus - an area known to be important for short term memory formation and conversion to long term memory- cortisol's relationship with norepinephrine in the basal-lateral amygdala to boost memory for information during the period of synergy between cortisol and norepinephrine. As cortisol secretion persists they exert genomic effects within the hippocampus and begin to inhibit the processing and storage (memory) of new information. Executive Function inhibition - the ability ignore irrelevant information coming into your brain working memory updating - ability to add to what and update your current thinking cognitive flexibility/set shifting - flexibly shift between different kinds of thinking The Physiologic Costs of Stress Chronic stress, as stated, give rise to elevated glucocorticoids. Over time glucocorticoids less ability to shut off inflammatory signals. Over time, with chronic stress, develops a chronic state of inflammation, immune system function can become impaired, and autoimmune conditions can be triggered. When glucocorticoids bind in the memory centers of the brain, like the hippocampus, it degrades memory formation. Practical Info To improve your memory for newly learned things, consider a brief "healthy stressor" like exercise after you have some thing you want to commit to memory. Exercise promotes memory formation in the brain. Meditation, of course, is protective as well. To Learn More about Grant's work find him here 

Conscious Dance is something I think is extremely important in the transformation of a mind, particularly for those with Alzheimer's or at-risk of Alzheimer's. According to Mark Metz, a thought leader in the community, Conscious Dance is essentially "a non-competitive, body based way of raising consciousness." Our guests today are the co-founders of Open Floor Dance. Kathy Altman - is a co founder of Open Floor International, an organization that promotes conscious dance as a form of well being, community building, peace making and creativity. She has danced her whole life but moving without choreography imposed from the outside is the skill she relies on most. Kathy has taught dance to thousands of people on many continents for over 40 years. Lori Saltzman - is a co-founder of Open Floor. Lori stumbled into her first movement workshop with Gabrielle Roth when she was 26 years old. She spent 30 years as Gabrielle’s friend, student and close collaborator. The same vital force that wed her to movement led her to meditation, writing and creativity. Five years ago she co-founded Open Floor International, an collaboration of seasoned movement teachers, artists, therapists, and educators who are translating their wisdom to the dance floor. The 2 primary values of Open Floor Dance: help people move from fixed to fluid movements, extending this into consciousness. "move and include" - when we move, things come up. feelings come up and they can be included and processed in the dance to further our evolution as human beings. In Open Floor we dance to learn rather than learning to dance. It is free-form dance and movement in a safe space. There aren't intentional, structured partners or choreographed dance steps. Often people use this as a practice and community through which they experience many of the common ups and downs. These groups are for young and "old" and are non-exclusionary. All levels of physical ability from professional dancers to dancers/movers in a wheelchair. Our guests cite some research for dance lowering the risk for cognitive impairment and dementia. They also talk about how they are able to push their movement limitations and how the body adapts to continuous activity as they age. To learn more about Open Floor visit here    To find a conscious dance group near you use the Conscious Dance Move Map