How to Assess Your Risk Factor for Neurodegenerative Diseases + What You Can Do to Prevent Cognitive Decline

AHA Publisher — Tue, 08 Sep 2020 07:00:13 +0000

Dr. Will Cole via Dr. Leaf – There is an epidemic in America. Close to 5.2 million people in the United States and 1 in 8 people 65 and over are currently diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. As the sixth leading cause of death in America, this debilitating disease destroys quality of life for those diagnosed while they are still alive. Unfortunately, there is no cure for this condition. Once you are diagnosed, there is a gradual decline in memory until, for many, not much or any memory is left at all. But is it possible to age gracefully without this disease? Or is it just a matter of time before this becomes our fate into our “golden” years? As a leading functional medicine practitioner who consults people around the world, I’ve seen firsthand that this disease doesn’t have to be a person’s destiny – even if you are genetically predisposed to this condition as some people are. Genetics: Suggestion or Life Sentence? Your genetics influence almost every aspect of your health. Everything from your weight, mood, hormones, and immune system can be traced back to your DNA. And for some people, certain genetic mutations can be linked to an increase in Alzheimer’s risk. The APOE gene controls the transportation of saturated fat in the body to areas where it is needed, and certain variants – APOE 3/4 or APOE 4/4 – control the efficiency of this transportation process. Those with APOE 3/4 have a slower transportation time and have more difficulty metabolizing saturated fat. But those with the APOE 4/4 version of this gene have the highest risk for Alzheimer’s as this double allele makes it even more difficult for the body to metabolize saturated fats, causing them to build up in the body, whether that is in the heart as plaque or as amyloid plaque in the brain that is linked to Alzheimer’s. In fact, according to the Alzheimer’s Association, autopsy studies have shown that close to 80% of people with Alzheimer’s also had cardiovascular disease. This is especially of note for people with insulin resistance, as this condition makes the APOE44 gene variant even more detrimental. But there is another side of the coin to this genetic puzzle. In reality, the more we learn about how health problems develop over time, the more we see that genetics are often a poor predictor of the ultimate fate of your health. Research has shown that only 33% of a person’s health is actually determined by genetics whereas the other 77% is determined by controllable factors such as lifestyle choices and diet. Talk about a relief. Therefore, even those with the APOE gene variant don’t necessarily have to prepare for a life with Alzheimer’s in older age if the proper lifestyle adjustments are made early on. While nothing is guaranteed, we’ve seen over time in research how changing our health habits can make a dramatic impact in our health. Whether that is stopping the expression of that gene altogether, or drastically decreasing its expression, both are a win when compared to the full-blown effects of this disease. So how do you know your risk? These tests will help you know where you stand so you can make the changes necessary to live your best life well into your future. Assess Your Risk 1. Hemoglobin A1C and fasting blood sugar Research actually refers to Alzheimer’s as type 3 diabetes due to the link between this condition and blood sugar imbalance. It has been found that the more degeneration in the hippocampus – the memory center of the brain – the higher blood sugar levels tend to be. In fact, those with type 1 and type 2 diabetes are more likely to be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Alzheimer’s has even been referred to as Type 3 diabetes in the scientific literature! Optimal Range: < 5.3% 2. Homocysteine and inflammation tests High homocysteine levels can act as a sort of a neurotoxin, increasing blood-brain-barrier (BBB) permeability and is associated with neurodegenerative diseases. Optimal Range: < 7 3. Immunological tests Surprisingly, the immune system plays a significant role in the development of Alzheimer’s. There is a whole area of research known as the “cytokine model of cognitive function” that explains how certain foods and lifestyle factors can trigger inflammation, autoimmune responses, and degeneration in the brain. 3.Genetic testing To know if you are genetically predisposed to Alzheimer’s, looking at your genetics will verify whether or not you have one of the variants of the APOE gene as well as methylation genes that predispose to higher homocysteine levels such as MTHFR gene variants. I have written extensivelyabout this in the past. Prevention tips 1. Limit saturated fats Now this tip is mainly for those with either one of the APOE gene variants. In general, saturated fats are beneficial for your health. However, as we have seen, this isn’t the case for everyone. A perfect example of how a one-size-fits all approach doesn’t work for people’s health. Saturated fats include sources like dairy, coconut oil, animal fats like tallow and lard, and fatty cuts of meat. These don’t have to be avoided completely but should be limited. I typically recommend between 40-50 grams of saturated fat per day for those with the APOE 3/4 gene and between 30-40 grams per day for those with the APOE 4/4 gene. Instead, focus on sources of unsaturated fat such as wild-caught fish, soaked nuts and seeds, olives, avocados, extra-virgin olive oil, and avocado oil. 2. Go keto Healthy fats are essential for optimal brain health, and a ketogenic diet has been proven to be a powerful defense mechanism against brain deterioration. The ketones produced from ketosis have the ability to cross the blood-brain barrier and provide fuel to your brain while also demonstrating powerful anti-inflammatory abilities. It’s been shown that diets rich in polyunsaturated fats, wild-caught fish specifically, are associated with a 60 percent decrease in Alzheimer’s disease. Contrast this to high-carb diets, which have been shown to increase the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative conditions. My book Ketotarian, is all about how to do a ketogenic diet plant-based with vegan-keto, vegetarian-keto, and pescatarian-keto versions making it the perfect way to get the benefits of a keto diet while also limiting the amount of saturated fats for those with the APOE gene variants. I also talk about a cyclical ketotarian, which I think works very well for many people. 3. Practice intermittent fasting Going for periods of time without food has been shown to decrease overall inflammation in the body, including your brain. Studies have shown that intermittent fasting can protect neurons by increasing autophagy (cellular recycling), and BDNF (encouraging new, healthy neurons) in the brain from genetic and lifestyle stress factors to slow brain deterioration. To read the original article click here. For more articles from Dr. Leaf click here.

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People Who Feel Dizzy When They Stand Up May Have Higher Risk of Dementia

AHA Publisher — Mon, 10 Aug 2020 07:00:07 +0000

American Academy of Neurology (AAN) via Newswise – Some people who feel dizzy or lightheaded when they stand up may have an increased risk of developing dementia years later, according to a new study published in Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. The condition, called orthostatic hypotension, occurs when people experience a sudden drop in blood pressure when they stand up. The study found the link with dementia only in people who have a drop in their systolic blood pressure, not in people with only a drop in their diastolic blood pressure or their blood pressure overall. Systolic is the first, or top, number in a blood pressure reading and systolic orthostatic hypotension was defined as a drop of at least 15 mmHg after standing from a sitting position. “People’s blood pressure when they move from sitting to standing should be monitored,” said study author Laure Rouch, Pharm.D., Ph.D., of the University of California, San Francisco. “It’s possible that controlling these blood pressure drops could be a promising way to help preserve people’s thinking and memory skills as they age.” The study involved 2,131 people who were an average age of 73 and did not have dementia when they enrolled. Their blood pressure readings were taken at the start of the study and then one, three and five years later. A total of 15% had orthostatic hypotension, 9% had systolic orthostatic hypotension and 6% had diastolic orthostatic hypotension. Over the next 12 years, the participants were evaluated to see if anyone developed dementia. A total of 462 people, or 22%, did develop the disease. The people with systolic orthostatic hypotension were nearly 40% more likely to develop dementia than those who did not have the condition. Fifty of the 192 with systolic orthostatic hypotension, or 26%, developed dementia, compared to 412 of the 1,939 people without it, or 21%. When researchers adjusted for other factors that could affect dementia risk, such as diabetes, smoking and alcohol use, those with systolic orthostatic hypotension were 37% more likely to develop dementia. The researchers also found that people whose sitting-to-standing systolic blood pressure readings changed the most from visit to visit were more likely to develop dementia years later than people whose readings were more stable. The people were divided into three groups based on how much their readings changed over time. A total of 24% of people in the group with the most fluctuation in systolic readings later developed dementia, compared to 19% of the people in the group with the least fluctuation. When researchers adjusted for other factors affecting dementia risk, those in the highest group were 35% more likely to develop dementia than those in the lowest group. Rouch noted that the study is observational and does not show cause and effect. It only shows an association between the blood pressure readings and the development of dementia. Another limitation of the study was that the diagnosis of dementia was made without distinction between Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia. The study was funded by the National Institute on Aging. This article has been modified. To read the original article click here.

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How to Assess Your Risk Factor for Neurodegenerative Diseases + What You Can Do to Prevent Cognitive Decline

People Who Feel Dizzy When They Stand Up May Have Higher Risk of Dementia