Growing and Extending Brain Cells

Recently a woman was referred to me by her doctor because she felt she was developing “dementia,” and he thought I knew some things that might help. I told her I thought she was fortunate, because researchers have recently discovered ways to turn around cognitive decline in many cases, even to the extent of regrowing or expanding brain cells in critical parts of the brain, particularly the hippocampus where memories are made and retrieved.

I then sent her a questionnaire to see if we could identify what may have contributed to this decline and what she might do to help improve her memory, if possible. The next day, however, she called me to say she would not be filling out the questionnaire or availing her of our services, because she had since learned dementia can not be prevented, or arrested and no one has yet been able to restore cells in an aging brain. Because it they had it would be all over the news and they would have been nominated for a Nobel Prize.  I assured her that whoever told her that, was not aware of the latest research, and I would be glad to send that to her.

If you believe it’s possible to prevention dementia, or regrow cell in an aging brain, but you have colleagues, patients or family members who do not believe that. I would like to share with you some of what I shared with this woman. See what you think. Was I wrong, overstating the facts, or does someone deserve a Nobel prize?

By the way, for clarification here is the definition of dementia from the Alzheimer’s Assoc.

“Dementia is not a specific disease. It’s an overall term that describes a wide range of symptoms associated with a decline in memory or other thinking skills severe enough to reduce a person’s ability to perform everyday activities. Alzheimer’s disease accounts for 60 to 80 percent of cases… But there are many other conditions that can cause symptoms of dementia, including some that are reversible, such as thyroid problems and vitamin deficiencies.” Alzheimer’s Association    https://www.alz.org/what-is-dementia.asp

So when I talk about preventing dementia, I’m not talking about a disease, but rather improving a range of symptoms, skills or abilities, like remembering, or reasoning.

Now keep in mind, I’m just the messenger boy, and likely biased. But here’s what others much brighter and better qualified than I are saying on this subject, should anyone ever ask you.

Dear Skeptic,

I can understand your skepticism.  Most people, including most doctors are not aware of this new research and methods.  But here are two simple video clips I would like you to watch.  These are all doctors, MD’s who are turning around dementia cases even Alzheimer’s.  There are now more than a dozen clinics doing this in the US, in universities like UCLA (where Dr. Dale Bredesen developed his approach), Columbia U, University of Southern CA, U of Maryland and others in the UK, Sweden, and New Zealand.  If they all replicate these improvements perhaps Dr. Bredesen will win a Nobel Prize!  But his methods are not mainstream orthodoxy, and there are a lot of politics involved. Unfortunately in the field of science and medicine even great new discoveries don’t usually get world wide attention until they have been replicated many times.

But click on these clips. The first is an intro to a documentary featuring 12 doctors (MD’s) who have turned around dementia cases. (This documentary series was recently viewed by over 300,000 people in the US. So the word is getting out.) I suggest you just watch the first 3 minutes. If you missed this and would like to see the whole series let me know as I may have a way.
http://event.awakeningfromalzheimers.com/2017-eg-pilot/

Here is another insightful interview by Dr. Gundry an internationally known heart surgeon interviewing Dr. Bredesen on this subject. First he explains why this is so hard to treat, then what they were able to do. The first 8 minutes should be enough.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6lkRXaQKwk&t=91s

At 7 minutes in Dr. Bredesen reviews the results on one man in his 70’s who went from the 3^rd percentile to the 84^th on a standard memory test. But the actual published study in the journal Aging, showed he experienced much more than mere symptom reversal. Note an excerpt from that study:

“These observations provide further support for the previously reported finding that the personalized protocol for metabolic enhancement…in Alzheimer’s disease leads to the reversal of cognitive decline in at least some patients with early Alzheimer’s disease or its precursors, MCI (mild cognitive impairment) and SCI (subjective cognitive impairment). To our knowledge, the magnitude of the improvements documented in patients 1 and 2 is unequaled in previous reports: in patient 1, the increase in hippocampal volume from 17th percentile to 75th percentile supports the marked symptomatic improvement that he (and others) achieved on the protocol. In patient 2, quantitative neuropsychological testing demonstrated improvements of up to three standard deviations (CVLT-IIB, from 3rd percentile to 84th percentile), with multiple tests all showing marked improvements. These findings complement and support the marked subjective improvement already published for this patient [3].

It is noteworthy that these patients met criteria for Alzheimer’s disease or MCI prior to treatment, but failed to meet criteria for either Alzheimer’s disease or MCI following treatment–i.e., following treatment, most had returned to the normal range for their cognitive testing…loss of improvement in patients maintaining the protocol has not yet been observed, and follow-ups of up to four years have now occurred.”

Was this unique case? No Dr. Bredesen notes they have now effected similar improvements in “hundreds” of patients. And Dr. Fortanasce, at USC states he has as well in at least 47 patient (as of  2016). Drs Tietelbaum, Pescatore, and Perlmutter have reported similar improvements in patients. And of course if we can turn around Alzheimer’s we can certainly prevent it, as was illustrated in  the now famous Finnish Geriatric Study in Finland where they reversed more than 600 cases of significant cognitive decline, in a randomized well controlled study.  See. http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/07/14/lifestyle-exercise-diet-cataract-surgery-alzheimers/12317995/ and https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29055814

In their international press release dated July 19, 2017 the Alzheimer’s Association announced

The launch of their $20 million “LIFESTYLE INTERVENTION TRIAL IN THE U.S. TO PREVENT COGNITIVE DECLINE.” In their announcement they validated the findings of the FINGER study noting:

At AAIC 2014, Miia Kivipelto, M.D., Ph.D., Professor at the Karolinska Institutet, Sweden and the National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland, and colleagues reported on the results of the FINGER Study – the first randomized controlled trial showing that it is possible to prevent cognitive decline [including Alzheimer’s] using a multi-domain lifestyle intervention among older at-risk individuals…. The FINGER model is now being replicated in the United States, Europe, Singapore, and Australia – including people from a variety of geographical and cultural backgrounds.” (Cognitive decline obviously includes Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.)

At this same July International Conference on Alzheimer’s a landmark study was presented by a panel or 24 experts commissioned by the prestigious Lancet Medical Journal titled Dementia prevention,  intervention, and care. In their report they noted that,

“We have brought together all this evidence and have calculated that more than a third of dementia cases might theoretically be preventable. An increase in childhood education and exercise, maintaining social engagements, reducing or stopping smoking, and management of hearing loss, depression, diabetes, hypertension, and obesity could all contribute to the prevention or delay of dementia. There is also preliminary evidence about other potentially modifiable risk factors.” p. 2

Summarizing, Dr. Lon Schneider, MD, from the University of Southern California a co-author of the Commission study, noted:  “Overall, there is good potential for prevention and,… Effective dementia prevention and care could transform the future for society and vastly improve living and dying for individuals with dementia and their families. Acting now on what we already know can make this difference happen.” Lon Schneider, MD, USC, co-author of the Lancet Commission study July 22, 2017

So what do we already know that can make a difference? Have there been other studies showing cell regrowth or neurogenesis in the brain? Check out this review of brain essential nutrients and what they can do.

http://www.lifeextension.com/Magazine/2007/2/report_cognitex/Page-01

Here are a few of the more relevant quotes contained therein. Note the number if nutrients that have been shown to effect “nerve cell growth” in the brain, even in seniors.

When orally ingested, uridine crosses the blood-brain barrier to reach brain cells. Once this happens, it increases levels of CDP-choline, which is required for the synthesis of phosphatidylcholine, Phosphatidylcholine is crucial for nerve cell growth and repair, and specifically for optimal function of the synapses, the junctions where nerve cells communicate with nerve and other types of cells.

Uridine also enhances the growth of neurites, which are projections from nerve cells that facilitate the cells’ connections with other brain cells.

Ashwagandha further enhances the growth of neurites, which facilitate communication among neurons.

GPC [choline] may protect and enhance communication between nerves via its effect on nerve growth factor, a naturally occurring substance that regulates acetylcholine receptors. (acetylcholine is the primary transmitter of memory, and choline is the primary building block for making memories.)

The hormone pregnenolone supports nerve cell growth in the brain’s memory center and enhances acetylcholine release [in seniors with hormonal decline].

(Note references to the scientific studies showing such in the original.)

In another study I was involved in sponsored by a 1/4 million dollar grant from the Alzheimer’s Assoc, published in the international Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, we found that a simple nutritional formulation was powerful enough to turn around dementia symptoms, i.e. memory loss – and memory improved in nearly 70% of those involved. Here are a few testimonials from people I have worked with who improved on these and related protocols.

“My husband Ed (age 83) was having problems with his memory, driving, temper, and general confusion. [He has been diagnosed with dementia.] He would lose things and when found said he didn’t put it there. He got lost driving and would get very angry if things didn’t go his way. He has been [following the protocol] for almost a year now. He is so much better, he remembers things I don’t remember and his temper is much better and generally He is better. In April he saw his neurologist and she said he didn’t need to come back and was taking him off the [dementia] program at Kaiser.”   Claudia G. age 80 Ogden, UT

“Another woman whose husband experienced cognitive decline after his mother 2 uncles and 2 aunts died with cognitive impairments (probable Alzheimer’s). His doctor thought he too must be getting Alzheimer’s.  She notes:

“I really can see how this [protocol] has helped. My husband (age 69) is doing really well. His temperament is much improved and his outbursts have subsided. He wasn’t getting hardly anything done, because he couldn’t focus [or remember] well. But last month he took apart the tractor gear box, with over 40 pieces, And then put it all back together again, after a 6 week delay And it worked! He’s now much more productive.”

2 yrs later she noted: “Jerry saw his doctor who gave him a test to see if his brain health was on par for his age, and he scored more than 10% higher than the norm for his age group. The norm for his age on this test was 17 and he scored 20. Plus in this past year his mood also improved.”   Karen, H. Cedar City, UT

This man’s wife was diagnosed at the U of U Center for Alzheimer’s Care Imaging and Research. He tried various things with some improvements. However, since he started following this protocol he’s noted the following:

“She is now able to talk and communicated much better. She is now able to carry on a good conversation, which she could not do before. She is less tired, sleeps less during the day, and can do things now she hasn’t been able to do for years.” A. Knowles, Kaysville, UT

p.s. If you would care to email me I can send you dozens of additional testimonials of others who have experienced cognitive reversals and memory enhancement.

Hopefully that gives you hope Ms Skeptic. I have seen dozens of people slip into the abyss of dementia, never to return costing their families thousands of dollars for long term care, with a pitiful quality of life, when it could have been otherwise.  Trust me you don’t want to go there. Your doctor doesn’t want you to go there.  It can be very costly in various ways. Thankfully, we do indeed live in an age when much of this decline can be avoided, and faltering cognitive abilities improved!