This article has been reviewed and fact checked by Dr. David Minkoff, M.D. who is a board-certified doctor, practicing medicine since 1974.
Article Summary
- Dementia is a general term that describes a wide range of cognitive related conditions, of which Alzheimer’s is the most common
- Dementia is caused by damage to brain cells, although different forms of dementia have varying causes and risk factors
- Nearly 50 million people worldwide have dementia with a projection of 75 million by 2030 and 132 million by 2050 due to population aging.1
- As with any brain health issue, early intervention is key to reversing dementia before it worsens
- LifeWorks Wellness Center offers effective alternative treatment options for dementia
Let’s look at what dementia is and how we treat it naturally at LifeWorks.
What Is Dementia?
Dementia is not a specific disease but is a general term for the impaired ability to remember, think, or make decisions that have to do with everyday activities. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia.
Dementia causes not only disability and dependency for those affected by the disorder, but can also have a profoundly detrimental effect on family and other caregivers who are at high risk of developing depression and anxiety disorders.
Disorders grouped under the general term “dementia” are caused by abnormal brain changes. These changes trigger a decline in thinking skills, also known as cognitive abilities, severe enough to impair daily life and independent function. They also affect behavior, feelings, and relationships.
It is important to note that not all memory loss is related to dementia. Here are some other possible causes:
- Medical conditions such as head injury, tumors, blood clots or brain infections
- Drinking too much alcohol
- Nutrient deficiencies
- Mental health issues such as anxiety or depression
- Side effects of some medications used for depression, bladder problems or Parkinson’s disease.
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Types of Dementia
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common and well-known form of dementia but different types of dementia are associated with particular types of brain cell damage in particular regions of the brain. Other forms of dementia include:2
- Vascular dementia
- Lewy Body Dementia
- Down syndrome
- Huntington’s Disease
- Lewy Body Dementia
- Frontotemporal Lobe, also known as Pick’s disease
- Parkinson’s Disease Dementia
- Mixed Dementia
- Korsakoff Syndrome
- Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease
Causes and Risk Factors in Dementia
Dementia is caused by damage to brain cells. This damage interferes with the ability of brain cells to communicate with each other. When brain cells cannot communicate normally, thinking, behavior and feelings can be affected.
Dementia can be caused by:
- Advancing age
- Nutritional deficiencies
- Medication side effects
- Thyroid problems
- Genetic factors
- Alcohol use
- High levels of air pollution
- Smoking
- Head injury
Symptoms of Dementia
Common symptoms a person with declining brain health may experience are:3
- Memory loss that disrupts daily life
- Challenges in planning or solving problems
- Depression or anxiety
- Difficulty completing familiar tasks
- Confusion with time or place
- Problems with vision or balance
- Trouble following or joining a conversation
- Misplacing things and unable to retrace their steps to find them
- Poor financial judgment
- Decreased personal health habits
- Social withdrawal
- Changes in mood or personality
How Dementia is Typically Diagnosed and Treated
There is no single diagnostic test to determine if someone has dementia, but conventional healthcare professionals may include mental status tests, brain imaging or a neurological exam to rule out potential causes of cognitive impairment such as a tumor.
Conventional treatment for Dementia may include the use of Alzheimer’s drugs. In addition, professionals may treat other causes of impairment such as anxiety, depression, or high blood pressure. Patients may also be advised as to changes regarding exercise, mental activity, and socialization.
At LifeWorks Wellness Center, we believe that there is a more comprehensive approach to treating Dementia and that conventional diagnosis and treatment fall short due to the very narrow range of factors considered.
Alternative Treatment for Dementia
Instead of thinking of dementia or any cognitive issues as a fixed, static condition, we look at it as a deterioration of multiple bodily systems and functions, which combined create a variety of symptoms which have been labeled as “dementia”.
When the body has been chronically overwhelmed or unable to keep up with normal maintenance and repair functions, due to some underlying factor (infection, toxicity, pathogen, an autoimmune condition, etc.) it will start to deteriorate and malfunction over time. These hidden factors are sidelining and diverting your body’s available resources and energy into trying to cope with these hidden factors and that sets the stage for a disease process to take hold.
Our approach to Dementia is based on locating and treating these hidden underlying factors. This approach opens the door to more treatment vectors to address and correct, which eliminates these hidden burdens and restores energy, immune and neurological function, thereby releasing the full miraculous healing power of the human body. And that’s why we see amazing health progress with Dementia patients and even recoveries using this approach.
Looking for Underlying Factors
We use both conventional and alternative methods to locate these contributory factors. Our testing may include one or more of the following:
- Testing for heavy metal toxicity
- Testing for inflammatory markers
- Testing for autoimmune conditions
- Testing for food allergies
- Testing for Leaky Gut Syndrome
- Testing for Lyme disease
- CNS neurocognitive test – assesses the neurocognitive status of the patient including motor skills and performance, memory, attention, and executive functioning.
- MRI with volumetrics – assesses neurodegeneration even at the early stages.
- MoCA cognitive assessment – reveals information on cognitive functioning.
- Vascular health assessment – shows symptoms of heart and vascular disease and the status of the patient’s blood circulation and blood pressure
- Nutritional dietary deficiency testing
- Testing of neurotransmitters, hormones, minerals, essential fatty acids, and other nutritional markers.
Once all the necessary diagnostics are completed, our team of doctors will formulate a treatment program tailor-made for the patient.
Treatment Interventions for Dementia
LifeWorks Wellness Center offers a variety of alternative treatments and therapies for dementia. By taking a proactive approach and using these integrative treatment therapies, we can start to address the underlying causes and contributory factors that lead to dementia.
The following is a list of treatments and therapies we may recommend to improve brain health and cognitive function, depending on the results of your lab work and examination:
- Repairing Gut Issues – gut issues like Leaky Gut Syndrome are common triggers for autoimmunity and inflammation and often lead to cognitive issues.
- Addressing Inflammation – we test and treat systemic inflammation, infections, gut issues, other causes of inflammation.
- Food Allergy Treatment – food allergies can trigger inflammation and autoimmune conditions which can lead to cognitive impairment.
- Autoimmune Treatment – autoimmunity is where the body is attacking itself in some way, leading to inflammation and cognitive issues. It often goes undetected and unsuspected.
- Lyme Disease Resolution – if labs come back positive for Lyme we will treat it. Lyme disease can produce debilitating cognitive issues and brain fog
- Dietary and Nutritional Deficiencies – clearing up nutritional deficiencies, supporting the body with the right nutraceuticals to improve brain health including macro/micronutrients, minerals, hormones, neurotransmitters, essential fatty acids, etc.
- Controlling Blood Pressure – keeping blood pressure in a healthy range has been shown to reduce the symptoms of cognitive decline.
- Enhanced External Counterpulsation – increases blood flow and circulation
- Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) – delivers pure oxygen to the patient in a pressurized chamber allowing the lungs to take in more oxygen than normal. This fills the blood with oxygen which can fight bacteria and promote healing.
- Vielight NeURO – delivers photons to a light-sensitive enzyme in the mitochondria which is known to trigger self-repair mechanisms in the cells, enhance cognition, and protect cell neurons.
- Pulsed Electromagnetic Field (PEMF) Technology – the emission of electromagnetic waves to stimulate the body’s own healing properties
- Celergen – anti-aging cell therapy supplement that promotes cell renewal and stimulation.
- Peptide Therapy – utilizes specific chains of amino acids called peptides to signal cells to turn on or turn off certain functions. This works to help regulate and rejuvenate neuroendocrine-immune function.
- BrainHQ – brain training exercises designed to improve brain health.
- Cell Recovery – uses protein extracts that help cells to recover.
- BrainTap – tapping into specific brainwave states, BrainTap helps to reboot and revitalize the brain, promotes relaxation, and reduces stress on the body and mind.
- Intermittent fasting – through intermittent fasting the body is able to take periodic breaks from digestion so the body can focus all its resources on healing.
- Health Coaching – helps patients keep track of their nutrition, exercise, supplements, and other suggested changes.
Treating Dementia
We firmly believe that health conditions such as dementia and other cognitive-related diseases are preventable and in many cases are reversible.
We believe that we must address the person as a whole since every function of the body and mind are interconnected. By addressing the health of the body we can improve our brain health and vice versa.
We approach illness from a patient-centered, science-backed vantage point to empower patients and their bodies to address the underlying causes of disease and improve their overall health, body, and mind. This, in turn, will improve their quality of life.
Contact Us About Dementia
If you or someone you know is suffering from any form of dementia, including Alzheimer’s, we would love to share our natural and alternative treatments with you. Early intervention can help people prevent dementia-related diseases and live a more fulfilling, healthy life.
Dr. David Minkoff, M.D. is a board-certified doctor, practicing medicine since 1974. Patients travel from all over the world to see our specialists and heal naturally.
To discuss your health issue or to schedule an appointment, call us at our Clearwater clinic at (727) 466-6789 or submit an online patient inquiry
References
- World Health Organization, 10 Facts on Dementia, September 2019.
- Alzheimer’s Association 2019, Types of Dementia.
- Alzheimer’s Association 2019, 10 Early Signs of Dementia.