What Causes Alzheimer's Disease - Types 3, 4, & 5

Home care assistance supports brain health in the elderly, reducing cognitive decline risk, promoting independence, and enhancing mental health for a better quality of life. Brain health is an important aspect of growing old. As your elderly loved one gets older, its important that he continues to practice good habits to keep his brain healthy so he can continue to enjoy these later years of his life. Home care assistance services can also help.  Three Great Benefits of a Healthy Brain A healthy brain has less risk of developing diseases such as dementia, Alzheimers, and other conditions that cause cognitive decline. A healthy brain can lead to a more independent life. If your loved one desires to stay in his home and age in place, keeping his brain healthy is a huge part of making that successful, along with help from home care assistance. A healthy brain is able to problem-solve, remember important facts, and manage day-to-day tasks, all important aspects of maintaining independence for your elderly loved one. A healthy brain improves mental health as well by reducing the risk of depression and anxiety. By being able to find the positive and feel good about himself, your loved one will enjoy his life more and the world around him.   Seven Steps to a Healthy Brain Just the way that physical health doesnt just happen, a healthy brain needs actions taken as well. Some actions can be taken on his own, but for others, your loved one may need support from a family member or a home care assistance team. Protect the head. Its important to protect his head to reduce the risk of brain injury. Simple steps like wearing a helmet while bicycling or putting on a seatbelt each time hes in a car are acts of protecting his brain from injury. Get a good nights sleep. Sleeping well is important for maintaining good brain health. Not sleeping well can make making decisions more difficult, making focus harder, and disrupting emotions. Exercise. Being active regularly is great for the brain. Physical activity raises the heart rate and gets the blood flowing to all areas of the body, including the brain. With the help of home care assistance, your loved one can start by planning daily walks of at least 30 minutes to keep in shape physically and mentally. Keep learning. Exercising the brain by playing games, doing research, or learning a new skill is an important part of brain health. Control blood pressure levels. High blood pressure can damage the brain, so keeping blood pressure levels under control through healthy living and/or medications is important to brain health. Manage diabetes. Diabetes is another health condition that can be detrimental to brain health. High blood sugar levels can damage brain vessels, resulting in memory and problem-solving abilities and possibly leading to dementia. Eat right. Eating foods rich in healthy nutrients and low in unhealthy ingredients can help the body provide the brain with what it needs to work at its best. Home care assistance providers can help seniors with nutritional support and meal prep.  Home Care Assistance Can Support Brain Health For some, making lifestyle changes to promote brain health is difficult to do on their own. Just like an athlete may need a trainer to help him stay motivated, your loved one may need help from others to stay on track. A home care assistance provider who helps him prepare healthy meals or encourages daily exercise is a great partner to have in brain health.      If you or an aging loved one are considering Home Care Assistance in Arvada, CO, please contact the caring staff at Talem Home Care & Placement Services today. Call (720) 789-8529 At Talem Home Care of Broomfield, we provide passionate, understanding, and flexible caregivers in Broomfield, Arvada, Aurora, Boulder, Brighton, Commerce City, Denver, Erie, Firestone, Lafayette, Lakewood, Longmont, Louisville, Northglenn, Sherrelwood, Thornton, Welby, Westminster, Wheat Ridge and surrounding areas in Colorado.  

As we age, maintaining cognitive health becomes increasingly important. Research shows that engaging in stimulating activities can help preserve mental acuity and potentially delay the onset of cognitive decline. 1,2Brain Training Strategies - Keeping your brain active involves a multifaceted approach:Cognitive Exercises Play challenging games like Sudoku, crossword puzzles, and chess Try memory-building activities like memorizing to-do lists Learn a new language or musical instrument Take classes at local community centers1 Lifestyle Modifications Change routine activities to challenge your brain Read instructional books Try new hobbies and crafts Engage in creative activities2 The Science Behind Brain HealthResearchers emphasize that brain training is not a guaranteed prevention for dementia, but it can be beneficial. The Advanced Cognitive Training for Independent and Vital Elderly (ACTIVE) study demonstrated that targeted brain training can help seniors maintain mental skills.2Physical Activity and Cognitive Function - Physical exercise plays a crucial role in brain health. Studies have shown that:         Regular physical activity can benefit cognition across the lifespan3         Older adults with higher levels of physical activity experience slower cognitive decline4Holistic Approach to Brain Health - Experts recommend a comprehensive strategy:         Maintain a healthy diet         Get adequate sleep         Manage stress         Stay socially active         Follow medical advice for existing conditions1 Promising ResearchOngoing studies are exploring "cognitive super-agers" - individuals in their 80s and 90s who maintain exceptional mental performance. Researchers hope to uncover strategies that can help others prevent age-related cognitive decline4 Key TakeawayWhile there's no guaranteed method to prevent all forms of cognitive decline, staying mentally and physically active can significantly contribute to maintaining brain health as we age. The most important factor is to remain engaged, curious, and proactive about your cognitive well-being.References:1 - Brain Training for Seniors - familydoctor.org2 - Brain Exercises: Can They Help Older Adults? 3 - Physical Activity, Aging and Brain Health4 - How the Aging Brain Affects Thinking | National Institute onAging Editors Note: This article was submitted by Craig Luzinski, CEO of Hover Senior Living Community. For more information, please call Hover Senior Living Community at 303-772-9292.

Alzheimers Disease is not a single thing.  Years of research show that you cannot point to 1 single thing as the cause of Alzheimers Disease.  For years the healthcare industry agreed that the unifying component of Alzheimers Disease was age.  Sadly, many groups still define Alzheimers Disease as an old age disease.  When in reality the most common person diagnosed with Alzheimers Disease is a 52-year-old female (example picture below).Alzheimers Disease is not something you will wake up with one day after you turn 80 (example picture below).  Most people slowly develop Alzheimers Disease over 20 30 years. The  52-year-old female we met in the previous paragraph was 22-32 when the beginning of Alzheimers Disease was triggered in her brain. When I look at the next 2 pictures below of a 22 and a 32-year-old female, it is upsetting to think that she could be unknowingly triggering Alzheimers Disease in her brain.  At this age, these women are usually busy establishing their careers or starting their families at this age.  They both have their entire life ahead of them. I find it easier to differentiate the types and symptoms of Alzheimer's Disease to address what caused it. They are:Type 1Type 1s primary characteristic is inflammation. Type 2Type 2s primary characteristic is low levels of nutrients, hormone factors, and/or trophic factors. Type 1.5Type 1.5s primary characteristic is insulin resistance (diabetesType 3Type 3s primary characteristic is exposure to toxins.Type 4Type 4s primary characteristic is low blood flow to the brain.Type 5Type 5s primary characteristic is brain damage.This week we will review what causes Alzheimers Disease in Type 1, Type 2 & Type 1.5 Alzheimers Disease.Type 1Type 1s primary characteristic is inflammation. What is inflammation?Harvard Medical School explains inflammation like this: Think of inflammation as the body's natural response to protect itself against harm. There are two types: acute and chronic. You're probably more familiar with the acute type, which occurs when you bang your knee or cut your finger. Your immune system dispatches an army of white blood cells to surround and protect the area, creating visible redness and swelling. The process works similarly if you have an infection like the flu or pneumonia. So in these settings, inflammation is essentialwithout it, injuries could fester and simple infections could be deadly.The inflammation could come from many different factors. It may start from a leaky gut, chronic sinusitis, a poor oral microbiome with chronic poor oral health. It can be a systemic infection or any number of other undiagnosed chronic infections. Any of these things can contribute to inflammation in your body.Types of InflammationAcute InflammationAcute inflammation is a healthy and necessary function that helps the body attack bacteria and other foreign substances in the body. Once the body has healed, the inflammation resolves. Acute inflammation can cause heat or warmth in the affected area. For example, an injured part of your body might feel warm to the touch. Sometimes, the heat is caused by a fever.A few examples of common conditions that can cause acute inflammation include:Acute bronchitis An infected body partA sore throat related to the flu or another viral infection Dermatitis Physical traumaSinusitis Skin cuts and scratches Chronic InflammationChronic inflammation may continue to attack healthy areas if it doesn't "turn off." It may not be as visible as acute inflammation. A few examples of chronic inflammatory conditions include:Inflammatory arthritis (including rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and psoriatic arthritis)Asthma Periodontitis (inflammation of gums and other supporting teeth structures)Inflammatory bowel disease (including Crohns disease and ulcerative colitis, which cause signs of inflammation in the GI tract)Eczema  Issues with chronic inflammation tend to run in families as it is common in people who carry one or two ApoE4 alleles (ApoE in itself is considered an inflammatory gene). Type 2Type 2s primary characteristic is low levels of nutrients, hormone imbalances, and/or trophic factors. MalnutritionWhy would someone living in a wealthy first-world country experience low levels of nutrition? While most people in the US have plenty to eat. The food they chose does not provide the nutrition they need.  A steady diet of fast food will not provide you and your family with the nutrition you need.  But neither will the processed food we prepare at home.We consider a homemade meal something that is assembled with processed components, at home.  An example is your standard crock pot meal.  Many start with a protein, cans of processed soup, processed cream cheese, a packet or two of freeze-dried soup mix, or spice packets containing MSG.  Sometimes frozen vegetables are added.  This combination is left to cook for 6-8 hours.  About 30 minutes to an hour before mealtime, processed pasta and more processed cheese is added.  It smells great, fills your belly, and is considered a win for the entire family.  However, the original protein and vegetables have very little nutritional value after cooking for 8 hours. A steady diet of food with little to no nutrition will leave an individual hungry all the time.  Encouraging them to eat overly processed food all day and develop obesity.  Obesity leads to insulin resistance (diabetes). Hormone ImbalanceHow do you know that your hormones are imbalanced?Hormonal imbalances can cause a variety of symptoms, including:Metabolism: Unexplained weight gain or loss, fatigue, constipation, diarrhea, and irregular body fat distributionSkin: Dry, coarse, or thin skin, skin tags, and darkened skin in the armpits or neckMood: Mood swings, depression, anxiety, or irritabilityMenstrual cycle: Heavy or painful periods, irregular periods, or pain during menstruationFertility: Low libido or infertilitySleep: Insomnia or poor-quality sleepOther: Headaches, muscle weakness, joint pain, and blurred vision Hormonal shifts are normal at certain times of life, such as before and during menstruation, during pregnancy, or during menopause & andropause (male menopause). Also, some medications and health issues can cause hormonal shifts.  Trophic FactorsWhat are trophic factors?The NIH explains: The various neurotrophic factors influence a wide range of cell functions in the developing, mature, and injured nervous system. Recent studies have provided valuable insights on the receptors that mediate these effects and on the intracellular events that follow the binding of the ligand. Although growth factors were known to be expressed by non-neuronal cells in the targets and pathways of neuronal projections, it is now clear that the neurons themselves can also be a source of these molecules. A better understanding of the mechanisms of action of trophic factors on the survival and differentiation of neurons, coupled with advances in methods for the delivery of these molecules to the nervous system have provided an impetus for exploring their use as aids to the protection and regeneration of the injured nervous system.Simply put, trophic factors control the development and survival of specific groups of neurons.Trophic factors are small proteins that play crucial roles in the growth, survival, and function of neurons in the nervous system. They are also known as neurotrophic factors or growth factors.These factors are typically secreted by various cells, including neurons and glial cells (non-neuronal cells), and they act upon specific receptors on the surface of neurons.The main functions of trophic factors include:Promoting Neuronal Survival: They help neurons survive by preventing cell death (apoptosis) triggered by various factors such as lack of nutrients or injury.Supporting Neuronal Growth and Differentiation: Trophic factors can stimulate the growth of axons and dendrites, the long projections of neurons that form connections with other neurons.Modulating Synaptic Plasticity: They can influence the strength and efficacy of synaptic connections between neurons, which is important for learning and memory.Repairing and Regenerating Neurons: Trophic factors are involved in the regeneration of damaged neurons after injury or disease.Examples of trophic factors include nerve growth factor (NGF), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), neurotrophin-3 (NT-3), and glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF). Each of these factors acts through specific receptors on neurons to exert their effects.Overall, trophic factors are essential for the development, maintenance, and repair of the nervous system throughout life.  If your trophic factors have begun to fail, your brain begins to atrophy.Type 2 also occurs more frequently in those who carry one or two copies of the ApoE4 allele, but the symptoms tend to initiate about a decade later than the inflammatory Type 1.  Type 1.5Type 1.5s primary characteristic is insulin resistance (diabetes). Type 1 and Type 2 Alzheimers Disease can occur together often seen with neural inflammation in addition to the reduced support for brain synapses. What is diabetes?Diabetes mellitus, commonly referred to as diabetes, is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by high blood sugar levels (hyperglycemia) over a prolonged period. This condition arises either due to insufficient production of insulin by the pancreas or the body's cells becoming resistant to the action of insulin, or both.Here are the key points about diabetes:Types of Diabetes:Type 1 Diabetes: This results from the autoimmune destruction of insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. People with type 1 diabetes require daily insulin injections for survival.Type 2 Diabetes: This is characterized by insulin resistance, where the body's cells do not respond effectively to insulin. Initially, the pancreas compensates by producing more insulin, but over time, it may not be able to keep up with demand.Causes:Type 1 Diabetes: The exact cause is not fully understood, but it involves genetic predisposition and environmental factors that trigger an autoimmune reaction. Type 1 diabetes develops in children AND adults.Type 2 Diabetes: Risk factors include obesity, sedentary lifestyle, genetic predisposition, and increasing age. Symptoms:Increased thirst and frequent urinationExtreme hungerUnexplained weight lossWeight gainFatigueBlurred visionSlow healing of woundsFrequent infectionsComplications:Long-term uncontrolled diabetes can lead to serious complications affecting various organs:Cardiovascular disease (heart attack, stroke)Kidney disease (diabetic nephropathy)Nerve damage (neuropathy)Eye damage (diabetic retinopathy)Foot damage (diabetic foot)Skin conditionsHearing impairmentAlzheimer's diseaseManagement:Type 1 Diabetes: Requires daily insulin injections or use of an insulin pump, regular blood sugar monitoring, balanced diet, and exercise.Type 2 Diabetes: Initially managed with lifestyle changes (diet and exercise) and may progress to oral medications or insulin therapy if blood sugar levels cannot be controlled sufficiently.Prevention:Type 1 diabetes cannot be prevented.Type 2 diabetes can often be prevented or delayed through maintaining a healthy weight, regular physical activity, and a balanced diet.Diabetes requires lifelong management to prevent complications and maintain good quality of life. Regular monitoring of blood sugar levels, adherence to treatment plans, and lifestyle modifications are essential for effectively managing the condition.If you find that you are experiencing symptoms consistent with diabetes you must see an endocrinologist!  Much has changed in the world of diabetes management in the last 5 years.  Primary Care Providers are amazing doctors.  I believe they do not have the experience and training required to treat diabetes. I confidently say this from my own experience.  I was officially diagnosed as a Type 2 diabetic in 2019.  When I was diagnosed my blood sugar was out of control!  I had highs that would startle you!  The truth is, I had those highs for years I just did not know it.  I did not have health insurance and denied the truth to myself.  Once diagnosed I found a very well-respected primary care doctor.  He and his nurses worked with me to teach me the importance of checking my blood sugar twice a day.  I was instructed to begin injecting a long-acting insulin every night about 2 hours after I ate.  My blood sugar came down and I was encouraged to keep my A1C at or about 7.  My doctor and his staff were following the current protocols.  Then Covid hit and the world fell apart.My primary care provider was not accepting appointments, returning calls, or refilling prescriptions.  Two weeks of lockdowns were quickly extended to months of lockdowns.  For me, that was months of lockdowns without the medication I needed.  I left that provider and started working with another.  This time a much more respected doctor and his staff of PAs.  Both providers assumed that since I am an adult in my 50s, I am a type 2 diabetic.  They carefully evaluated me changed my medication and added Ozempic to the mix. Again, following the appropriate protocols they researched and were confident were the best solutions for type 2 diabetes.Over the next 6 months, I experienced unbelievable GI pain and constant issues.  I begged for referrals to a GI doctor but was denied.  I only lost 7 pounds on Ozempic, my blood sugar was steadily inching up, I had COVID-19, and was simply miserable. Until one day after not being able to keep anything down for a few days and unbelievable pain, I went to the ER.  Finally, with the results from the CT scan, I found a new primary care doctor.  This guy was horrible and mismanaged my diabetes worse than ever before.  However, he did not deny the referral to a GI doctor. I waited months to get in and even longer to get the tests I needed to learn what was going on inside of my gut. But he was the one who said I needed an Endocrinologist and demanded that my doctor write the referral to the doctor I work with now.Between the GI doctor and my Endocrinologist, I learned that I am not a Type 2 diabetic.  I am a Type 1.5 diabetic or an adult with Type 1 diabetes.  My GI issues have been resolved with lifestyle and nutritional changes.  I was prescribed an OmniPod 5 insulin pump and a constant glucose monitoring device (gcm).  My blood sugar ranges between 95 and 105 all day except after I eat my 1 meal a day. But the highs after I eat are much lower than my lowest reading before I started receiving the appropriate care. I tell you this to say your Primary Care Provider is not a bad doctor.  They are providing the care they are told to provide.  However, they are not experts in diabetes management.  My research and personal experience say:If you look down and cannot see your toes, you need a very thorough evaluation for insulin resistance. If you have skin tags, you need a very thorough evaluation for insulin resistance. If you are always thirsty, you need a very thorough evaluation for insulin resistance. If you crave sugary food, you need a very thorough evaluation for insulin resistance. If you get up to pee more than once at night, you need a very thorough evaluation for insulin resistance. Fasting glucose tests or a simple A1C test are not enough.  You need to wear a constant glucose monitoring device for at least 10 days.  Your doctor will see your accurate highs and lows and have better information to diagnose you and create a treatment plan.Demand your primary care provider provide you with the referral.  Your brain health depends on it!I still encourage you to purchase Dr. Dale Bredesens books.  Or go to his website and read through everything. If not for yourself, for a friend or family member. 1 in 3 people will die from Alzheimers Disease. We all must do what we can to reduce those numbers. Here are the links to purchase the books on Amazon and the link to Dr. Bredesens website.THE END OF ALZHEIMERS 2 BOOKS COLLECTION SET BY DALE BREDESEN PAPERBACK OCTOBER 26, 2023LINK:https://amzn.to/462LcY3 The End of Alzheimer's Program: The First Protocol to Enhance Cognition and Reverse Decline at AnyAge Paperback September 6, 2022LINK:https://amzn.to/3xNcrctDr. Bredesens WebsiteLINK: https://www.apollohealthco.com/