How to Keep Your Brain Healthy and Prevent Dementia with BHRT

Stop Age-Related Brain Changes From Leaving Their Mark. You’ll Protect Your Brain Cells And Stave Off Dementia With Changes Like Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT) In Golden, CO.

If you’ve ever seen somebody close to you with dementia, you know what a toll the disease takes on them.

It starts — almost innocently, if you will — with the person forgetting their keys or an important date here and there. You think to yourself, “I do that, too.”

Before you know it, it’s more; they may struggle to perform daily tasks and lose sight of taking care of themselves, little by little. Then, there’s the debate of who’s going to be the one to help this person during their time of need.

You might also find yourself wondering, “What would I ever do in that situation?” Though there are no guarantees, you can take steps to keep your mind healthy, such as BHRT in Golden, CO, which shields the brain and enhances circulation.

Protect your mind today to prevent cognitive decline tomorrow.

Why Prevention Is the Best Medicine

Dementia is progressive. Though there are medications to slow it down, they don’t work nearly as well as anybody would like. Researchers will continue to progress toward finding a cure, but the current prognosis isn’t peachy, to say the least.

On average, a person only lives about eight to 10 years after a diagnosis, with that figure varying based on the person’s age and overall health, how early it was detected, and the type. (Dementia is a broad term, by the way, that includes Alzheimer’s, Lewy Body, and frontal lobe and vascular dementia.)

With further degeneration, depending on the kind, the person will lose more and more cognitive abilities. This disease can eventually affect the person’s ability to eat and possibly breathe. Agitation is also common as dementia enters its advanced stages.

Genetics and Dementia

Your risk of dementia increases if you have an immediate family member with it, though it’s uncommon for somebody to develop it this way.

That said, statistics show that over half of those diagnosed with Alzheimer’s have at least one copy of the APO e4 gene. For the story’s sake, let’s say that individual is your mother, and your father carries it, too.

If both pass on the gene, you could end up with e4/e4, meaning you have the greatest chance of developing it. You could also receive the e3/e4, which means you have an intermediate risk. Receiving an e3/e3 combination signifies you have a low likelihood. In some cases, a person with two e4 genes won’t develop it, while other times, people with zero copies wind up with it.

So, you know, other genes affect your chances of dementia, too. You can determine your overall risk by seeking DNA testing. Keep in mind that it isn’t the entire picture, though.

Most often, a combination affects your likelihood of developing it, such as:

• Lifestyle
• Age
• Environmental exposure to certain substances

What We Thought We Knew Was Wrong

For decades, it was the popular consensus that Alzheimer’s stemmed from plaque on the brain, known as amyloid — clumps of proteins, as well as tau, which causes tangles (a different type of protein accumulation).

After this discovery, one pharmaceutical company after another developed drugs to decrease and remove the proteins.

Unfortunately, they all fell short.

The scientific community took a second glance and more closely examined the situation. Then, in 2022, the journal Science published an article suggesting the concept of amyloid contributing to Alzheimer’s was falsified.

While this led to many who suffer from it or know somebody who does to feel hopeless, as we were back to the drawing board, isn’t it better that we know now, though?

What New Research Is Showing

We aren’t sure if protein buildup affects cognitive decline, nor do we know if removing it helps.

That didn’t deter scientists, however, from developing new theories.

The concept was thrown around that tau and amyloid were a result of the disease, not a cause.

Some experts believe a reduction in blood flow to the brain could be the reason for cognitive decline. In fact, some research confirmed this theory to a degree. Specifically, neuroimaging showed a decrease in blood flow to the brain that may be an indicator of when dementia symptoms will worsen.

What we currently know about dementia backs this up when you think about it. A stroke, a head injury, smoking, and high blood pressure all constrict blood vessels, and you know what? They’re all known to contribute to dementia.

Another theory is that Alzheimer’s is type III diabetes, classifying it as a metabolic disorder of the brain similar to type II diabetes. That form of diabetes even increases a person’s chance of dementia as much as the APO e4 gene does.

Insulin resistance appears to increase your likelihood of Alzheimer’s. Further research supported this theory as well. Imaging denoted lower glucose metabolism hinders sugar from reaching the brain, damaging the cells over time.

Dementia Detection

Early detection can lead to a better prognosis, but you need to catch it before symptoms appear because, like with various other conditions, once you have signs, it’s already had some time to progress.

One step for early detection is a cognoscopy — a colonoscopy for your brain, minus the awful drink and 24-hour fast. This comprehensive brain test covers all the basics and then some, such as:

• Blood tests to rule out other issues and look for inflammation markers
• Cognitive assessment
• Brain MRI
• Olfactory test (only sometimes recommended, but you can request it)

How to Prevent It

Several tips can help you ward off dementia:

• Exercise

  This is ultimately the most powerful way to keep Alzheimer’s away. It delivers blood flow to the brain and helps you maintain insulin sensitivity to ensure your brain receives glucose for energy. So, you know, a mix of both cardio and strength training is best. For one, a weak grip is an indicator that you’ll end up with dementia, and the chances increase as it weakens.

• Encourage Ketosis

  Your brain needs either ketones or glucose for fuel. And when you remove carbs from your diet, your body will use ketones. Studies suggest you’ll reduce your chance of dementia whenever you switch to a keto diet.

• Start BHRT

  BHRT in Golden, CO, especially before you see a significant decline in hormones, can help. Estrogen, for instance, has neuroprotective properties and enhances blood flow to the brain.

• Get Sleep

  While the brain heals itself throughout different stages of sleep, it particularly goes to town whenever you’re in a deep state of restfulness, allowing your brain to wash away debris thoroughly. Moreover, poor sleep decreases insulin resistance, increases stress, and can cause you not to get enough exercise, all making you more prone to cognitive decline.

• Decrease Your Alcohol Intake

  Reduce or eliminate alcohol. With heavy use, especially, your chances of dementia are higher because of its toxic effects on brain cells. Alcohol may cause all the following that contribute to dementia:

  • Brain shrinkage
  • Nutritional deficiencies
  • Neurotransmitter disruption

• Add Fish Oil to Your Supplements

  Fish oil has the omega-3 fatty acid DHA, and it’s known to support brain health, particularly in those who carry the e4 gene. If you’re more vulnerable than average, you may need a higher dosage.

• Get Hearing Support

  When you lose hearing, you miss out on a specific input to your brain that encourages brain growth, and you may withdraw from social interactions. So, if you start to lose your hearing, it might be in your best interest to swallow your pride and get hearing aids to protect your brain.

• Have Good Oral Hygiene

  Make sure you have good oral health. Scientists found the same bacteria species that cause gum disease in the brain of some people with dementia, so always brush and floss as directed.

• Debunking the Puzzle Myth

  While it certainly won’t hurt you to do crosswords and other puzzles, research is mixed as to whether it actually makes a difference in mental decline.

  Researchers aren’t sure if brain games boost cognitive performance or if those who are most likely to do them have higher cognition to start. Another study couldn’t conclude a difference between those who always did puzzles and those who started doing them later in life.

  The bottom line is to do puzzles if you want, but don’t bank on the fact that they’ll slow cognitive decline.

Learn more here: Prioritize Sleep & Revitalize Your Body with Bioidentical Hormone Therapy

Anti-aging Treatments at Ageless Expressions Golden, CO

Ageless Expressions | Golden isn’t all about beauty and sexual health. Our BHRT in Golden, CO, stands out as an effective treatment for optimizing not only your brain health but also your overall well-being.

You can also explore vaginal health & wellness or men’s sexual health and wellness treatments alongside your BHRT, to make you feel like your younger self again.

Before you call, see why you should trust us with your hormone health. Take a look at our client reviews click here.

Call today to schedule an appointment for better hormone and brain health by calling (719) 215-1900. As a reference, we’re near the Louis’ Cafe.