Everyone should get up to speed on the topic of dementia. In one generation it’s come from the routine field right to the front rank of medical worries.
Of course dementia has always been with us. After all Alzheimer’s disease (only one of several kinds of dementia) was first described by Dr. Alois Alzheimer (Germany) as long ago as 1906, after studying a patient named Auguste Dieter. She had been admitted to Frankfurt Psychiatric Hospital five years earlier with memory loss and other cognitive symptoms.¹
After her death, Alzheimer got to study her brain and found the amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles that are the hallmarks (but not the cause) of what we now call Alzheimer’s disease or AD.
Fast forward more than a century and dementias, including but not confined to Alzheimer’s, now affects 6.9 million Americans. About 1 in 9 people (10.9%) age 65 and older has Alzheimer’s dementia. In the age group 65 – 74, that’s 5.0% of people have AD; by age 75 to 84 that rises to 13.2%; and at 85 years and older, 33.4% of people have AD. That’s fully one third of the population.
But it’s worse: we now recognize a young person’s form of dementia. People under the age of 65 can also develop Alzheimer’s. Although the exact statistics are not yet known, researchers believe about 110 of every 100,000 people age 30 to 64 years have younger-onset dementia.²
Globally, according to the WHO, over 55 million people have dementia, with nearly 10 million new cases each year. Alzheimer’s disease being the most common form, accounting for 60-70% of all cases.
In a 1976 editorial, American neurologist Robert Katzman describes Alzheimer’s disease as a “major killer”, saying that Alzheimer’s is:
• The most common cause of dementia,
• The fourth leading cause of death in the United States after heart disease, cancer and stroke and
• A major public health challenge that impacts the entire world.
I am always surprised that people don’t understand: Alzheimer’s is a rapidly fatal condition. It is rare for a patient to survive beyond 3 years.
Type 3 Diabetes
Recent research has focused on insulin resistance in the brain in Alzheimer’s patients, with researchers at Brown University in 2005 suggesting that the neurodegenerative disease might be a Type 3 diabetes!
Glucose is the main fuel that powers the brain, but in Alzheimer’s disease, neurons can’t metabolize it effectively to generate energy. Unable to produce adequate energy, the brain doesn’t efficiently utilize fats; fails to produce adequate amounts of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine; and can’t properly clear the cellular proteins in the brain that give rise to the telltale plaque associated with the disease.
So the disordered glucose metabolism is certainly further upstream than the limited causes that doctors and scientists have been stuck on (amyloid plaque and tau proteins).
How do we get round this metabolic block? Is there a practical way?
Yes, there is: medium chain fatty acids (MCTs). Like all triglycerides (fats and oils), MCTs are composed of a glycerol backbone and three fatty acids, hence the name triglyceride. But not all are the dangerous ones that screw up your blood lipid profile.
In fact some MCTs are so gentle and friendly that patients with malnutrition or malabsorption syndromes are treated with MCTs because they do not require energy for absorption, utilization, or storage. In addition, MCTs do not require bile salts for digestion.
The names of the medium-chain fatty acids (and the corresponding number of carbons) found in MCTs are caproic acid (C6), caprylic acid (C8), capric acid (C10) and lauric acid (C12).
Coconut oil is composed of approximately 66% medium-chain triglycerides. Other rich sources of MCTs include palm kernel oil and camphor tree oil.
Why should these help bypass the glucose metabolism block? Because MCTs, coupled with a low carb diet, release floods of compounds known as ketones. In fact, the body naturally breaks down fat into ketone bodies to use for energy when insulin is unavailable.
Why does that help?
Because ketones are a valuable source of powerful nutritional energy, which brain cells can use for energy even when their ability to metabolize glucose is impaired. Actually, damaged brain cells seem to prefer ketones as a source of energy and lap them up.
Holistics
It is important to understand that, while there may be very strong genetic forces at play in the development of dementia, genes can be effectively switched off! This is called epigenetics and is an important emerging science.
Orthodox science, while admitting there is such a thing, has a great deal of trouble incorporating epigenetics into their thinking. That’s because there are MASSIVE grants ($billions!) to be had for researching genetic diseases. Follow the money!
Vitamin D, for example, is a critical factor in the expression of over 800 genes (expression means whether or not the gene gives rise to the problem or remains quiescent).
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Nutrition & Diet for Brain Health
A healthy diet can support cognitive function and possibly slow decline. For example:
Mediterranean Diet – Rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fish, olive oil, nuts, and low in processed foods.
MIND Diet – A mix of the Mediterranean & DASH diet, focusing on leafy greens, berries, nuts, whole grains, fish, and olive oil.
Ketogenic Diet – Some studies suggest that a low-carb, high-fat diet (with ketones as an energy source) may help brain function.
Best of all: Dr. Keith’s BANDIT FOODS program.
Key Nutrients & Supplements
Omega-3 Fatty Acids (Fish Oil, Flaxseeds, Chia Seeds) all support brain cell function.
MCTs (medium chain fatty acids) have their proponents. Chiefly these are coconut oil, caprylic acid, lauric acid and palm.
Phosphatidylserine is a lipid that is the primary component of the membranes that surround nerve cells. Taking phosphatidylserine therefore makes sense. It may shore up the cell membrane and possibly protect cells from degenerating.
Vitamin B12 & Folate. Important for cognitive health, especially in aging adults.
Curcumin (Turmeric). Has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10). Supports crucial mitochondrial function in brain cells.
Magnesium (many forms). May help with memory and learning.
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Herbal & Alternative Therapies
Some herbs and plant-based treatments are traditionally used for cognitive health:
Ginkgo Biloba. Thought to improve blood flow to the brain and so help memory against aging (mixed scientific evidence).
Vinpocetine. The absolute number one plant-based enhancer of memory and cognitive function!
Lion’s Mane Mushroom (Hericium erinaceus). Current research suggests it may support nerve growth and memory.
Bacopa Monnieri. An Ayurvedic herb believed to enhance memory and focus.
Ashwagandha. May reduce stress-related brain inflammation.
Rhodiola. Thought to support brain function and reduce fatigue.
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Lifestyle & Holistic Practices
Engaging in mentally stimulating activities and stress-reducing practices can help support cognitive function.
Brain-Stimulating Activities: reading, puzzles, learning new skills (languages, music), memory training & cognitive exercises
Stress Reduction & Mindfulness: meditation, yoga, tai chi and qigong, massage and aromatherapy (lavender, peppermint, lemon balm) for relaxation.
Exercise: regular aerobic exercise (walking, swimming, dancing) improves blood flow to the brain.
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Gut Health & Dementia Connection
New research links gut bacteria to brain function (gut-brain axis). Improving gut health might help:
• Fermented foods (yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, kimchi, miso)
• Prebiotic fiber (bananas, artichokes, onions, garlic, leeks, asparagus)
• Probiotics (taken as supplements or fermented foods)
Saving The Best Till Last!
Photobiomodulation: that is treatment with near infrared light (around 810 nm wavelength). I’ve told this story recently. If you are at all worried and looking for solutions, do read this page again.
Dr Keith’s Bandit Foods Program: You now have a book. No excuses!
It’s about finding and eliminating stressor foods; the bandits that rob you of health, happiness and vitality. THIS IS THE NUMBER ONE APPROACH TO BEATING DEMENTIA OR ANY OTHER PROBLEM OF AGING!
Now I’m not talking about a list of anti-inflammatory foods, no set plan like keto dieting, paleo eating, vegetarianism or low-carb, etc.
I’m talking about a personalized eating regimen that you work out FOR YOURSELF. It won’t/can’t be the same as anyone else’s. It’s a unique and self-researched plan. I tell you step by step, mouthful by mouthful almost, what to do and how to figure out your own longevity eating plan!
If you are serious, like me, about being able to party until your last day on earth, you need this book! Heck, I am 80 years old in a matter of weeks, going on 55 and if you want to keep up with me, you must act. Don’t wait!
Here’s the link to more information on the BANDIT FOODS book and how to buy it.
Blessings to all and the very BEST of cognitive function, till the very end!
To your good health,
Prof. Keith Scott-Mumby
The Official Alternative Doctor
References:
- https://alzheimer.ca/en/about-dementia/what-alzheimers-disease/history-behind-alzheimers-disease
- Alzheimer’s Association. 2024 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures. Alzheimers Dement 2024;20(5)
