Memory, cognition and reversing Alzheimer's
Dr. Dale Bredesen has pioneered some fascinating research into understanding causes of memory loss and dementia. He is a neurologist who wrote the book "The End of Alzheimer's", which suggests things can be done to halt progress, and in some cases reverse the effects of this devastating disease. Other functional medicine practitioners (root cause medicine) have found the same thing: many patients improve. Dr. Jannice Bowler has taken the "Reversing Cognitive Decline Advanced Clinical Training" from the Institute of Functional Medicine along with "Applying Functional Medicine in Clinical Practice" by the same Institute. She will be seeing patients (please note, as of October 2019, this program has not yet started but will be offered in the foreseeable future) who wish to work on Alzheimer's prevention, as well as those who already have mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease. It is a highly intensive program that requires patient (and if needed, care-giver) participation but has been shown to lead to rewarding results in a significant number of people. This highly personalized program is not covered by MSP, as it falls under lifestyle interventions, although some lab testing is available under MSP. Here you can see what is involved:
- Detailed clinical history
- Focused examination
- Patient (or caregiver) questionnaires at the first visit and in follow up
- A functional medicine "matrix" approach to look for some of the root causes
- Many lifestyle interventions
- Basic lab testing
- Advanced lab testing when appropriate
- Genomics (DNA testing)
- Nutrition and supplement advice
- CNSVS testing (a 30 minute neurocognitive test)
- MRI when appropriate
- A detailed, practical plan so you know where to start and what to do
- Referral to other allied health professionals as needed: dietician, psychologist, neurofeedback, health coach etc.
- Monitoring, follow up and further testing as needed