Cognitive decline is a major concern of the aging population, and Alzheimer’s disease is the major cause of age-related cognitive decline, with approximately 5.4 million American patients and 30 million affected globally. In the absence of effective prevention and treatment, the prospects for the future are of great concern, with 13 million Americans and 160 million globally projected for 2050, leading to potential bankruptcy of the Medicare system. Unlike several other chronic illnesses, Alzheimer’s disease prevalence is on the rise, which makes the need to develop effective prevention and treatment increasingly pressing. Recent estimates suggest that AD has become the third leading cause of death in the United States, behind cardiovascular disease and cancer. Furthermore, it has been pointed out recently that women are at the epicenter of the Alzheimer’s epidemic, with 65% of patients and 60% of caregivers being women. Indeed, a woman’s chance of developing AD is now greater than her chance of developing breast cancer [1].
Everyone knows someone who is a cancer survivor, but no one knows an Alzheimer’s survivor, until now!
The cause of Alzheimer’s disease is incompletely defined, and no truly effective therapy exists, until now! Dale E. Bredesen, M.D. and his research team at Buck Institute have spent 30 years determining the multiple causes of Alzheimer’s disease and have developed an effective therapy to reverse cognitive decline! Dr. Bredesen has published his findings in the book “The End of Alzheimer’s.” He has identified over 32 potential causes that contribute to Alzheimer’s disease. The evaluation is extremely complex and the therapy is personalized based on the results of the evaluation.
The major genetic risk for Alzheimer’s disease is a gene called ApoE4. Sixty five percent (65%) of Alzheimer’s disease patients have the ApoE4 gene. About 75 million Americans have one copy of the ApoE4 gene with a risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease of about 30%. Seven million Americans have two copies of the ApoE4 gene pushing their risk to over 50%![2] Everyone should know if they have one or two copies of the ApoE4 gene so that preventive therapy can be instituted. No one should die of Alzheimer’s disease!
I perform a complex evaluation and follow the treatment protocol as determined by Dr.Bredesen. Please have your ApoeE4 status determined as soon as possible and if you, your relatives or friends show any evidence of cognitive decline, let us evaluate them.
Medical Detective carries all the nutritional supplements recommended by Dr. Bredesen.
Douglas C. Hall, M.D.
References:
- AGING, September 2014, Vol 6 9 N pp 707-717
- The End of Alzheimer’s by Dale E. Bredesen, M.D. page 100