The Healthcare & Brain Health Crisis

by Krista Russ

We live in a world where chronic health problems are on the rise. To make matters worse, the treatments for these problems are usually focused on treating symptoms rather than correcting the root of the problem or preventing it to begin with.

Over the course of the next several blogs, we will take a deep dive into some of the health problems facing patients and providers today, and discuss new and innovative treatments that tackle the root causes of these ailments, rather than treating their symptoms alone. 

The major topic of discussion is Alzheimer’s Dementia (AD). As of the year 2020, nearly six million Americans are living with AD (1). That is a significant number of people. To make matters worse, this figure is projected to almost triple to nearly 14 million people by 2060 (1). Considering that AD is the sixth leading cause of death in adults, this places a huge burden on the healthcare system (1).

AD is a complex illness with no one specific cause. Although it is still poorly misunderstood, we do have compelling science to support some of the possible causes of AD and what can be done to combat them. The main issue of concern is that current treatments merely slow the progression of AD; none actually stop the deadly course of the disease. In several of the forthcoming blogs, we will explore what the research has to show about the problem and present some new and innovative solutions that may help your patients who are at risk for, in the early stages of, or rapidly progressing in their AD diagnosis.

Nutrition is yet another key topic of discussion, as we discover more about the role nutraceuticals play in brain health. For example, we will explore how one’s diet and lifestyle could positively or negatively affect their long-term brain function. One of our lecturers, Ken Sharlin, founder of Brain Tune Up!, a functional neurology protocol, will also be presenting on this important topic, along with other treatments that can potentially protect the aging brain from Alzheimer’s Disease and cognitive decline by using a functional medicine approach. Several other neurological conditions that affect much of the general population, such as depression and anxiety, are even influenced by nutrition and lifestyle.

7th Academic Summit: Breakthroughs in Brain Health, CVD, and Autoimmunity will also explore how the endogenous substances our own bodies produce affect brain health, as many of these substances have been directly linked to brain health, brain degeneration, and may even protect against other chronic illnesses such as diabetes and metabolic syndrome. Unfortunately, many of these substances decline with age, but we will explore the science behind replacing them as we age and how this could impact the aging brain and other body systems in the long run. Most importantly, we will discuss how you as a provider can help your patients replace these important, natural substances in a safe and effective manner.

Lastly, as overall metabolic health directly affects brain health, and all the systems in the body are interconnected, we will dive into another controversial topic, cardiovascular health (the brain is supplied with oxygen and other important nutrients by way of the cardiovascular system). In both the blog and in greater depth at the conference, we will discuss if LDL cholesterol is really a reliable predator of heart disease, the inherent risks of statins, and some of the newer, safer, and more reliable ways of treating and diagnosing dyslipidemia.