Patrick Holford: Simple Wisdom for a Healthy Life Preserve the Reserve: How to Keep Your Brain Healthy and Avoid Alzheimer's
Sep 5, 2025
Professor Jonathan Stone, a neurobiologist with 200+ research papers, explores why amyloid forms and how the brain defends itself. He discusses microbleeds, amyloid’s protective roles, vascular links to dementia, risks of removing amyloid, and lifestyle measures—exercise, plant compounds, intermittent hunger and heat—to build brain reserve and resilience.
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Amyloid Beta Can Be Protective
- Amyloid beta is not simply a toxic waste product but has protective roles at low concentrations.
- Jonathan Stone explains it helps neuron growth, synapse formation and detoxifies hemoglobin and pathogens.
Silent Microbleeds Drive Local Pathology
- Silent microbleeds from small vessels are common in older brains and trigger local amyloid deposition.
- These microbleeds accumulate and correlate with Alzheimer and vascular pathology.
Heme Toxicity Explains Protective Amyloid
- Hemoglobin leakage (heme/iron) from microbleeds is highly toxic to neurons and membranes.
- Amyloid and other evolved molecules bind heme, reducing its toxicity and protecting tissue.