Nobody Seems to Be Interested in the Root Cause

I came across a study the other day called:

The bulk of the study is behind a paywall, but you can read the abstract. It also had over 300 references supporting its conclusions.

Basically the study talked about the root cause of neurodegenerative disease (Alzheimer’s and Dementia) being insulin resistance - specifically insulin resistance in the brain. They call it ‘Brain Insulin Resistance or (BIR)’.

The insulin resistance manifests as other problems:

• Alteration in glucose sensing by hypothalamic neurons

• Impaired sympathetic outflow in response to hypoglycemia

• Increased ROS (Reactive Oxygen Species) production

• Impaired mitochondrial oxygen consumption in the brain

• Cognitive deficits and neuronal cell damage

The abstract also links insulin resistance to the buildup of amyloid plaques and Tau tangles. Those proteins are what most mainstream news and the pharmaceutical companies talk about as the problem with Alzheimer’s.

The 300+ references in the study makes me think the scientific community understands that Alzheimer’s has a lot to do with insulin resistance.

Yet all the pharmaceutical interventions for Alzheimer’s target symptoms and other areas:

• Increasing acetylcholine which helps the neural transmission network

• Antipsychotic drugs to reduce agitation

• Medicine that targets the amyloid plaques and tau tangles

I have a question for those of you who have dealt with a family member who has or had Alzheimer’s or dementia.

During the treatment, did any medical professional tell you that it was important to test for insulin resistance and take steps to mitigate it?

In ten years of running assisted living homes and working with lots of people with cognitive decline, I have not had any medical professional bring this up.

At least not until I started seeking out medical professionals and health coaches who believed that Alzheimer’s and dementia can be mitigated through lifestyle interventions.

Our medical system in the United States is really geared to treating symptoms. Root causes just don’t seem that important.

Or maybe doctors don’t think patients won’t follow their lifestyle recommendations? It’s just too hard to change. So as long as doctors and pharmaceutical companies can mitigate your pain easily, the patients will keep coming back. Just a pill or a shot. Easy peasy.

That seems pretty cynical to me.

If you’re faced with a condition that very well could lead to you losing your mind (and/or your life as well), you can be pretty motivated to change your lifestyle.

Maybe if you just need to lose a few pounds to look better, you won’t be so motivated.

There are an incredible number of testimonials all over the internet that put the lie to people not being able to change their lifestyles.

When a new treatment or ‘miracle drug’ comes out, be skeptical. They probably are going after symptoms again. The real root cause is probably simpler. And can often be done without enriching some medical company financially.

Great health requires self-discipline. Cultivate it!

Here is a link to the study.