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Our Story

We are a mother and son who have teamed up to let the world know there are Alzheimer’s survivors. We both feel led to let everyone know how this is now possible. We also want to showcase those who have “come back from the darkness” so others can hear their stories of survival and know there is now hope!

In the Fall of 2017, I watched an interview of Dr. Dale E. Bredesen who had just published his book, “The End of Alzheimer’s – The First Program to Prevent and Reverse Cognitive Decline.” I immediately ordered his book and began to read and take notes. I wanted to know how to combat this horrible disease in case others in our family were to develop Alzheimer’s or dementia.

Our son’s grandmother suffered from dementia. Although she had always been sharp mentally, she began to struggle with finding the words to carry on a conversation. I’m sure she fell into depression and eventually faded into the background.  Sadly, she is no longer with us, but she would be thrilled to know there is now hope for others.

This website is in memory of Grandma and the many people who have been taken by Alzheimer’s or dementia. It is also in honor of those who have “come back” – ALZ Survivors.

As I was explaining The Bredesen ProtocolTM (the customized treatment program Dr. Bredesen developed) to our son and telling him how I was in the process of trying to get our local PA certified in this training, he said, “Mom, you’re not thinking big enough. This is something that needs to be part of the Medical Corridor.”  As he often thinks bigger than I do, I dismissed the idea of an Alzheimer’s Treatment Center in the large city nearby. Soon enough, I was onboard and he was helping me write letters to politicians across the state encouraging them to get involved with such a proposal. We continue to work towards this effort.

After seeing many informative health segments on PBS, I contacted our local PBS station asking them to feature Dr. Bredesen, his research findings, and The Bredesen ProtocolTM he developed to prevent and reverse cognitive decline. I was pleased to hear they will be passing on my recommendation to other producers who are experts in these types of programs. What hope this could provide for people everywhere who are facing this devastating disease!

When I hear of someone who has a family member diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, I feel the need to contact them and let them know about this new successful treatment. Those contacted have been people from all walks of life, living in states across the U.S. as well as in the U.K. Some have even been people who publicly shared their stories in magazines, on TV, or on the Internet.  

Reading about a successful program to prevent and reverse cognitive decline is one thing, but hearing actual patients tell their stories, that made it “real” for me. We hope these survivor stories will make it real for you as well.

Before I started on this mission, I needed to know and communicate with actual Bredesen trained health care practitioners. Soon after I read Dr. Bredesen’s book, I found a Family Nurse Practitioner working in a well known neurologic facility in our area. She had just received her Bredesen training and certification. By phone and email, she was nice enough to answer many of my questions regarding the Protocol, patient testing and costs, and how those diagnosed would be able to connect with her. We have continued to stay in contact.

In searching for a Bredesen trained physician on the opposite coast, I discovered a woman who had been implementing The Bredesen ProtocolTM, also known as The ReCODE (reversing cognitive decline) ProtocolTM, since 2015. I was pleased she took the time to answer more of my questions regarding the Protocol. One thing she noted (as does Dr. Bredesen in his book) is that those who have the most success are the ones who adhere strictly to their individualized Protocol.

Even after reading “The End of Alzheimer’s,” I felt that if the main culprits for a person’s Alzheimer’s could be identified and addressed (like toxins, hormone deficiencies, inflammation, etc.), then that could have a major impact aside from diet, exercise, sleep, and fasting. This physician pointed me to a video online of Julie G. telling her story as she introduced Dr. Bredesen at the Buck Institute in 2015.

At age 49, Julie was experiencing significant cognitive problems due to Alzheimer’s. After much research on her own, Julie found that with implementing dietary and lifestyle changes (such as eating only organic food, adding supplements, cutting out toxins, exercising regularly, getting plenty of sleep, and doing brain training exercises), her cognition began to improve. This happened before she was able to see Dr. Perlmutter and eventually Dr. Bredesen for the proper testing and treatment. This video helped me understand the importance of addressing all  of the contributing factors. You can listen to a  podcast of Julie    sharing her story and journey to health. 

NOTE: Julie G. founded the social networking website www.ApoE4.info. This forum includes members from all over the world who carry one or two copies of the ApoE4 gene, increasing their lifetime risk of Alzheimer’s. (In Julie’s case, she carries two of the genes.) Here, members can share and discuss research, communicate with experts, compare advice and strategies as well as contribute their own knowledge as to what has worked for them. Dr. Bredesen states in his book that there are approximately 800 members on Julie’s site with “about 90 percent” on some variation of The Bredesen ProtocolTM. In other words, anyone can become a member. On the forum, Julie and other members receive encouragement and continue to hear repeated stories of improvement. This forum is a great resource and provides hope.

The letters to caregivers and this website would not have been possible without our son’s help and encouragement. Almost every letter written was first read by my husband for clarity and then by our son to make use of his Internet marketing skills. What started out as massive amounts of information was soon condensed to something more concise. He could see we needed a website to inform people on a larger scale giving us a way to change the mindset of the world. Thanks to him, we now have that. Our hope is that ALZsurvivor will be a common phrase and #ALZsurvivor tweeted repeatedly and spread through social media.

We want you to know that our family will be praying for all who visit this site and for those who may be in their care.  We are not medically trained and have no affiliation with Dr. Bredesen or any organization mentioned on this website.  We are NOT requesting donations.  Our mission is simply to provide hope and information.  

Thank you for visiting  ALZsurvivor.com.  Feel free to share anything on this site.  In fact, that is our hope.  Just as with cancer some years ago, people were skeptical and would have dismissed the idea that anyone could survive.  We now need to change that mindset in regard to Alzheimer’s.  We want  people to spread the word and let the world know there are Alzheimer’s survivors!

God bless you,

 

 

 

Jane@ALZsurvivor.com

 

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Glossary

ALZ
abbreviation for Alzheimer’s Disease
Alzheimer’s Disease
a type of dementia and a progressive disease of the brain that slowly causes impairment in memory and cognitive function. Alzheimer’s disease happens when the brain tries to protect itself from three metabolic and toxic threats:


1 - Inflammation (from infection, diet or other causes
2 - Decline and shortage of supportive nutrients, hormones and other brain-supporting molecules
3 - Toxic substances such as metals or biotoxins (poisons produced by microbes such as molds)

The protective response causes APP (Amyloid Precursor Protein, the long molecule that protrudes from neurons) to be cut into four fragments, including amyloid-beta, that downsize the neural network and eventually destroy synapses and neurons. When the APP molecule is cut into those four pieces, it is not cut into the two pieces that nourish and maintain synapses.

Alzheimer's disease is a state of the brain in which there is an imbalance between the reorganization of synapses that have outlived their usefulness (and which the brain can stand to lose - healthy destruction) and the maintenance or creation of existing and new synapses (which the brain needs to sustain old memories and form new ones, as well as perform other cognitive functions). That imbalance  comes from too many  of the synapse- and neuron-destroying quartet  of molecules snipped from APP and too few  of the synapse- and neuron-sustaining duo  of molecules snipped from APP.

ApoE4
abbreviation for apolipoprotein E, a gene variant (allele) which is a protein that carries lipids – i.e. fats. Carrying one ApoE4 (inherited from one parent) increases your lifetime risk of Alzheimer’s to 30 percent. Carrying two copies (from both parents) increases it to 50 to 90 percent. That compares to a risk of only about 9 percent in those who carry zero copies of this allele.
APP
abbreviation for Amyloid Precursor Protein, the long molecule that protrudes from neurons

CognoscopyTM
metabolic and genetic testing that identifies cognitive decline or what may be putting you at risk for it
Dementia
umbrella term for a group of symptoms (a syndrome) without a definitive diagnosis. Dementia is a group of symptoms that affect mental cognitive tasks such as memory and reasoning. (Alzheimer’s Disease is the most common type of dementia.)
Early Alzheimer’s Disease
an early onset of Alzheimer’s Disease and uncommon form of dementia that typically affects those under the age of 65
Functional Medicine
a systems biology–based approach that focuses on identifying and addressing the root cause of disease
Heterozygous
carrying 1 copy of the ApoE4 genetic variant
Homozygous
carrying 2 copies of the ApoE4 genetic variant
Integrative Medicine
healing-oriented medicine that takes account of the whole person, including all aspects of lifestyle. It emphasizes the therapeutic relationship between practitioner and patient, is informed by evidence, and makes use of all appropriate therapies.
Ketoflex 12/3
anti-Alzheimer’s diet to include at least 12 hours of fasting, with the first 3 hours of that fast starting after dinner. It is largely plant based, but flexible as it does allow for small amounts of meat or fish.
MCI
Mild Cognitive Impairment
MCT oil
an abbreviation for medium chain triglyceride (a saturated fat) which is found in coconut oil.  Alzheimer's impairs the brain's ability to use sugar.  An MCT ketogenic diet offers an alternative energy source:  ketones.  This allows brain cells to survive better, blocking a receptor in the brain that causes memory loss.
SCI
Subjective Cognitive Impairment – a precursor to MCI (Mild Cognitive Impairment)
The Bredesen ProtocolTM
treatment program developed by Dr. Dale E. Bredesen to prevent and reverse cognitive decline (also known as The ReCODE ProtocolTM)
The ReCODE ProtocolTM
treatment program developed by Dr. Dale E. Bredesen to prevent and reverse cognitive decline (also known as The Bredesen ProtocolTM)
The ReCODE Report
computer generated report as a result of metabolic and genetic testing (CognoscopyTM)
The ReVERSE Program
customized  treatment program to reverse cognitive decline. This program starts with a ReCODE Report (a computer generated report as a result of metabolic and genetic testing called a CognoscopyTM)

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