Doctors will tell you Alzheimer’s is irreversible. And that your only hope is to manage symptoms with one of the failed drugs like Aricept and Reminyl…
These medications belong to a class of drugs called “cholinesterase inhibitors.” They are supposed to increase a brain chemical to improve memory.
But in a large study in the Archives of Internal Medicine, researchers found that people taking these drugs:1
- Were twice as likely to be hospitalized for fainting
- Were 69% more likely to have a slowed heart rate
- Had an 18% increased risk of hip fractures.
Politicians and government agencies keep throwing billions at these flawed theories and drugs. The only thing they’ve done is line the pockets of Big Pharma.
At the same time, Alzheimer’s cases have surged in recent years to become the sixth-leading cause of death in America. And it will likely triple over the next 50 years.
At the Sears Institute for Anti-Aging Medicine, I help patients reverse the signs of Alzheimer’s by getting to the root of the problem – a flawed food supply that can’t support brain health.
One of the nutrients missing from today’s diet that is directly linked to the dramatic increase of Alzheimer’s cases are the B vitamins…
Deficiencies in B vitamins are linked to cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease.2 Vitamins B12, B6, B1, B2, niacin (B3) and folate (B9) have all been shown to
protect against dementia and Alzheimer’s.You see, these B vitamins regulate homocysteine. Too much of this amino acid triggers severe inflammation that drastically reduces blood flow to your brain. This molecule has been linked both to brain shrinkage and an increased risk of Alzheimer’s.
B vitamins suppress homocysteine. I recommend getting your homocysteine levels checked. Levels of homocysteine rise as you age, largely because of a decreasing ability to absorb B vitamins.
You won’t hear this from most doctors. But you should insist on the test. It’s a simple blood test that may just save your brain. I help my patients keep their levels at 7 mmol/L or below.
One of the most important B vitamins for your brain is B12.
Studies show that deficiencies in B12 can spur faster rates of cognitive decline. Low B12 also pushes up homocysteine levels.
Additional studies show people who eat foods rich in vitamin B12 are at lower risk for Alzheimer’s disease.3,4
I recommend getting your B12 levels tested. Your doctor might tell you that levels between 200 pg/mL and 350 pg/mL are normal. I suggest keeping your level no lower than 450 pg/mL.
Boost B12 For Brain Health
B12 has been shown to turn around Alzheimer’s. Here’s what I tell my patients about this vitamin…
- First, get it from food. The best way to get vitamin B12 is by eating animal protein. This nutrient is naturally found in fish, meat, poultry, eggs, milk and milk products.
- But sometimes you have to supplement. Studies show vitamin B12 supplements are highly effective.5 I recommend at least 100 mcg per day. But I advise many of my patients to take as much as 5,000 mcg per day for improving brain function. And look for “methylcobalamin.” It’s the most bioactive and absorbable form of B12. Studies show the brain and nervous system need high amounts of this form.6
- Take these to increase absorption. Your body absorbs B12 better when you take it along with other B vitamins. I suggest taking it with thiamine (vitamin B1) and pyridoxine (vitamin B6).
Here at the Sears Institute for Anti-Aging Medicine, I also offer intravenous B12 injections. The shots are a good option if you have trouble absorbing B12. They bypass the gut and go directly into the bloodstream.
If you’d like more information about B12 injections, just call my staff at 561-784-7852 to get the details.
To Your Good Health,
Al Sears, MD, CNS
1. EurekaAlert “Dementia drugs may put some patients at risk, Queen’s study shows.” Accessed 11/20/17 https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2009-05/ qu-ddm052709.php.
2. Morris MC, et al. “Thoughts on B-vitamins and dementia.” Journal of Alzheimer’s disease : JAD. 2006;9(4):429-433.
3. Hooshmand B, et al. “Homocysteine and holotranscobalamin and the risk of Alzheimer disease: A longitudinal study.” Neurology. 2010;75(16):1408-1414.
4. Vogiatzoglou A, et al. “Vitamin B12 status and rate of brain volume loss in community-dwelling elderly.” em>Neurology. 2008;71:826-832.
5. Vidal-Alaball J, et al. “Oral vitamin B12 versus intramuscular vitamin B12 for vitamin B12 deficiency.” Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2005;20(3):CD004655.
6. Vidal-Alaball J, et al. “Oral vitamin B12 versus intramuscular vitamin B12 for vitamin B12 deficiency.” Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2005;20(3):CD004655.