Neurologist Sounds the Alarm: Silent Symptoms of Dementia & Brain Decline with Dr. David Perlmutter
Mar 13, 2024
auto_awesome
Dr. David Perlmutter discusses silent symptoms of dementia and brain decline, emphasizing early lifestyle changes for brain health. Topics include metabolic health indicators, oral microbiome impact on neurodegenerative diseases, Alzheimer's prevention through lifestyle choices, optimizing brain health with diverse activities, importance of glutathione in detoxification, and the connection between long-distance running and atrial fibrillation.
Early detection of Alzheimer's and dementia through physical metrics can reduce risk by up to 70%.
Brain scans showing poor brain metabolism suggest lifestyle choices play a significant role in brain health.
Maintaining healthy lifestyle habits like exercise and quality sleep is crucial for lowering neurodegenerative disease risk.
Deep dives
The Importance of Early Detection in Preventing Neurodegenerative Diseases
Detecting warning signs of Alzheimer's and dementia early is crucial, as diagnoses are often years or decades in the making. Simple metrics like waist size, blood sugar, blood pressure, and physical activity levels can indicate increased risk. Aligning these metrics may reduce Alzheimer's risk by up to 70%.
Metabolism and Brain Health: Early Detection Through Brain Scans
Brain scans can reveal deficiencies in brain metabolism years before clinical symptoms appear, specifically showing lower glucose utilization. Metabolism, crucial for brain function, can be enhanced with alternative fuel sources like ketones. Lifestyle choices affecting metabolism, such as prediabetes and obesity, play a significant role in brain health.
Prevention Through Healthy Lifestyle Choices
Prioritizing healthy lifestyle choices, such as managing weight, blood sugar, and blood pressure, can significantly lower the risk of developing neurodegenerative diseases. Engaging in mentally stimulating activities, maintaining regular exercise, and ensuring quality sleep are key factors in brain health.
Supplementation with DHA for Brain Health
DHA, a vital component of brain cell membranes, acts as a natural anti-inflammatory and promotes the growth of brain cells. Adequate DHA intake, whether through fish or supplements, supports brain function and reduces inflammation. Supplementing with DHA, around 1 gram per day, is recommended to support cognitive health.
Importance of Glutathione as a Master Antioxidant
Glutathione is known as the master antioxidant in the body, playing a crucial role in protecting DNA, proteins, and fats from damage caused by free radicals. It is also essential for detoxification processes, helping the body eliminate toxins that we are exposed to daily. Low levels of glutathione have been linked to cognitive decline and conditions like Parkinson's disease, highlighting its importance in maintaining overall health.
Personalized Supplementation and Multivitamins for Neuroprotection
Supplementation with a multivitamin containing minerals has shown potential benefits for cognitive function and neuroprotection, especially in individuals with deficiencies due to modern diets. The importance of individualized approaches to supplementation based on blood work and genetic factors is emphasized. Research indicates that even a basic, inexpensive multivitamin can have a positive impact on cognitive health, showcasing the potential of tailored supplementation programs for brain health preservation.
According to today’s guest, the seeds of Alzheimer’s are planted at least twenty years before a diagnosis. So, it’s never too early to think about the lifestyle changes that can influence brain health and the risk of developing neurodegenerative diseases. Dr. David Perlmutter shows us what we can do to protect our brain health and lower our risk.
Today on The Dhru Purohit Show, Dhru sits down with Dr. David Perlmutter to discuss research around the top four factors that can determine the risk of developing Alzheimer’s and his lifestyle tips on prevention. Dr. Perlmutter shares the tools we can use to analyze our brain’s use of energy and discusses the importance of engaging in physically and mentally stimulating activities. He also shares his hot takes on the community’s top questions and reiterates the importance of changing our minds and keeping up with the latest research.
Dr. David Perlmutter is a Board-Certified Neurologist and five-time New York Times bestselling author. He serves on the Board of Directors and is a Fellow of the American College of Nutrition. He is the author of Grain Brain, among other books, and his most recent book, Drop Acid. He serves as a member of the Editorial Board for the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease and has published extensively in peer-reviewed scientific journals, including Archives of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and The Journal of Applied Nutrition.
In this episode, Dhru and Dr. Perlmutter dive into (audio version / Apple Subscriber version):
Early warning signs of Alzheimer’s and dementia (00:00:40 / 00:00:40)
Influences you can have over your lifestyle (6:50 / 5:44)
4 factors that determine our risk of Alzheimer’s (12:28 / 11:00)
The role of oral microbiome in our brain health (28:41 / 25:31)
Tools to analyze our brain’s use of energy (31:49 / 28:46)
The risks of a sedentary lifestyle on brain health (34:06 / 30:55)
The importance of engaging in mentally and physically stimulating activities (49:10 / 45:30)
Sleep as a powerful pillar in Alzheimer's prevention (52:30 / 49:35)
Key supplements for brain health (58:46 / 55:40)
Future therapeutics that could help Alzheimer’s patients (1:20:10 / 1:17:20)
Dr. Perlmutter’s hot takes on community questions (1:23:13 / 1:20:10)
To get 20% off your Birch Living mattress plus two free eco-rest pillows, head over to birchliving.com/dhru today.
Go to bioptimizers.com/dhru now and enter promo code DHRU10 to get 10% off any order and up to 2 travel-size bottles of Magnesium Breakthrough for a limited time.
