The Exam Room by the Physicians Committee Alzheimer’s Symptoms By 30: What Causes It? | Dr. Neal Barnard
May 1, 2025
In this engaging conversation, Dr. Neal Barnard, a bestselling author and the founder of the Physicians Committee, shares startling insights on how symptoms of Alzheimer’s can emerge in individuals as young as their 30s. He delves into the causes behind these early signs, discussing the APOE ε4 genetic factor and the role of lifestyle choices like diet in cognitive decline. Dr. Barnard highlights protective foods against dementia and emphasizes the urgent need for awareness and prevention strategies for brain health.
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Early Signs of Cognitive Decline
- Subtle cognitive decline signs appear in people as young as their 30s and 40s.
- These early impairments associate with metabolic factors like diabetes, obesity, and hypertension.
Metabolic Factors Over Genetics
- Metabolic health, not genetics like ApoE ε4, mainly drives early cognitive issues in youth.
- Poor diet harms brain blood vessels, causing subtle damage long before symptoms appear.
Diet Protects Brain Health
- Adopt a healthy diet rich in plant foods to protect brain health from early decline.
- Change diets early to potentially reverse mild cognitive impairments, based on recent studies.