Is it possible that a tiny little tick could assault the brain and body and cause lingering mental health issues in its wake? Yes. But even with decades of research that demonstrates a causal link between infectious disease and psychiatric issues, our healthcare system still isn’t appropriately identifying and treating those afflicted with Lyme disease. The real question is: why are we missing these individuals?
It isn’t an easy answer. Ultimately the complexity of how the disease impacts the brain and body and how uniquely the symptoms can present is a major factor, as some show symptoms right away and delete others not until months or years later. A lack of definitive diagnostics is another factor in accurate identification. Lastly, a lack of acceptance of the disease and not enough Lyme-literate medical and mental health professionals is a hurdle in both diagnosis and treatment.
Research on Lyme Disease and Mental Health
Since the early 1990s, research has demonstrated a clear link between psychiatric conditions and Lyme disease, and continues to signify a connection. In 2002, Tomáš Hájek, MD and colleagues found that 33 percent of screened psychiatric patients showed signs of an infection with the Lyme spirochete, Borrelia burgdorferi. Many mental health issues have been linked to tick-borne bacteria, including: depression, mood lability, bipolar disorder, irritability, anxiety, panic attacks, obsessive compulsive disorder, attention and executive functioning problems, memory issues, word finding difficulties and even psychosis.
A 2018 study by Shreya Doshi, MA and colleagues found that in patients with post-treatment Lyme symptoms, they had depression symptoms 8 to 45 percent of the time, and suicidal ideation was reported by 19.8 percent of these patients. In 2017, Dr. Rosalie Greenberg’s study found that 89 percent of participants diagnosed with Pediatric Bipolar Disorder tested positive to one or more pathogens, including tick-borne Babesia, Bartonella and Lyme, as well as Mycoplasma pneumoniae.
Even with many research studies over decades that demonstrate a causal link between infectious disease and mental health, the average person sees between five and seven doctors before a diagnosis of Lyme disease.
Lyme’s Effect on the Brain
When Lyme disease affects the brain, it is frequently referred to as Lyme neuroborreliosis or Lyme encephalopathy. Neuroborreliosis is an infection within the brain that can mimic virtually any type of encephalopathy or psychiatric disorder and is often compared to neurosyphilis. Both are caused by spirochetes, are multi-systemic and can affect a patient neurologically, producing cognitive dysfunction (memory, word finding, attention problems) and organic psychiatric illness (anxiety, depression, OCD).
The causative agent of Lyme disease, Borrelia burgdorferi, is a highly neurotropic organism that not only can produce neurologic disease, but also can exist dormant within the central nervous system (CNS) for long periods—even months or years. It is an evolved pathogen that uses several strategies to survive in both human and animal hosts, including using a screw-like mechanism that allows the bacteria to embed in the cell’s membrane.
There are multiple ways in which Lyme disease affects the brain and body and produces changes in the CNS that leads to mental health issues. The Lyme spirochete can burrow into the brain and nervous system, causing damage within the brain that leads to long-term issues. It causes brain swelling or inflammation that leads to psychiatric issues, causes immune reactions to the bacteria and impacts the endocrine system and hormones. Lyme can impact any area of the brain, including the emotional center of the brain: the limbic system. The bacteria in Lyme releases toxins in the brain and body, and these exotoxins are continuously released as waste material that may cause symptoms.
Why is Lyme Disease Hard to Identify?
Lyme disease is known as the great imitator because its symptoms mimic and overlap with so many other diseases that it can be hard to diagnose. It is a multi-systemic illness that can affect the CNS, causing a wide array of neurologic and psychiatric symptoms. In 1994, Fallon and Nields noted up to 40 percent of patients with Lyme disease develop neurologic involvement of either the peripheral or central nervous system.
Most people don’t realize that there are three stages of Lyme disease: early with dermatological symptoms, disseminated, and late stage. Late stage Lyme is when there is a dissemination of the bacteria to the CNS, which can occur within as little as two weeks. Lyme disease may lie dormant for months to years before symptoms of late infection emerge when something (head injury, toxins, EMF) causes the bacteria to cross the blood-brain barrier into the brain.
Patients with late stage Lyme disease present with a variety of neurological and psychiatric problems, ranging from mild to severe, which makes it very hard to connect to infectious disease. Most patients have no recollection of tick bite or falsely believe that a tick has to be engorged to carry bacteria and parasites that can be transmitted. Moreover, they are often told that their prior Lyme disease was “cured” and can’t be related to their current symptoms. These problems delay treatment and make it more likely to have late stage Lyme with a neurocognitive or neuropsychiatric impact.
Common Features of Psychiatric Issues Due to Lyme
Since tick-borne bacteria affects the CNS as noted previously, a multitude of symptoms can present. Afflicted individuals can show symptoms immediately or months later and can show a combination of physical, cognitive or psychiatric issues.
Common symptoms of tick-borne disease include: chronic fatigue, sleep problems, brain fog, cognitive and memory impairments, slowed cognitive processing, attention or executive functioning deficits, depression or mood dysregulation, anxiety, OCD, sensory sensitivity, irritability, anger and headaches.
It is important to note that one can have a pre-existing condition prior to Lyme disease that can exacerbate with infectious disease, which further complicates proper diagnosis and treatment. Lyme and tick-borne disease is co-morbid with ADHD, autism, sleep disorders, depression, anxiety disorder, pain and migraines, and can be a source of Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome (PANS).
What Should You Do?
If you or your child has a history of unexplained medical and mental health symptoms or haven’t gotten better with traditional therapies and psychotherapy, consider that infectious disease might be the source of your mental health issue. It is important to note that infectious disease takes many forms and that one may have a single illness, but it is more likely that one is affected by more than one infection, including strep, virus, other bacteria or environmental contaminants such as mold.
The first step is to find a Lyme-literate medical or mental health professional for proper diagnosis and treatment. The best way to do that is to seek a referral from a trusted friend or from Lyme organizations at the regional or national level, such as ILADS, your state Lyme organization or PANDAS.org. As many a patient who has taken this path can attest, you waste your time and may cause further damage to your health by going to an untrained professional.
Dr. Roseann Capanna-Hodge is an integrative psychologist, certified neurofeedback practitioner and director of wellness centers in Ridgefield and Newtown. She is a member of ILADS and is a co-author of Brain Under Attack: A Resource Guide for Parents and Caregivers of Children with PANS, PANDAS, and Autoimmune Encephalitis for the nonprofit organization Epidemic Answers. Connect at 203-438-4848, Info@DrRoseann.com or DrRoseann.com.
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**Comment**
So thankful for mental health professionals who understand what’s happening in Lyme-land. Her advice about finding a Lyme literate professional was also spot on as you will waste a lot of money if you see mainstream medicine for this.
Many patients of tick-borne disease take years to get diagnosed. A lucky few ones find a bull’s-eye rash or an embedded tick, go to a physician who just happens to be Lyme literate, and get started on antibiotics right away. If they respond well to initial treatment, they can be cleared of Lyme in a month’s time.
Most patients are not this lucky. Even of those who do get treated right away, 10-20% go on to suffer after treatment. And for people who are not immediately treated, Lyme bacteria and quite possibly other co-infections the tick has introduced to ones body can spread through their bodies and brains for months, years, even decades before they are accurately diagnosed. By the time of diagnosis, the person is often bedridden, plagued by exhaustion, joint aches, migraines, brain fog, and other neurological impairments. The unluckiest can suffer paralysis or schizophrenia.
When you’re a victim of unbearable physical and neurological suffering and you’re fighting to get a diagnosis, it can be the most natural thing in the world to also fall victim to a woe-is-me mentality. In some respects, you have to. Just to get people to take you seriously. If you’re like me, you might be used to putting on a good face even in the toughest times.
I’ve always been a glass-half-full person, an optimist fundamentally, but in order to get people to really understand what was going on under my mask of a smile, I had to complain. I was doing myself no favor by remaining stoic. Some might say I was throwing a pity party. But I needed to do so in order to be heard.
When I finally did get accurately diagnosed with Lyme and two of its co-infections, babesia, and ehrlichia, I wanted to shout from the rooftops, “Hey world, guess what? I have Lyme disease!” After eight years battling mystery symptoms, two years being utterly bedridden, and countless pointless doctors appointments where I was told, “Maybe it’s all in your head” or “You just need to exercise more,” I finally felt validated, I had a true physical disease—multiple diseases, in fact three of them—and the tests and clinical diagnoses to prove it.
Getting that validation can make you want to go back to all those naysayers and gleefully howl, “I told you so.” But many of those same people are the ones you will still need support from, whether it’s emotional or financial support from friends and family or medical support from physicians. For that reason, you have to take the moral high road. You have to extend understanding to those people, recognizing that they simply didn’t know enough about tick-borne diseases. Yet you have to educate them so they can meet you where you are and help you the manner best suited for your illness.
Inside, you may be very angry indeed. You may feel like a victim for all you’ve been through. When you start having Herxheimer reactions and start feeling worse than ever, you may even curse the tiny tick that did all this to you, the doctors who wouldn’t listen to you, the friends or family who didn’t advocate for you. You may curse the world for not understanding your suffering.
I say you may only to suggest that this could happen, but also to give you permission to have these feelings. It’s okay to be angry. It’s okay to be sad. It’s okay to be frustrated. It’s okay to mourn the months or years of your life that you’ve lost.
It’s not okay to stay in that place. It’s not okay to get stuck in your own anger. For then, you indeed become a victim, you become bitter. The tick, the disease(s) it carried, and the naysayers all win, because you’ve let them get the best of you. Please don’t do this. You are better than that.
You are a fighter. You deserve to regain your health.But your body cannot heal if you weigh it down with toxic emotions. You can have them, sure; that’s only natural. But at some point you must need to move beyond them. You must release yourself from them, so that your body has a real fighting chance to heal.
Don’t send your body the message that you’re a victim because it will believe you. Send your body the message that you are going to treat it kindly, be patient with it, and support it every step of the way on its journey to health.
Be a victor instead of a victim.
Opinions expressed by contributors are their own.
Jennifer Crystal is a writer and educator in Boston. She has written a memoir about her journey with chronic tick borne illness, for which she is seeking representation. Contact her at:
Great, great reminder. You can have all those emotions but don’t stay in that place forever. Rise above it. Come to support group and vent. That’s what we are here for.
We need to issue well known as it is being used against patients. Researchers are taking the falsely skewed statistic of 10-20% and making this sound rare – when it is not.
Please get the word out. This PTLDS definition must change.
The most rewarding educational and networking experience you can have at any autism conference! An exceptional value as you gather new hope, answers, help, and direction.
New to the autism diagnosis? Come hear the “Newly Diagnosed” track just for you! Yearning to learn more? Hear the “Biomedical Research and Treatments” track!
This conference will help you answer and understand important concepts:
Recovery from autism is possible and children get better!
There are medical comorbidities of autism that, when treated, allow the child to enjoy improved learning and behavior.
On the autism journey a little while? Come hear the latest research and healing information! Medical professional? Hear renowned researchers present the latest cutting-edge autism research.
Conference track highlights include:
Membrane Medicine track
PANDAS/PANS track (pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infections and pediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome)
4th Annual International HPV Vaccine Education Symposium
Focus for Health Advocacy Training track
Chiropractic Pediatric Continuing Education Credit Program with Emphasis on Autism
And a special surprise panel that illuminates the bigger picture that affects your family’s world
The AutismOne 2019 Conference will be held May 22-26, 2019, at the Loews Chicago O’Hare Hotel in Rosemont, IL.
“AutismOne always has the cutting-edge information years ahead of any other autism conference. You hear it first at AutismOne.” ~Janet Cakir, PhD
CONFERENCE SCHEDULE-AT-A-GLANCE
WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, LECTURES:
1:30PM-6:00PM
THURSDAY, MAY 23, LECTURES, MOVIES, PANELS:
8:30AM-10:15PM
FRIDAY, MAY 24, LECTURES AND PANELS:
8:30AM-5:45PM
SATURDAY, MAY 25, LECTURES AND PANELS:
8:30AM-7:00PM
SUNDAY, MAY 26, LECTURES:
8:45AM-1:30PM
See list of speakers: https://autismoneconference.com/conference_speakers.html Erica Linn, MSN & Dr. Greg Brown MD from Serenity Health in Wisconsin will be speakers at the conference. Dr. Brown treats children and adults with Lyme/MSIDS as well as PANS/PANDAS. He’s stated that up to 80% of his autistic and PANS/PANDAS patients are infected with Lyme/MSIDS.
https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2017/10/09/today-is-panspandas-awareness-day/Trifiletti officially diagnosed Carson with PANS, not PANDAS, due to the active co-infections found in his blood work: mycoplasma, the bacteria that causes pneumonia; coxsackie — the virus causing Hand, Foot and Mouth disease; streptococcus, the bacteria causing strep throat; bartonella and babesia — a bacteria and parasite related to Lyme disease; and yeast, Melissa Spears said.
Instead of attacking these infections, Carson’s antibodies were instead going after his brain.
We can get so caught up in treatments and pressing forward that the topic of Self-Grief, (the process of grieving your “former” self) is a rarely spoken about issue within the Lyme Disease, Chronic Pain and Illness communities. Many people frequently experience hardship over not feeling like their self that they used to be. They cannot do the same hobbies, have the same friends, etc. However, if you allow yourself to go on this journey of self-grieving; you often will end up learning your own goals and true self better than you ever could imagine.
1. Allow your mind time to catch up to what your body is going through and has gone through.
Did you have a full-time job? Were you in school to finish a degree? Could you shower, put on makeup, get dressed and STILL have energy to go out or socialize? Me too. The changes that happen when serious illness enters your life is a whirlwind of loss to say the least. As if a category 5 hurricane crashed through every single life plan and goal that was once laid out before you, it takes time to come to grips with the losses and to establish a course of action. Don’t expect yourself to be able to process all of these at once. It will come in waves, ride them instead of bracing for impact.
2. Accept limitations without settling for less.
Living with limitations does NOT mean a life half empty. It may take you longer to complete a mentally draining task, but you can do it. You may need assistance with walking, driving, or even self-care but at the end of the day you are not doing less…in fact, you are doing more because you have to now learn how to achieve all of those check marks by your to do list (even if it’s a mental list) in a totally new fashion. Accepting your difference will never make you less than another, it only empowers you to reach your goals by whatever means necessary.
3. Avoid romanticizing your time before illness.
This is a BIG one and honestly one of the hardest for me. We’ve all heard those stories about the “good ole days”. The good ole days of someone’s football triumphs, crazy parties and cross-country love affairs make for great Netflix specials but are often far from reality. However, they serve as great examples of what not to do. Think about it, when you see characters that do these rose-colored glasses reminiscing, they are not typically the most fulfilled individuals nor the most cheerful. Putting a version of yourself or even a time period in your life on a pedestal only breeds bitterness and strife. We can remember fondly times before disease raised its ugly head but allowing thought patterns to form saying “the good days are behind us” only gives depression, angst and hopelessness take root.
4. Set new achievable goals.
Is there a book you’ve always wanted to read? What about a topic that has always peaked interest? After facing the reality of your own mortality, there is a certain freedom that follows. The societal norms get pushed aside and you are truly free to do and be whatever it is that you desire. Grow how you want to grow, heal what wounds your heart tries to hide, embrace life in all its sublimity. The possibilities are endless. So, what if you physically can’t climb Mt. Everest! Most people can’t. You have your own Mt. Everest within you…start climbing!
5. Understand and forgive that most people will not be able to comprehend what you have experienced.
“You don’t get it until you’ve got it.” One of my Lymie friends says that all the time and I love it! Because it is so very true! Think of how hard it would be to explain the sunset to someone that is blind. Or what a flower smells like to someone who cannot smell. (I had a friend that couldn’t smell, its hard to do…trust me). The same goes for life with Lyme Disease. No one else will ever fully understand the struggle of having doctors turn you away or feeling like your body has turned against you. Good luck explaining how you miss yourself to someone that has never walked that dark and terrifying path. But that is why we have a community like this in place. We know. We have been there. We are still there. Forgive those that don’t understand. They won’t get it until they have it.
6. Dream a new dream for YOU!
Just because the life you dreamed of didn’t play out doesn’t mean you cannot develop a new dream. Guess what, most people have multiple dreams in a lifetime. You may feel like it is too late in life to start dreaming and reaching for a new purpose; but it is never too late! We never stop growing as people and should never stop learning. Why not carry that on into your life path too?
7. Release your bottled-up emotions.
Cry, scream, break cheap plates you buy from a thrift store. ANYTHING! Those feelings of guilt and pain flow especially well when breaking things. Don’t ask me how I know, I just know. You don’t always have to be the strong one, the inspiring one, the funny girl or guy. If you are sad, be sad. It really is that simple. We were given emotions in order to feel and connect to the reality around us; to experience life in all its majestic chaos.
8. Get involved with your fellow warriors.
Want to feel a sense of purpose again? Missing that social interaction you use to feel when you were able to be a “functioning member” of society? Open up about your struggles. Reach out to other Lyme Warriors and Pain Warriors. When you form a connection based upon using your pain for power, you will see that your story is so powerful. Even if you don’t want to go public about your journey, simply reaching out to someone that is struggling can be a great source of personal achievement and satisfaction. If you are a real go-getter, my fellow over achieving warriors, get involved in a nonprofit organization. Take up donations for a charity. Watch that goofy live feed, share the fundraising events, comment and let a writer know you enjoyed their piece. There are so many ways (big and small) that you can get involved and spread some love.
9. Learn to love yourself and your body in the present condition.
Instead of the running narrative in your mind (and possibly out loud) that “my body hates me”, “my immune system is weak”, “this will never change”, “I will always be in pain”, or even “I can’t do this anymore”; fill your mental space will reassurance, love and acceptance. Your body doesn’t hate you. Your immune system truly is doing the best it possibly can and just needs your help. This is the only physical form we are given and therefore our one true and original ally in this fight for survival. Your body is already under attack for a large majority of the day, don’t allow your own mental consciousness to become another battle for it to wage. Become your own ally. Take medications, meditate, eat healthy foods and nurture yourself.
10. This one is up to you!
This is no one else’s journey but yours. At the end of the day, you are the one that holds the only power in this situation. Yes, not even your disease is more powerful than the essence of you. While disease may wreck our bodies, YOU are still in there. Your essence, soul, spirit remains regardless of the physical shell it inhabits. So, we here at Lyme Warrior want to hear what additional steps you are taking to make this chapter your new “good ole days” story origin.
Alzheimer’s disease — the most severe form of dementia for which there is no effective conventional treatment or cure — currently affects an estimated 5.8 million Americans. By 2050, that figure is projected to hit 14 million
The latest report from the National Center for Health Statistics reveals the rate of death from dementia more than doubled between 2000 and 2017, from 84,000 to 261,914
This data are based on death certificates, which the CDC admits (and a 2014 study demonstrated) underrepresents the true death toll
If changes in your memory or thinking skills are severe enough to be noticed by your friends and family you could be facing mild cognitive impairment, a slight decline in cognitive abilities that increases your risk of developing more serious dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease. Early warning signs are discussed
A high-fat, moderate-protein, low net-carb ketogenic diet is crucial for protecting your brain health and preventing degeneration that can lead to Alzheimer’s. Other risk factors and suggestions for how to minimize your risk are discussed
Alzheimer’s disease — the most common form of dementia for which there is no effective conventional treatment or cure — currently affects an estimated 5.8 million Americans,1 up from 5.4 million in 2016. By 2050, that figure is projected to hit 14 million.2
Research3 published in 2014 revealed Alzheimer’s had risen to the point of being the third leading cause of death in the U.S.4 For clarification, while the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) continues to list Alzheimer’s as the sixth leading cause of death in the U.S.,5 this ranking is based on death certificates, and the study in question found Alzheimer’s was grossly underreported as a cause of death on death certificates.
Recalculations based on the evaluation of donated organs from the diseased put the actual death toll attributable to dementia at 503,400, making it the third leading cause of death, right behind heart disease and cancer.
According to CDC data, the death rate from Alzheimer’s rose 55 percent between 1999 and 2014.6,7Now, the latest report from the National Center for Health Statistics reveals the rate of death from dementia more than doubled between 2000 and 2017, from 84,000 to 261,914.8,9,10
Forty-six percent of dementia deaths in 2017 were attributed to Alzheimer’s. Other forms of dementia included vascular dementia, unspecified dementia and other degenerative nervous system diseases. But again, this data is based on death certificates, which the CDC admits (and the 2014 study above demonstrated) underrepresents the true death toll.
Could Your Memory Problems Be a Symptom of Alzheimer’s?
As noted by CNN, progression of Alzheimer’s disease varies, but often begin with short-term memory lapses that later progress to speech problems and trouble with executive functions.11
If changes in your memory or thinking skills are severe enough to be noticed by your friends and family you could be facing mild cognitive impairment (MCI). MCI is a slight decline in cognitive abilities that increases your risk of developing more serious dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease.
If your mental changes are so significant that they interfere with your ability to function or live independently, it could signal the onset of dementia. For instance, it’s normal to have trouble finding the right word on occasion, but if you forget words frequently and repeat phrases and stories during a conversation, there could be a problem.
The video above reviews 10 early warning signs of Alzheimer’s, and compares these signs with examples of typical age-related cognitive changes that are not a major cause for concern. You can also find a similar list compiled by the Alzheimer’s Association.12
Another red flag is getting lost or disoriented in familiar places (as opposed to needing to ask for directions on occasion). If you’re able to later describe a time when you were forgetful, such as misplacing your keys, that’s a good sign; a more serious signal is not being able to recall situations when memory loss caused a problem, even though your loved ones describe it to you. Other warning signs of MCI or dementia include:
Difficulty performing daily tasks like paying bills or taking care of personal hygiene
Asking the same question over and over
Difficulty making choices
Exhibiting poor judgment or inappropriate social behaviors
Changes in personality or loss of interest in favorite activities
Memory lapses that put people in danger, like leaving the stove on
Inability to recognize faces or familiar objects
Denying a memory problem exists and getting angry when others bring it up
If Your Memory Is Slipping, Switch to a Ketogenic Diet
If your memory slips often enough to put even an inkling of concern or doubt in your mind, it’s time to take action. A high-fat, moderate-protein, low-net-carb ketogenic diet is crucial for protecting your brain health and preventing degeneration that can lead to Alzheimer’s.
One of the most striking studies13 showing the effects of a high-fat/low-carb versus high-carb diets on brain health revealed that high-carb diets increase your risk of dementia by a whopping 89 percent, while high-fat diets lower it by 44 percent.
According to the authors, “A dietary pattern with relatively high caloric intake from carbohydrates and low caloric intake from fat and proteins may increase the risk of mild cognitive impairment or dementia in elderly persons.” A ketogenic diet benefits your brain in a number of different ways. For example, it:
• Triggers ketone production — A cyclical ketogenic diet will help you convert from carb-burning mode to fat-burning mode, which in turn triggers your body to produce ketones, an important source of energy (fuel) for your brain14 that have been shown to help prevent brain atrophy and alleviate symptoms of Alzheimer’s.15 They may even restore and renew neuron and nerve function in your brain after damage has set in.
• Improves your insulin sensitivity — A cyclical ketogenic diet will also improve your insulin sensitivity, which is an important factor in Alzheimer’s.16 The link between insulin sensitivity and Alzheimer’s is so strong, the disease is sometimes referred to as Type 3 diabetes.
Even mild elevation of blood sugar is associated with an elevated risk for dementia.17 Diabetes and heart disease18 are also known to elevate your risk, and both are rooted in insulin resistance.
The connection between high-sugar diets and Alzheimer’s was also highlighted in a longitudinal study published in the journal Diabetologia in January 2018.19 Nearly 5,190 individuals were followed over a decade, and the results showed that the higher an individual’s blood sugar, the faster their rate of cognitive decline.
Studies have also confirmed that the greater an individual’s insulin resistance, the less sugar they have in key parts of their brain, and these areas typically correspond to the areas affected by Alzheimer’s.20,21
• Reduces free radical damage and lowers inflammation in your brain — Ketones not only burn very efficiently and are a superior fuel for your brain, but also generate fewer reactive oxygen species and less free radical damage.
A ketone called beta hydroxybutyrate is also a major epigenetic player, stimulating radical decreases in oxidative stress by decreasing NF-kB, thus reducing inflammation and NADPH levels along with beneficial changes in DNA expression that improve your detoxification and antioxidant production.
I explain the ins and outs of implementing this kind of diet, and its many health benefits, in my new book “KetoFast.” In it, I also explain why cycling through stages of feast and famine, opposed to continuously remaining in nutritional ketosis, is so important.
What Do We Know About the Causes of Alzheimer’s Disease?
It’s often said that the underlying causes of Alzheimer’s disease are unknown, but there’s no shortage of theories. Insulin resistance, discussed above, appears to be a really significant factor, but it’s not the only one. Based on the available science, here are several other prominent or likely culprits that can raise your risk of Alzheimer’s disease, and suggestions for how to avoid them:
High-sugar, processed food diets — Insulin resistance is a direct result of a high-sugar diet. Processed foods also contain a number of other ingredients that are harmful to your brain, including gluten, vegetable oils, genetically engineered ingredients and pesticides.
Solution: Keep your fasting insulin levels below 3; minimize sugar consumption, boost healthy fat intake and focus on real food — If your insulin is high, you’re likely consuming too much sugar and need to cut back. Ideally, keep your added sugar to a minimum and your total fructose below 25 grams per day, or as low as 15 grams per day if you already have insulin/leptin resistance or any related disorders.
To get down to this level, you’ll have to eat real, whole food, as processed foods are chockfull of added sugars. It’s important to realize that your brain actually does not need carbs and sugars; healthy fats such as saturated animal fats and animal-based omega-3 are far more critical for optimal brain function.
Also remember to pay close attention to the kinds of fats you eat — avoid all trans fats or hydrogenated fats. This includes margarine, vegetable oils and various butter-like spreads.
Healthy fats to add to your diet include avocados, butter, organic pastured egg yolks, coconuts and coconut oil, grass fed meats and raw nuts such as pecans and macadamia. MCT oil is also a great source of ketone bodies.
Alcohol abuse — According to research22 published in 2018, alcohol use is a major risk factor for dementia. The study, the largest of its kind, concluded that alcohol use disorders “are the most important preventable risk factors for the onset of all types of dementia, especially early-onset dementia,” Science News reports.23
Solution: Limit alcohol use, and get treatment for alcohol use disorder.
Vitamin D deficiency — The Scotland Dementia Research Centre has noted a very clear link between vitamin D deficiency and dementia.24 Indeed, studies have shown vitamin D plays a critical role in brain health, immune function, gene expression and inflammation — all of which influence Alzheimer’s. A wide variety of brain tissue contains vitamin D receptors, and when they’re activated by vitamin D, it facilitates nerve growth in your brain.
Researchers also believe optimal vitamin D levels boost levels of important brain chemicals and protect brain cells by increasing the effectiveness of glial cells in nursing damaged neurons back to health. In a 2014 study,25 considered to be the most robust study of its kind at the time, those who were severely deficient in vitamin D had a 125 percent higher risk of developing some form of dementia compared to those with normal levels.
The findings also suggest there’s a threshold level of circulating vitamin D, below which your risk for dementia increases. This threshold was found to be right around 20 nanograms per milliliter (ng/ml) or 50 nanomoles per liter (nmol/L) for Europeans. Higher levels are associated with better brain health in general, and based on a broader view of the available science, 20 ng/ml is still far too low.
Solution: Optimize your vitamin D level — The bulk of the research suggests maintaining a vitamin D level between 60 and 80 ng/mL (150 to 200 nmol/L) year-round. Ideally, get your level checked twice a year, and if you’re unable to maintain a healthy level through sensible sun exposure alone, be sure to take an oral vitamin D3 supplement.
Low omega-3 level — According to neuroimaging research, low omega-3 may be a factor in Alzheimer’s,26 and omega-3 is certainly a crucial component for optimal brain health in general. People with higher omega-3 levels were found to have increased blood flow in areas of the brain associated with memory and learning.
The Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease also notes animal research showing omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to have anti-amyloid, anti-tau and anti-inflammatory activity in the brain.27
Solution: Optimize your omega-3 index — Ideally, get an omega-3 index test done once a year to make sure you’re in a healthy range. Your omega-3 index should be above 8 percent and your omega 6-to-3 ratio between 0.5 and 3.0.
Lack of sun exposure — While vitamin D deficiency is directly attributable to lack of sensible sun exposure, vitamin D production is not the only way sun exposure can influence your dementia risk. Evidence suggests sunlight is a beneficial electromagnetic frequency (EMF) that is in fact essential and vital for your health in its own right.
About 40 percent of the rays in sunlight is infrared. The red and near-infrared frequencies interact with cytochrome c oxidase (CCO) — one of the proteins in the inner mitochondrial membrane and a member of the electron transport chain.
CCO is a chromophore, a molecule that attracts and absorbs light. In short, sunlight improves the generation of energy (ATP). The optimal wavelength for stimulating CCO lies in two regions, red at 630 to 660 nanometers (nm) and near-infrared at 810 to 850 nm.
Solution: Get regular sun exposure and/or consider photobiomodulation therapy — I’ve interviewed two different experts on photobiomodulation, a term describing the use of near-infrared light as a treatment for Alzheimer’s. To learn more about this fascinating field, please see my interviews with Michael Hamblin, Ph.D., and Dr. Lew Lim. Both have published papers on using photobiomodulation to improve Alzheimer’s disease.
Prion infection — In addition to viruses, bacteria and fungi, an infectious protein called TDP-43, which behaves like infectious proteins known as prions — responsible for the brain destruction that occurs in mad cow and chronic wasting diseases — has been linked to Alzheimer’s.
Research presented at the 2014 Alzheimer’s Association International Conference revealed Alzheimer’s patients with TDP-43 were 10 times more likely to have been cognitively impaired at death than those without.28Last year, researchers also found they could measure the distribution and levels of prions in the eye,29 thereby improving diagnosis of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD), the human version of mad cow disease.
Solution: Avoid eating meat from animals raised in concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) — Due to its similarities with mad cow disease, investigators have raised the possibility that Alzheimer’s disease may be linked to CAFO meat consumption. There are many reasons to avoid CAFO animal products, and this is yet another one, even if this particular risk is small.
Environmental toxins, including electromagnetic fields (EMF) — Experts at the Edinburgh University’s Alzheimer Scotland Dementia Research Centre have compiled a list of top environmental risk factors thought to be contributing to the epidemic, based on a systematic review of the scientific literature.30,31,32
As much as one-third of your dementia risk is thought to be linked to environmental factors such as air pollution, pesticide exposure and living close to power lines. The risk factor with the most robust body of research behind it is air pollution. In fact, they couldn’t find a single study that didn’t show a link between exposure to air pollution and dementia.
Particulate matter, nitric oxides, ozone and carbon monoxide have all been linked to an increased risk. Living close to power lines also has “limited yet robust” evidence suggesting it may influence your susceptibility to dementia.
Solution: Minimize exposure to environmental toxins and EMFs — In terms of air pollution, it’s worth remembering that your indoor air is often five times more polluted than outdoor air, and indoors, it’s something you can control, using a high-quality air purifier. Pesticides can be avoided by eating certified organic foods.
Non-native EMFs contribute to Alzheimer’s by poisoning your mitochondria, and this is not limited to living in close proximity to power lines. It also includes electromagnetic interference from the electric grid and microwave radiation from your cellphone, cellphone towers, Wi-Fi and more.
Radiation from cellphones and other wireless technologies trigger excessive production of peroxynitrites,33 a highly damaging reactive nitrogen species. Increased peroxynitrites from cellphone exposure will damage your mitochondria,34,35 and your brain is the most mitochondrial-dense organ in your body. To learn more about the mechanisms that place your health in jeopardy, and what you can do about it, see “Top 19 Tips to Reduce Your EMF Exposure.”
Inactivity / lack of exercise — Exercise has been shown to protect your brain from Alzheimer’s and other dementias,36 and also improves quality of life if you’ve already been diagnosed.
In one study,37,38 patients diagnosed with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s who participated in a four-month-long supervised exercise program had significantly fewer neuropsychiatric symptoms associated with the disease (especially mental speed and attention) than the inactive control group.
Other studies39 have shown aerobic exercise helps reduce tau levels in the brain. (Brain lesions known as tau tangles form when the protein tau collapses into twisted strands that end up killing your brain cells.) Cognitive function and memory40 can also be improved through regular exercise, and this effect is in part related to the effect exercise has on neurogenesis and the regrowth of brain cells.
By targeting a gene pathway called brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), exercise actually promotes brain cell growth and connectivity. In one yearlong study,41 seniors who exercised grew and expanded their brain’s memory center by as much as 2 percent per year, where typically that center shrinks with age.
Evidence also suggests exercise can trigger a change in the way the amyloid precursor protein is metabolized,42 thus slowing the onset and progression of Alzheimer’s. By increasing levels of the protein PGC-1alpha (which Alzheimer’s patients have less of), brain cells produce less of the toxic amyloid protein associated with Alzheimer’s.43 As noted in one 2016 paper on this topic:44
“Moderate and high intensities have demonstrated a neuroprotective effect through the production of antioxidant enzymes and growth factors such as superoxide dismutase, eNOS, BDNF, nerve growth factors, insulin-like growth factors and vascular endothelial growth factor and by reducing the production of ROS, neuroinflammation, the concentration of Aβ plaques in cognitive regions and tau pathology, leading to the improvement of cerebral blood flow, hyperemia, cerebrovascular reactivity and memory.”
Solution: Move regularly and consistently throughout the day, and implement a regular exercise routine.
Hypertension and heart disease — Arterial stiffness (atherosclerosis) is associated with a hallmark process of Alzheimer’s, namely the buildup of beta-amyloid plaque in your brain. The American Heart Association warns there’s a strong association between hypertension and brain diseases such as vascular cognitive impairment (loss of brain function caused by impaired blood flow to your brain) and dementia.45
Solution: Address high blood pressure and risk factors for heart disease — One of the most important all-natural remedies for high blood pressure is to raise your nitric oxide production, which can be done through high-intensity exercise (including the super-simple Nitric Oxide Dump exercise), high-nitrate foods such as beets and arugula.
Genetic predisposition — Several genes that predispose you to Alzheimer’s have been identified.46 The most common gene associated with late onset Alzheimer’s is the apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene. The APOE e2 form is thought to reduce your risk while the APOE e4 form increases it.
That said, some people never develop the disease even though they’ve inherited the APOE e4 gene from both their mother and father (giving them a double set), so while genetics can affect your risk, it is NOT a direct or inevitable cause. Your risk for early onset familial Alzheimer’s can also be ascertained through genetic testing.47 In this case, by looking for mutation in the genes for presenilin 1 and presenilin 2.
Solution: Genetic testing to help ascertain your risk — People with one or more genetic predispositions are at particularly high risk of developing Alzheimer’s at a very young age.
Additional Alzheimer’s Preventive Strategies
In 2014, Bredesen published a paper that demonstrates the power of lifestyle choices for the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer’s.By leveraging 36 healthy lifestyle parameters, he was able to reverse Alzheimer’s in 9 out of 10 patients. This included the use of exercise, ketogenic diet, optimizing vitamin D and other hormones, increasing sleep, meditation, detoxification and eliminating gluten and processed food.
You can download Bredesen’s full-text case paper online, which details the full program.48 Following are a few lifestyle strategies that, in addition to those already mentioned above, can be helpful for the prevention of dementia and Alzheimer’s.
Optimize your gut flora — To do this, avoid processed foods, antibiotics and antibacterial products, fluoridated and chlorinated water, and be sure to eat traditionally fermented and cultured foods, along with a high-quality probiotic if needed. Dr. Steven Gundry does an excellent job of expanding on this in his new book “The Plant Paradox.”
Intermittently fast — Intermittent fasting is a powerful tool to jump-start your body into remembering how to burn fat and repair the insulin/leptin resistance that is a primary contributing factor for Alzheimer’s.
Optimize your magnesium levels — Preliminary research strongly suggests a decrease in Alzheimer symptoms with increased levels of magnesium in the brain. Keep in mind that the only magnesium supplement that appears to be able to cross the blood-brain barrier is magnesium threonate.
Avoid and eliminate mercury from your body — Dental amalgam fillings are one of the major sources of heavy metal toxicity; however, you should be healthy prior to having them removed. Once you have adjusted to following the diet described in my optimized nutrition plan, you can follow the mercury detox protocol and then find a biological dentist to have your amalgams removed.
Avoid and eliminate aluminum from your body — Common sources of aluminum include antiperspirants, nonstick cookware and vaccine adjuvants. For tips on how to detox aluminum, see “Top Tips to Detox Your Body.”
Avoid flu vaccinations — Most flu vaccines contain both mercury and aluminum.
Avoid statins and anticholinergic drugs — Drugs that block acetylcholine, a nervous system neurotransmitter, have been shown to increase your risk of dementia. These drugs include certain nighttime pain relievers, antihistamines, sleep aids, certain antidepressants, medications to control incontinence and certain narcotic pain relievers.
Statin drugs are particularly problematic because they suppress the synthesis of cholesterol, deplete your brain of coenzyme Q10, vitamin K2 and neurotransmitter precursors, and prevent adequate delivery of essential fatty acids and fat-soluble antioxidants to your brain by inhibiting the production of the indispensable carrier biomolecule known as low-density lipoprotein.
Optimize your sleep — Sleep is necessary for maintaining metabolic homeostasis in your brain. Without sufficient sleep, neuron degeneration sets in, and catching up on sleep during weekends will not prevent this damage.49,50,51
Sleep deprivation causes disruption of certain synaptic connections that can impair your brain’s ability for learning, memory formation and other cognitive functions. Poor sleep also accelerates the onset of Alzheimer’s disease.52
Most adults need seven to nine hours of uninterrupted sleep each night. Deep sleep is the most important, as this is when your brain’s glymphatic system performs its cleanout functions, eliminating toxic waste from your brain, including amyloid beta. For a comprehensive sleep guide, see “33 Secret’s to a Good Night’s Sleep.”
Challenge your mind daily — Mental stimulation, especially learning something new, such as learning to play an instrument or a new language, is associated with a decreased risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s. Researchers suspect that mental challenge helps to build up your brain, making it less susceptible to the lesions associated with Alzheimer’s disease.
https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2016/06/09/alzheimers-byproduct-of-infection/ Kris Kristofferson was wrongly diagnosed with Alzheimer’s but had Lyme Disease. For years doctors told Kristofferson it was either Alzheimer’s or dementia, and may have been the result of blows to his head from boxing, football and rugby. The medication he was given gave him bad side effects and didn’t help. Since starting treatment for Lyme Kristofferson “has made remarkable strides.” His wife Lisa said,
“all of the sudden he was back.” Although he still has some bad days, there are other days when he is “perfectly normal,” she said.
Madison Area Lyme Support Group 