Have you Had Your Cognoscopy?

In 2014 Alzheimer’s Disease became the third leading cause of death in America and the leading cause of death in the United Kingdom. We fear Alzheimer’s as we fear no other disease. Mainly because there is no effective treatment. We don’t even have a treatment to keep people with subjective cognitive impairment or mild cognitive impairment (two conditions that often precede Alzheimer’s disease) from going on to develop full-blown Alzheimer’s. That is until now. The groundbreaking work of Dr. Dale Bredesen proves otherwise. His discoveries support the first effective approach to preventing cognitive decline, identifying the metabolic and other factors that increase your risk, and reversing cognitive decline if it has already begun. Everyone over the age of 45 should have a cognoscopy.

Have you had your Cognoscopy?

The term cognoscopy was coined by Dale Bredesen, MD physician-author of the book The End of Alzheimer’s. Read more about Dr. Bredesen HERE. Briefly, a cognoscopy evaluates the risk factors that can cause neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s, allowing the physician and patient to chart a course to prevent or reverse these ailments. While everyone knows that they need a colonoscopy when they turn 50, very few even know about a cognoscopy which should be performed by age 45 or younger if there is a strong family history.

Dr. Bredesen researched Alzheimer’s for over 30 years, and discovered three main types of Alzheimer’s.

• Type 1 is from inflammation, which can be caused by infections or elevated blood sugar (Type 1.5).

• Type 2 is caused by inadequate levels of supportive nutrients, hormones such as thyroid, estradiol, testosterone, and Vitamin D, and brain supporting molecules such as BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor, a natural protein).

• Type 3 is toxic, and is caused by exposure to specific toxins such as divalent metals, biotoxins and mycotoxins.

Combinations of these 3 are very common and there are two other less common types of Alzheimer’s; a type 4 from vascular insufficiency and type 5 from trauma.

Dr. Bredesen developed the cognoscopy to pinpoint factors that are driving cognitive decline. The protocol analyzes genetic variations that contribute to Alzheimer’s such as the APOE4, cognitive assessments, metabolic, hormonal and lifestyle factors. Blood tests look for insulin resistance, chronic inflammation, nutrients, decrease in trophic support for your brain, and exposure to biotoxins or chemotoxins. Many asymptomatic people have 10-25 different contributors, and unless these are addressed early, cognitive impairment may progress.

Note that so called “normal” blood tests don’t signal a lack of risk factors. Bredesen discovered that lab values that are low normal or within normal limits will not be effective. All patients should be treated as competitive athletes with optimal lab values. In particular, women should know that they are at the epicenter of this crisis and make-up 65% of Alzheimer’s patients. In fact, women are much more likely to get Alzheimer’s than breast cancer.

Thankfully, there is a relatively large window of opportunity not only to prevent Alzheimer’s during the asymptomatic stage but also to reverse those with mild cognitive impairment. Reversing late stage Alzheimer’s may not be possible but it is possible to stop the rapid progression. You can read more HERE about some Dr. Bredesen’s work and cases showing reversal of Alzheimer’s.

The Prevention Program

The prevention program utilizing Dr. Bredesen’s protocol is a personalized preventive program that takes the results from the cognoscopy and utilizes a multitherapeutic approach that targets the underlying causes of Alzheimer’s. The protocol simultaneously addresses the following: beta-amyloid, tau tangles, metabolic issues, inflammation, toxicity, insufficient trophic factors, hormone balance, gut health, nutrient deficiencies, cognitive stimulation, and lifestyle factors that contribute to the pathology such as poor sleep, lack of exercise, stress and a high sugar diet.

Alzheimer’s is a horrific illness that’s spreading at an alarming rate. However, the research done by Dr. Bredesen proved that Alzheimer’s is not an omnipotent neurological disorder over which we have no control. It is a metabolic disease which is wholly within our control. The first step is to get your cognoscopy and start taking the steps necessary to prevent and/or reverse the disease.

Dr. Johnson has completed the training by Dr. Bredesen and is a certified Bredesen Practitioner. The Johnson Center can provide patients with a cognoscopy and treatment using the Bredesen protocol if needed. Call today 276-235-3205 or email thejohnsoncenter@gmail.com to schedule your cognoscopy.