The mainstream narrative of Alzheimer’s disease gives “a message of false hopelessness,” said Heather Sandison, a naturopathic doctor in San Diego determined to turn the tide of rising dementia and Alzheimer’s diagnoses in America. Her recent book, “Reversing Alzheimer’s” (2024), documents how patients at her residential care facility have delayed, and in some cases completely reversed, their cognitive decline.
Sandison’s approach covers the six components of brain health: toxins, nutrients, infections, structure, stress, and signaling. “We measure for imbalances: too much, too little, in the wrong place at the wrong time. These create dysregulation and neural degeneration.” Once scientifically measured, they can be addressed, and a precision-based plan developed specific to an individual patient.
“A complex disease requires a complex approach,” Sandison said. “The current approach doesn’t work. There is no improvement in cognition with the medications that are available right now.” Her research offers a shift in perspective and treatment.
Sandison believes that people can recover through a proactive and holistic approach to cognitive decline: “We have a responsibility to exercise, to eat well, to stay engaged, to find purpose even as we age. There’s a lot we can do to help turn this around,” she said.
Tips for managing the six components of brain health:
- Avoid toxins. Prevent environmental and chemical toxins from entering the house by taking your shoes off at the door. Open the windows for one hour a day to clear the air.
- Get the nutrients your brain needs. Nutrition imbalance affects the body’s ability to produce adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which the brain needs for energy. Following a keto diet helps to regulate the body’s production of insulin and avoid elevated blood sugar levels.
- Treat infections. Common infections like herpes, gingivitis, and Lyme disease cause inflammation of the cardiovascular system and can affect the brain if not treated aggressively.
- Don’t stress. Elevated levels of cortisol can lead to poor cognitive function. Social isolation is especially a source of stress for people with dementia, so it’s important to maintain positive social connections.
- Support your body’s functions. The airways are especially important because they provide the flow of oxygen to your brain. She recommends that people get a sleep study done to determine if they have sleep apnea. Also, address any chronic pain quickly because a pinched nerve can interfere with blood flow to the brain.
- Push yourself to exercise. Exercise triggers the release of hormones and protein precursors that help neurons to survive, thereby improving memory and cognitive performance.
Top tips for caregivers:
Schedule time off at least once a week. Devote an entire 8-hour block of time for yourself, and that’s a minimum. Engage in your hobbies, go get exercise, and do what feels good to you. It improves the quality of care you give.
Prioritize connection over correction. If the patient says it’s time to go home when he or she is already home, instead of saying, “You’re already home,” say, “Okay, let’s go home!” and take a little drive around the neighborhood. Going along with the patient rather than correcting him or her helps to diffuse the situation and reduces the stress response of the patient.
This article was originally published in American Essence magazine.
