A personal journey of memory loss
When Sarah was diagnosed with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease, she was terrified of memory loss and losing her independence. Her doctor prescribed common medications, but the side effects like nausea and dizziness sounded concerning.
Despite diligently taking the medications, Sarah’s cognition continued to deteriorate. She struggled to follow recipes she had known by heart for years. Driving to familiar places became confusing and anxiety-provoking. Sarah forgot details of precious moments with her grandchildren and mixing up their names broke her heart. She hid her growing struggles from friends out of shame.
The worsening confusion and memory loss made Sarah withdraw socially in fear of embarrassing herself. She had always been an active, vibrant member of her suburban community, but now found herself isolated and depressed. Sarah’s loss of independence and need to rely on others for tasks she once handled easily took a toll on her sense of self-worth.
Cognitive decline
Seeing the decline devastate her mother, Sarah’s daughter urged her to consider memory care facilities. But Sarah wasn’t ready to give up her home and belongings. The thought of living in an unfamiliar place surrounded by strangers with advanced dementia terrified Sarah. There had to be another way to take control over her Alzheimer’s progression.
Traditional medication and management approaches had failed her. Sarah knew she needed to explore other options for the sake of preserving her mind, memories, and dignity. A tailored, natural protocol like the Bredesen Protocol offered a glimmer of hope.
The Bredesen Protocol differs from standard protocols by identifying the specific biological drivers fueling each individual’s cognitive deterioration. Through extensive testing called a Cognoscopy, Dr. Bredesen pinpoints the root causes of impairment based on genetics, biomarkers, and symptoms.
There are over 36 factors that can contribute to cognitive decline, from inflammation to hormonal deficiencies to toxicity. Based on Sarah’s unique imbalances, Dr. Bredesen designs a tailored regimen using food, exercise, stress reduction, supplements and more to improve metabolic, inflammatory and synaptic dysfunction.
Addressing the root causes of memory loss instead of just using medications
For example, if testing reveals Sarah has chronic inflammation, her protocol would remove inflammatory foods and lower cytokine levels. If toxicity is detected, she would follow steps to facilitate toxin removal and support detoxification pathways. The key is addressing Sarah’s personal disease drivers, not just blanket treatment.
Sarah feels hopeful knowing she can take an active role in her care by optimizing nutrition, reducing exposures, managing stress, tracking biomarkers, and supporting neuron growth. Gradually restoring cognitive skills motivates Sarah to persevere through lifestyle changes.
Stories of others like her who improved through Dr. Bredesen’s protocol give Sarah optimism. This is a stark contrast from the passive approach of just medicating symptoms without stopping progression. Sarah is ready to fight Alzheimer’s by understanding and addressing the origins of her disease at their root.
Sarah knows it won’t be easy, but she owes it to herself and loved ones to try this personalized medicine method. By getting to the source of her cognitive decline, Sarah can hopefully reclaim her memories, abilities and independence. She encourages others with Alzheimer’s to explore the Bredesen Protocol for hope and healing.
Bredesen Protocol tackles Alzheimer's
The Bredesen Protocol tackles Alzheimer’s in an entirely new way by identifying and addressing the root causes driving neural deterioration. Through decades of research, Dr. Bredesen discovered Alzheimer’s has multiple subtypes based on contributing factors:
Inflammation – Caused by chronic inflammation that damages neurons
Hormonal – Caused by deficiencies in nutrients, hormones and growth factors
Metabolic – Caused by insulin resistance and impaired brain glucose metabolism
Toxic – Caused by exposures to toxins like heavy metals or mold
Vascular – Caused by cardiovascular problems and impaired blood flow
Trauma – Caused by cumulative head injuries
A convergence of issues relating to Alzheimer's
This shows Alzheimer’s is not a single disease, but the convergence of complex processes disrupting neuronal health. The Bredesen Protocol uses a three-part approach:
Step 1: Detect Your Alzheimer’s Subtype Through Cognoscopy
Cognoscopy is a series of blood tests, cognitive assessments, and imaging to pinpoint which subtype processes are active for an individual. This is critical for creating a personalized treatment plan.
Step 2: Remove Contributing Factors Driving Decline
Eliminate exposures, diet components, medications or risk factors fueling your specific disease processes. For example, a patient with chronic inflammation would remove inflammatory foods from their diet.
Step 3: Rebuild Neuronal Connections and Cognitive Capacity
Use diet, exercise, sleep, stress reduction, targeted supplements and other interventions to stimulate nerve growth factors, neurogenesis and synaptic plasticity. For instance, ketogenic diets have been shown to regenerate neuron connections.
Restoring Cognition Where Conventional Medicine Fails
Unlike current Alzheimer’s medications which just attempt to reduce amyloid plaques, the Bredesen Protocol addresses why plaques accumulated in the first place. This is a major shift from management to true prevention and reversal.
While more research is still needed, current results are extremely promising. Studies show Bredesen Protocol patients improve cognition and daily living activities, even those with advanced Alzheimer’s.
Hope exists. Through personalized, root-cause medicine, we may be able to undo the neural damage wrought by Alzheimer’s disease. Detecting imbalances early and taking proactive steps offers the best odds of protecting brain health.
If you notice memory lapses or cognitive changes, don’t wait. Seek functional medicine testing and treatment to uncover your unique Alzheimer’s subtype today. Ask your doctor about the Bredesen Protocol or schedule a consultation with Dr. Muran to learn more about this revolutionary approach to Alzheimer’s care.
About Peter J. Muran, M.D.
Peter J. Muran, M.D., known as Dr. Pete, is an experienced Functional Medicine and Internal Medicine practitioner specializing in precision testing and targeted protocols to address the root causes of age-related cognitive decline. With over 25 years of clinical experience, Dr. Muran is passionate about helping patients optimize brain health and live fuller, longer, more vibrant lives.
Articles around the same topic
New Hope for Reversing Alzheimer’s
Is cognitive decline an inevitable part of aging? Is there any hope for reversing Alzheimer’s? READ
New Option for Treating Alzheimer’s
The Bredesen Protocol Treatment differs from standard protocols by identifying the specific biological drivers. READ
Stay Healthy for Life
If you want to feel healthier, more energized, or in a better mood, get moving. READ
