Drs Dean and Ayesha Sherzai are the authors of The 30-Day Alzheimer’s Solutionand Directors of the Alzheimer’s Prevention Program at Loma Linda University Medical Center. Last month, we talked with the doctors about the connection between insulin and dementia and when we read the forward to their new book, we were intrigued:
“The 30-Day Alzheimer’s Solution is grounded in rigorous science and explained in an accessible, easy-to-understand way complete with anecdotes, recipes, and actionable tips. When followed, Drs. Sherzai believe your risk of developing dementia, stroke, and many other diseases of the brain decrease by as much as 80 to 90 percent.”
80 to 90%?! Lifestyle medicine when it comes to dementia is certainly making progress in leaps and bounds, but we found these stats quite incredible and asked Doctors Dean and Ayesha to share a little more about what we should know. What they shared is essentially an outline to the dietary guidance in their book which addresses major brain health and blood flow issues…
Factors That Potentially Reduce Dementia Risk
From the latest research we know that simple reversible risk factors can raise one’s developing dementia profoundly. These include:
+ High cholesterol
+ Blood pressure
+ Diabetes
+ Pre-diabetes
+ Chronic inflammation
+ Smoking
+ Lack of movement
+ Sleep disorders
high cholesterol Large studies have demonstrated that uncontrolled high cholesterol levels can raise one’s chance of developing dementia by nearly 60%.
pre-diabetes Uncontrolled diabetes can raise one’s chance of developing dementia to twice the risk of a person without diabetes. In fact, our own study demonstrated that those in pre-diabetes state had a lower cognitive state and greater risk of dementia.
blood pressure In a recent national study it was revealed that uncontrolled blood pressure is responsible for more than 20% of all dementias.
Sleep disorders like sleep apnea, when not treated, may increase one’s risk of developing dementia by as much as 70%.
smoking + alcohol There is also great evidence that alcohol abuse and long term cigarette smoking can significantly increase one’s chances of developing dementia.
In a sense, this is all great news, because optimizing and improving these factors is possible. By eating the optimal diet, adding a simple exercise routine, implementing sleep hygiene routines and getting treated for sleep disorders, and abstaining from cigarettes and alcohol, one can significantly reduce one’s chance of developing dementia of any type including Alzheimer’s dementia.
We know this is a pretty light skim of the issues, but if you want to learn more we encourage you to check out the Sherzai’s new book, 30-Day Alzheimer’s Solution, as well as Dr. Dale Bredesen’s The End of Alzheimer’s: The First Program to Prevent and Reverse Cognitive Decline.
The Chalkboard Mag and its materials are not intended to treat, diagnose, cure or prevent any disease. All material on The Chalkboard Mag is provided for educational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified healthcare provider for any questions you have regarding a medical condition, and before undertaking any diet, exercise or other health-related programs.
