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Alzheimer’s disease seems to strike indiscriminately and those receiving the diagnosis have little reason for optimism. Conventional medicine offers medication that is designed to slow the pace of cognitive decline but seems to lack efficacy. For her new book, “The Alzheimer’s Antidote,” certified nutrition specialist Amy Berger has synthesized medical research to shed light on new options that offer relief and hope to those who suffer with Alzheimer’s and to their caregivers.
In today’s conversation, Amy reveals that impaired glucose metabolism and insulin signaling are at the root of the disease. This is why some call Alzheimer’s “Type 3” diabetes. The brain is starving for fuel, in effect. Part of the solution includes giving the brain an alternate fuel source: ketones (which are found in coconut and MCT oils, for example).
This episode enumerates practical steps for those caring for loved ones with Alzheimer’s, those who hope to avoid the disease in the future, and even those who simply want to sharpen their own cognitive functions.
Notes
Alzheimer’s disease seems to strike indiscriminately. Conventional medicine offers medication to its sufferers that is designed to slow the pace of cognitive decline but seems to lack efficacy. For her new book, “The Alzheimer’s Antidote,” nutrition therapy practitioner Amy Berger has synthesized medical research to shed light on new options that offer relief and hope to those who suffer with Alzheimer’s and to their caregivers.
In today’s conversation, Amy reveals that impaired glucose metabolism and insulin signaling are at the root of the disease. This is why some call Alzheimer’s “Type 3” diabetes. The brain is starving for fuel, in effect. Part of the solution includes giving the brain an alternate fuel source: ketones (which are found in coconut and MCT oils, for example).
This episode enumerates practical steps for those caring for loved ones with Alzheimer’s, those who hope to avoid the disease in the future, and even those who simply want to sharpen their own cognitive functions.
Highlights from the conversation include:
- Alzheimers has been called Type 3 Diabetes or Diabetes of the Brain. This is because studies have shown that there is essentially an “energy crisis” in the brain of Alzheimer’s patients.
- This is because their neurons have lost the ability to get energy from glucose because of a surplus of insulin stemming from too much intake of carbohydrates.
- This is known as “hypo metabolism.”
- This can be mitigated by introducing ketones into the diet while simultaneously reducing carbohydrates.
- Ketones are an alternative fuel for the brain. They are a byproduct of metabolizing fat.
- Ketone production increases when insulin levels are low, which occurs when consumption of carbohydrates goes down.
- Coconut and MCT oil are both good sources of ketones.
- MCTs, called “MCFAs” for medium-chain fatty acids, are believed to be largely missing from the diets of people eating “standard Western” diets,are medium-chain triglycerides, a form of saturated fatty acid that has numerous health benefits.
- Coconut oil is one great source of MCTs
- In addition to adding ketones to the diet, exercise will help with insulin sensitivity and blood glucose regulation, which in turn helps prevent cognitive decline.
- Exercise also increases Brain Derived Neurotropic Factor: BDNF, which one doctor nicknamed: “Miracle Gro for your neurons”.
- Better sleep and stress reduction will also improve insulin sensitivity.
Resources:
Article – “Type 3 diabetes: metabolic causes of Alzheimer’s”
Amy’s website: http://www.tuitnutrition.com
Just published! Amy’s new book: The Alzheimer’s Antidote: Using a Low-Carb, High-Fat Diet to Fight Alzheimer’s Disease, Memory Loss, and Cognitive Decline
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Glucose absorption by the brain declines with age and leads to cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease. Ketones are an alternative fuel for the brain that does not decline with age. The best source of ketones are the medium chain triglycerides caprylic acid (C8) and capric (C10) which comprise about 15% of coconut oil.
My age is 84. In an effort to keep my brain working I now take 60 ml (4 tablespoons) of caprlyic and capric acids in 4 doses throughout the day. I use test strips which change color based on the amount of ketones in check on my ketone intake.
amy’s article in the wap journal in 2018 revealed to me a possibility that insulin resistance was possible with my weight gain and inability to control my eating. My regular doctor would not order insulin testing since I was already type 2 diabetic. another doctor tested my insulin and it was 44.7 and the next year it was 47.1. Just got my blood work back 6 months after it was so high and my insulin is 19.4 and my triglycerides are 114. down from 297 in December and 163 in February. My A1C fell from 6.7 to 5.8. low carb diet and fasting is doing the trick. my ldl is pretty high, but that I believe is from losing so many triglycerides which have ldl particles in them and once it normalizes thru diet, fasting and exercising, I trust it will come down. Thanks Amy., weston a price and acres magazine for pointing my way to wap membership.
I forgot to mention the book that showed me how was The Insulin Resistance Solution and amy’s book, the alzheimer’s antidote and books by max lugavere, dr bredsen, dr tom o’bryan and others showed me why. once I read the book about insulin resistance and found out I was not a bad or weak person and it was not a character flaw or lack of willpower or integrity on my part, it was my blood chemistry fueled by uncontrolled insulin and glucose that has helped me thus far with the loss of 64 lbs and helped me so much.