Both men, who were diagnosed with Alzheimer's, claim they overcame the disease with simple lifestyle changes.
Dementia and Alzheimer's disease have been the leading cause of death in the UK for the past decade, accounting for 11.4% of deaths. 2022. nevertheless New Drugs Although the progression of the disease can be halted, there is growing evidence that the symptoms of Alzheimer's can be “reversed” by simply adopting a healthy lifestyle.
Alzheimer's disease is divided into two subgroups: familial and sporadic. Only 5% of people with Alzheimer's disease have Family-likeIt is hereditary, and 95% of people with Alzheimer's SporadicAlzheimer's disease develops due to environmental, lifestyle and genetic risk factors. Therefore, the most effective strategy to combat Alzheimer's disease is prevention and leading a healthy lifestyle. For this reason, researchers are studying the risk factors associated with Alzheimer's disease.
Alzheimer's sufferers Sissi Zerbe and Simon Nichols claim they overcame the deadly disease with simple lifestyle changes, and they detailed their journey in a CNN documentary. The last Alzheimer's patient.
Zerbe experienced a reversal of his symptoms after taking part in a clinical trial in the US investigating the effect of intensive lifestyle changes on mild cognitive impairment or early dementia due to Alzheimer's disease. The study has not yet been published.
The lifestyle changes include switching to a plant-based diet, regular exercise, group support sessions, yoga and meditation, and Zerbe said she is “feeling a lot better” than she was before she joined the trial five years ago, when she was diagnosed with the disease.
Remarkable improvement
Simon Nichols (55), an Alzheimer's patient featured in the CNN documentary, also took part in the trial. ApoE4This is known to significantly increase the risk of Alzheimer's. However, after adopting some healthy lifestyle changes, Nichols noticed a significant improvement in her symptoms.
Approximately 25% of the population has at least one ApoE4 gene variant (called an allele), and 5% have two ApoE4 gene variants. copyHaving one ApoE4 allele increases the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease three to four times. Having two copies increases the risk up to 12x the greatest genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's disease.
These statistics underscore the incredible and remarkable nature of Nichols’ achievement in reversing the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease through lifestyle choices alone: His Alzheimer’s biomarkers disappeared in 14 months, which is considerably more effective than most treatments for Alzheimer’s disease.
Nichols stressed that exercise and dietary changes were paramount in the treatment process. He was initially prescribed tirzepatide, a drug that regulates blood sugar and suppresses appetite.
He also incorporated regular exercise, including strength training three times a week, walking 10,000 steps each day, and jogging or cycling every morning.
Cardiovascular disease is a major risk factor for Alzheimer's disease and a potential predictor of future Alzheimer's disease. The heart-brain connection is important for providing energy and oxygen to brain cells via cerebral blood flow.
Poor heart health therefore means brain cells have less energy to function, which could increase the risk of Alzheimer's. This is why Nichols' improved heart health and increased cardiovascular activity led to an improvement in her symptoms.
He also enforced dietary changes, eliminating sugar, alcohol and processed foods, and adopted the Mediterranean diet.
The Mediterranean diet is rich in antioxidants that protect brain cells from damage, and research suggests that the nutrients you get from the diet may help preserve memory and cognitive performance. study A study of 60,000 British people showed that following a Mediterranean diet reduced the risk of dementia by 23 percent.
Nichols also practices good sleep hygiene to improve irregular sleep patterns, and some studies have shown that: Lack of sleep It is associated with Alzheimer's disease.
The prevailing theory is that during sleep, toxic proteins such as amyloid are flushed out by the glymphatic system, which would otherwise accumulate and cause dementia. However, recent studies have shown that Mouse studies This theory raises doubts.
Scientists at Imperial College London have found that the elimination of toxins actually decreases during sleep, suggesting that sleep may reduce the risk of dementia through other mechanisms that are currently unknown.
These lifestyle changes have had a huge impact on Nichols' life: in just nine weeks, she lost nearly 10kg, reduced her body fat by 80% and lowered her fasting blood sugar levels.
Nichols and Zerbe could be said to have “reversed” the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease, because conditions such as obesity, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, high cholesterol, and insomnia are all risk factors for dementia and can be improved through a healthy lifestyle.
However, it is important to interpret these findings with caution. These are results from only two subjects who participated in the trial. Without more details on the claimed results, it is difficult to determine whether these lifestyle choices truly “reversed” the progression of the disease.
The impact of lifestyle on cognitive function is gaining attention, with more and more scientists studying its benefits. The emergence of new disease-modifying drugs, combined with strict lifestyle changes, may be able to significantly reduce the symptoms and progression of Alzheimer's disease.
Rahul SidhuPhD student, Neuroscience, University of Sheffield
This article is reprinted from conversation Published under a Creative Commons license. Original Article.