Podcast Summary
Reducing the Risk of Alzheimer's Disease through Functional Medicine.: Besides targeting amyloid beta, gene-environment interactions play a role in Alzheimer's. Two copies of APOE four gene indicate higher potential risk. Normal aging affects cognition, processing speed, not always Alzheimer's disease. Be proactive.
Dr. Cindy Geier speaks about ways to reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease and optimize cognitive vitality through functional medicine. Alzheimer's is a pressing issue, with new treatments being developed to target amyloid beta in the brain, which is believed to be linked to cognitive decline. However, solely targeting amyloid may not be enough to treat Alzheimer's disease. Gene-environment interactions play a role in the development of Alzheimer's, and having two copies of the APOE four gene may indicate a higher potential risk for developing the disease. Aging also affects cognitive processes, such as processing speed, but it is normal and not necessarily indicative of Alzheimer's disease.
Understanding Dementia: Causes and Effects: Dementia is a condition that affects cognitive functioning and can disrupt daily activities. It is caused by various factors, including unhealthy blood vessels and a lack of physical activity. Stay active and engaged in lifelong learning to optimize cognitive vitality. Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia, while vascular dementia is the second most common type.
Dementia is a condition that affects cognitive functioning, including thinking, remembering, speaking, and reasoning skills, which can disrupt daily activities. Factors that increase the risk of dementia, such as unhealthy blood vessels and a lack of physical activity, may also influence the rate of normal cognitive changes that occur with aging. Therefore, staying physically active and engaged in lifelong learning may help optimize cognitive vitality. Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia and affects approximately 6.5 million Americans, while vascular dementia, caused by mini-strokes and vascular changes in the brain, is the second most common type.
The Growing Threat of Alzheimer's Disease and Potential for Early Diagnosis: Alzheimer's disease is a major health concern, affecting many individuals in their later years. Current diagnostic methods require autopsy, but newer PET scans and spinal taps may offer hope for earlier detection and possible future treatments. Genetic tests are not fully predictive of Alzheimer's risk.
Alzheimer's disease affects over 10% of people over 65, and the numbers are projected to increase by 2050. Additionally, 47 million Americans may have increased amyloid deposition without experiencing cognitive symptoms, suggesting a potential increase in cases in the future. Currently, diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease requires a pathological diagnosis made at autopsy. However, specialized PET scans and spinal taps can detect amyloid deposition, providing hope for earlier diagnoses and potential treatments in the future. It's important to note that genetic tests can inform risk but are not a perfect predictor of whether an individual will develop Alzheimer's disease.
Blood Test for Detecting Amyloid Protein Ratios and Early Memory Changes: A blood test has been developed to track people before the onset of memory changes. Standardization is needed and people should not rush to take the test. Prevention strategies can reduce the risk, and amyloid is not the root cause of Alzheimer's disease.
Researchers have developed a blood test to detect amyloid protein ratios that can cause memory changes in people. There are at least eight different labs, which have developed this test. It correlates with PET scan and spinal fluid levels but is primarily in the research realm. There is a need for standardization, and people should not rush out to do this test. The blood test could help track people before the onset of memory changes, and effective therapies already exist. The prime window for prevention is the 40 to 60-year-old window, and prevention strategies can reduce the risk. Neural inflammation is a contributing factor in amyloid plaque accumulation. Amyloid is a mediator, not the root cause of Alzheimer's disease.
Understanding Amyloid Formation and Its Role in Fighting Infection and Injury: While amyloid production is a natural response to injury and infection, simply removing it won't solve the root cause of excess formation. Instead, prioritize a healthy lifestyle and utilize neuroplasticity to promote brain heal and recovery.
Amyloid production is a response to injury, infection, neurologic insult or inflammation that plays a role in fighting infections and repairing injuries. However, removing amyloid alone without addressing underlying contributors to excess formation, such as infections or vascular injury from high blood pressure or diabetes, is not effective. It's important to focus on getting to the root cause of the problem and making lifestyle choices that promote health and well-being. Neuroplasticity, the ability of the brain to form and reorganize synaptic connections and even grow new neurons, offers hope to those facing stroke, traumatic brain injury, mood disorders, addiction, and neurodegenerative conditions. Dynamism, flexibility, and adaptability are important for survival, and even inflammation and stress have a role in helping the body heal from injury and infection.
The Role of Omega-3 Fatty Acids in Resolving Inflammation and Building Resilience Against Alzheimer's Disease: Omega-3 fatty acids found in fatty fish contain molecules that help our immune system plant the seeds to resolve inflammation. Resilience is not about static health but the ability to bounce back from stress and inflammation, which is essential for a healthy metabolic system and can help reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease. Both genetics and lifestyle factors can impact the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.
Our immune systems are sophisticated, and they plant the seeds for resolution of inflammation at the same time as initiating the inflammatory response. Omega-3 fatty acids found in fatty fish contain molecules known as resolves and protectants that help the immune system plant the seeds to resolve inflammation when it occurs. Resilience is not a static process but about the ability to bounce back from stress and inflammation. Recovery periods and oscillations are essential for a healthy metabolic system. Missing these periods leads to a loss of resilience and an out-of-balance system, increasing the risk of Alzheimer's disease. Genetics, particularly the APOE gene, plays a role in the risk of Alzheimer's disease. However, lifestyle factors within our control can also affect the risk.
The Role of APOE Four Gene in Alzheimer's Disease: APOE four gene increases the risk of Alzheimer's disease, but not everyone with the gene gets the disease. It may have been advantageous in the past due to its ability to provide a strong immune response. APOE four can also be influenced by lifestyle and cardiometabolic risk factors.
APOE four is a gene that can increase the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, especially with late onset Alzheimer's disease and having one or two copies of the gene. However, not everyone with the gene will get the disease. Interestingly, having the APOE four gene may have been an adaptive advantage in the past due to its ability to give a strong immune response to infections. APOE four can also alter microglia and reduce insulin sensitivity, which can increase the risk of Alzheimer's disease, especially with lifestyle and cardiometabolic risk factors like type two diabetes.
