Forever Young: Maintaining a Youthful Brain to Reduce Your Risk of Dementia

Peggy Sarlin's Awakening from Alzheimer's interview with Dr. Pamela Smith

To be healthy at 100 you need vision, memory and mobility. Even if you inherit the Alzheimer’s gene you can live your life in a way that the gene will not turn on.

Many things can impair memory: stress, parasites, urinary tract infections, Parkinson’s, Lyme disease to mention a few. Dr. Smith uses a variety of supplements including krill oil (an omega), MCT (medium chain triglycerides) PS (phosphatidylserine), low dose naltrexone, curcumin, Coenzyme Q10, and alpha lipoic acid.

Dr. Smith points out that almost all prescription drugs cause at least one nutritional deficiency. In the case of a statin drug, six nutritional deficiencies result including CoQ10.

Her theory is to fix on thing at a time. She looks at thyroid function, hormonal balance, parasites, stress, insulin levels, toxic metals, gut health and life style. In looking at thyroid function first look at the cortisol levels. Sometimes low thyroid is just an iodine deficiency. All of these issues are tested prior to treatment. If the thyroid needs support she has found most patients need T4 and T3.

Gut health is also paramount. Dr. Smith feels everyone should be taking a probiotic every day. The brand should be changed every 6 months to introduce new strains. A healthy gut promotes a strong immune system, healthy heart and healthy brain. She recommends doing a stool test to look for not only ova and parasites, but also to measure digestive enzymes, etc.

It is important to go to a doctor who has done a fellowship or other advanced training in metabolic anti-aging medicine.

About the Author

Joanne Quinn

Executive Director of the Foundation for Alternative and Integrative Medicine

Joanne Quinn, Ph.D., R.M.A., has an extensive background in science with a doctorate in holistic nutrition. She has studied both allopathic and alternative approaches to health care, studying alternative therapies since 1989.