Can Cognitive Decline Be Reversed?
In the heart of every human being is the desire to live with vitality and purpose,
the fundamental requirement for being whole, healthy and full of life. Today, we are facing a planetary imbalance, a healing crisis where vitality and purpose are met with anxiety, distraction, fatigue and cognitive decline. We have lost some perspective on the organization(dynamics) of nature and the healing force behind it because of our externally driven ways.
Definition of Cognitive Decline
Sometimes the brain isn’t as supple as it used to be depending on age, genetics and lifestyle habits. Cognitive decline is considered to be a “normal” processes of aging in the current medical view; however, I am not sure that it is necessarily so. Cognitive decline simply means that your brain doesn’t work as well as it used to. Cognitive decline is a response to the aging of neurons and the decreased speed at which the brain functions. Keep in mind that this is not the same as cognitive impairment.
Causes of Cognitive Decline
Although it’s age-related for most people, the exact cause of cognitive decline is not known. Cognitive decline can be caused by elements of a person’s environment that are not conducive to normal brain health. When the brain does not receive essential nutrition, it can’t perform as it is supposed to. Certain elements, enzymes, vitamins, minerals, fats, proteins and even carbohydrates are required. Many studies have determined that with nutrient deficiencies, the brain becomes unable to process thoughts as effectively, has difficulty during decision making, concentration becomes more difficult, and learning efficiency decreases. This decline can become permanent if diet and nutrition is not attended to.
Age-Related Cognitive Decline May be Reversed
As an individual ages, estrogen levels (especially in women, but this also affects men) will begin to decline. Although this may have little effect initially, over time it can cause lack of energy and a decline in brain function. The lining of the arteries sometimes becomes stiffer and blood flow is more restricted to the brain. Another issue is that over time, the during metabolic processes the body does not rid itself of reactive oxygen species—called free radicals. Free radicals are molecules and atoms that have an unpaired electron which means that they are highly reactive and damaging to cellular structures. The production of free radicals happens during our metabolic processes. Our body naturally removes them when it is healthy and balanced. A lifetime of free radical buildup from poor food choices and environmental toxins may be responsible for cellular breakdown in the brain.
Age-related cognitive decline, may be put on hold according to Dale Bredesen, MD, a researcher in cognitive decline, has developed a multimodal approach focused on personalized dietary and lifestyle intervention that has yielded positive outcomes in a number of cases.
Dr. Bredesen, he has come up with a therapeutic system and protocols for working with cognitive decline. His biochemical research has revealed an extensive network of molecular interactions involved in cognitive decline, suggesting that a network-based therapeutic approach may be potentially more effective than what has been used in the past for treatment. Based on the hypothesis that cognitive decline results from an imbalance in an brain’s ability to change —the plasticity network — therapy should really address as many of the network components as possible. Dr. Dale Bredesen has pioneered a systems-based personalized therapeutic approach. His nutrient protocols have show significant improvements in those with mild to moderate cognitive decline.
He has profiled cognitive decline in several categories and his dietary protocols address each uniquely.
For example, those who have cognitive decline due to too much inflammation are put on a dietary protocol minimizing simple carbohydrates, supplementing with Curcumin, the essential fatty acids, DHA and EPA and other nutrients. For those experiencing gut health for example, pre and probiotics. Those that have decreased focus, Pantothenic Acid has shown benefits and may be useful.
For many people experiencing cognitive decline, the future does not hold a positive outlook. Dale Bredesen, MD, a researcher in cognitive decline, uses his multimodal approach focused on personalized dietary and lifestyle intervention that has yielded positive outcomes in a number of cases. This approach has successfully reversed cognitive decline in patients with cognitive decline, e.g.early Alzheimer’s disease.
His work has been sourced by many of the popular “brain” diets out there. The good news is that there is someone who has taken a functional approach utilizing lifestyle and nutrition to perhaps prevent a disease state, or keep it at bay namely cognitive decline.
References used for this blog:
- Bredesen DE. Reversal of cognitive decline: a novel therapeutic program. Aging. 2014;6(9):707-717. doi:10.18632/aging.100690.
- Bredesen DE, Amos EC, Canick J, et al. Reversal of cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s disease. Aging. 2016;8(6):1250-1258. doi:10.18632/aging.100981.
- Bredesen DE, Rao RV. Ayurvedic profiling of Alzheimer’s disease. Altern Ther Health Med. 2017;23(3):46-50.
- Bredesen DE. Reversal of cognitive decline: a novel therapeutic program. Aging. 2014;6(9):707-717. doi:10.18632/aging.100690.
