In January’s article, I skimmed over the five basic steps you can take to prevent and even help treat Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. For March, I’m offering two pearls.

Brain Pearl #1 – Expanding on January’s First Pearl

If you’re reading this newsletter, you already know the importance of eating a low-sugar, low-grain, high-nutrient diet rich in healthy fats, especially from olives and avocados.

Brain Pearl #2 – What Do I Mean by “Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias”?

Let’s start with “related dementias.” Dementia refers to any kind of brain impairment primarily associated with memory loss but also includes difficulty with communication, problem-solving, and changes in mood and behavior. These symptoms are severe enough to interfere with daily life and are not a normal part of aging. As dementia progresses, a person becomes less able to manage daily tasks and requires increasing levels of assistance.

Normal parts of aging may include:

• Struggling to think of a word that later comes back to you spontaneously

• Occasionally forgetting the name of a person or movie

• Moving more slowly through the world

I’m sure you know someone older who has their own form of minor “lapse” but is still completely intact in other ways!

Understanding Alzheimer’s Dementia

You hear a lot from us about Alzheimer’s dementia, which refers to a specific type of dementia that includes all the above symptoms. It is often associated with the ApoE4 gene (or two!), but what sets that path in motion can vary widely.

People with vascular disease, chronic Lyme, or Type 3 diabetes can all develop Alzheimer’s dementia. On either blood tests or spinal taps, they show high levels of amyloid beta in the brain (which appears as a different amyloid beta in the blood) and/or pTau. Characteristic patterns of brain atrophy appear on MRI testing, which leads us into the discussion of “related dementias.”

Other Types of Dementia

Where the brain atrophies determines the type of dementia:

• Fronto-Temporal Dementia (FTD) – Affects the frontal and temporal lobes

• Alzheimer’s Dementia – Primarily affects the temporal and parietal lobes

• Lewy Body Dementia – Often includes hallucinations

• Primary Progressive Aphasia – Leads to loss of language abilities

• Posterior Cortical Atrophy – Affects visual acuity and/or balance
  

Some rarer forms of dementia are linked to toxic or inflammatory causes such as chronic herpes virus or Lyme disease. Certain conditions cause dementia but are completely separate from Alzheimer’s, including Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, and a few other rare disorders.

Can These Dementias Be Treated?

All forms of Alzheimer’s and related dementias can benefit to some degree from Dr. Bredesen’s protocol, with personalized tweaks depending on the specific areas of brain atrophy and symptoms beyond memory loss.

If you have personal concerns or questions, please reach out to us—we’ll answer them if we can!

Now, Let’s Talk About FOOD!

About that healthy diet—what’s the easiest version of it? If you want the most picturesque version, be sure to follow Rachel Lee as she shares a weekly meal on our Instagram and Facebook pages.

One of my cognitive colleagues loves a KISS’ed plate—as in Keep It Simple, Sweetheart!

What Does a KISS’ed Plate Look Like?

• ⅔ to ¾ of your plate (for at least one, maybe two meals a day) should be covered with non-starchy vegetables.

  • (I’ve heard Costco’s frozen broccoli florets are great! My personal favorite is Romanesco broccoli, but I’m the only one in my house who likes it.)

  • Fresh is best, but frozen works too—USDA Organic vegetables in little cartons (not plastic bags) are a great option.

  • Challenge yourself to add variety—different vegetables, new options!

  • When in season, swap in avocado, tomatoes, or even half a cup of wild blueberries.

• The remaining portion of your plate:

  • A no- or low-carb protein—think eggs, meat, fish, tofu, or tempeh.

  • If you eat fish, opt for the SMASH fish:
    Sardines, Mackerel, Anchovies, Salmon (wild), Herring.

  • (I personally love pickled herring—have you ever had it?)

• Add some yummy, healthy fat:

  • Salad dressing with double extra virgin olive oil

  • Olive oil drizzled on veggies

  • Butter (if tolerated)

  • Coconut oil (if okay with your genes and labs)

  • No good fat options? Add a side of six olives—pick your favorite flavor!

Your individual lab results might require slight proportion tweaks, but the core principles remain the same.

Now It’s Your Turn!

How would you most enjoy a KISS’ed plate at breakfast?
What about dinner?

Let us know—we’d love to hear your ideas!