Yes, here I go again, writing about one of my frequently addressed subjects so that I can bring you the latest information.

The broad topic of this article is brain health, which includes Alzheimer’s. This is a topic I am particularly concerned about for a number of reasons. 

For those of you who haven’t read any of my other articles on this subject, you may be wondering why I don’t add the word “disease” following “Alzheimer’s,” which is usually done in a situation where the clinical signs indicate such a diagnosis. I do that intentionally, because I don’t consider Alzheimer’s to be a disease in the typical sense.

You see, the definition of a disease is a disorder of structure or function in a human, animal, or plant, especially one that has a distinctive group of symptoms, signs, or anatomical changes and often a known cause. The first part of this definition certainly does fit Alzheimer’s in that there are a "distinctive group of symptoms, signs, or anatomical changes" (in the brain). So far we are good, but considering the last part of the definition–"and often of known cause"–well, that is where I draw the distinction

The information that follows is written from the perspective that conditions such as Alzheimer’s and many others are brought on and/or aggravated by lifestyle choices. Today my purpose with this article is to make the case for the power of prevention and appropriate lifestyle choices, which I believe far outweigh that of any current medication in the treatment of this condition. 

Please remember as you read and learn the information that I will present to you that ultimately the choice will be yours.

THE CHOICES WE MAKE

Let me start with another of the many examples of lifestyle-related conditions. We used to call it “adult-onset diabetes.” Unfortunately, because such diabetes is increasingly common in children and adolescents today as well, it is referred to as Type II diabetes. The reason that this form of diabetes is becoming so common in children is due to young people’s lifestyles. For the most part, young people are much more sedentary today than they were years ago.

Maybe you remember those days when we went out and played all day long. We would run, jump, ride bikes, roll around, etc. We see much less of that activity in children now. All too many children sit in front of a screen of some kind for hours on end. Extremely poor dietary choices are also made more frequently. The overuse of electronic devices reduces quality and quantity of sleep. Social media, bullying and poor self-image propagated by the media and their peers has greatly increased the amount of stress they experience. You see, each of the Four Pillars of Health–“Eat Right, Think Right, Move Right, and Sleep Right”–directly correlates with the prevention of this so-called “disease,” just as it does so many others.

Please remember, these are all choices. No one twists your arm to make you lie on the couch or to eat Twinkies® Snack Cakes and Doritos® chips. Nor does it require any special skill or genetic disposition to decide to take a walk or choose vegetables and fruit instead. With that in mind, let’s now look at how brain health is affected by these very same Four Pillars so that you can see just how powerful good choices can be.

ASTROCYTES ARE A KEY

One type of cell that supports our brains is called an “astrocyte.” The term is derived from the Greek word for star. These star-shaped cells are part of the immune system. 

A concept that I want you to all remember is that there are two things that influence the development of any condition being relegated to any “disease” or “disorder. They are inflammation, and immunity, which includes ultimately autoimmunity.

Astrocytes are central to the immune response, and they support the neurons in your brain and nervous system. Recent research has uncovered the fact that these cells play multiple roles in supporting neurologic function. They are involved in our ability to think as well as remember. They also play a central role in producing energy for the brain, maintaining its appropriate pH (acid/alkaline) balance. They also maintain and support the integral pathways between neurons, also known as synapses, which allow neurons to communicate with one another.

The number of these neuron-supporting astrocytes in comparison to the neurons themselves is significantly larger. They outnumber neurons by a ratio of 50 to 1.

Recent research indicates that one of the significant differences between our brains and those of other animals is the number, size, and complexity of our human astrocytes in comparison to those in other animals’ brains and nervous systems.

A neuroscientist, Maiken Nedergaard, M.D., D.M. Sc., researched these types of cells at the University of Rochester Medical Center. She notes, “The role of the astrocyte is to provide the perfect environment for neural transmission.” She goes on to state, “… we’ve observed in humans – brain function becomes more and more complex.” She also has discovered and studied a completely new brain system called the “glymphatic system,” which could be called the brain’s waste disposal system.

Essentially, the astrocytes manage the roughly 86 billion neurons in the human central nervous system (those in the brain and spinal cord). Dr. Nedergaard comments that she has “… always found the concept that the human brain is more capable because we have more complex neural networks to be a little too simple, because if you put the entire neural network and all of its activity together all you just end up with is a supercomputer.” She goes on, “But human cognition is far more than just processing data, it is also comprised of the coordination of emotion with memory that informs our higher abilities to abstract and learn.”

Some of us worry about AI taking over humans, but if you recognize that we have the ability to coordinate these higher-level functions–emotion in order to abstract and learn–then perhaps AI will never be more than just a supercomputer.

A research team of Dr. Nedergaard’s exemplified how unique human astrocytes are. In this study, the team transplanted human astrocytes into mouse brains. The human astrocytes melded, developed, and performed with the mouse astrocytes. What occurred was that these specific mice became nearly genius mice. The neurons in their brains transmitted signals faster and retained signals more effectively. These human glial cells (of which astrocytes are one form) created better modulation of the strength of the signal crossing from one neuron to another. This is a key factor in the mechanisms of memory.

AMYLOID PLAQUES

In another study published in the journal Stem Cell Reports researchers found that, “Alzheimer’s Disease astrocytes manifest hallmarks of disease pathology, including increased beta amyloid production, altered cytokine release [an inflammatory process], and dysregulated Ca 2+ homeostasis [a complex process of regulating calcium within cells and plasma to ensure proper nerve transmission, muscle contraction, and cell signaling].”

For years, researchers studying Alzheimer’s have looked at ways to arrest or reverse the buildup of amyloid plaques in the brain. However, once again we have seen numerous drug trials and research studies showing that they are, in fact, chasing the effect rather than the cause. They are solely considering the direct effects on the nerve cells or neurons without looking at the supportive cells and tissues.  

In summary, improper glial cell function appears to be the precursor to improper nerve cell function and subsequently, the onset of symptoms of Alzheimer’s.  

PROTECT YOUR BRAIN

Here are some things to consider in order to reduce the potential that you are causing systemic effects that will diminish or harm glial cell function:

First and perhaps foremost, regulate your blood sugar properly. As I have noted repeatedly in numerous articles in the past you must reduce your simple sugar and grain-based carbohydrate intake. Doing these two things will reduce both your fasting blood glucose and A1C levels on your next blood test. So, your “Eat Right” probably needs to be altered, particularly if you, like most, are addicted to sugar.

The next thing that you need to do is get routine exercise. One study performed at Stanford University on mice indicated that routine exercise caused positive changes in DNA that enhanced the function of astrocytes in their brains. The exercise up-regulated genes that, in turn, caused a significant increase in the production of a substance called Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF). Then, increased genetic BDNF mRNA, caused a significant increase in brain neurologic function through enhanced astrocyte function. 

The researchers concluded, “Our study suggests that astrocytes actively respond and could indeed mediate the positive effects of physical exercise on the central nervous system and potentially counter degenerative processes during aging and neurodegenerative disorders.” Neurodegeneration is what Alzheimer’s is all about. So, you can see how vitally important the “Move Right” component truly is in the Four Pillars of Health that I espouse.

The next thing that you must do is realign your “Think Right.” I have to say that, for most of my professional career, understanding and teaching others about the adverse physiological effects of stress has been one of my passions. Here again we see another negative effect of stress on our physiology and on our overall health and wellness. Chronic stress has been shown to cause astrocytes to release substances that initiate inflammatory processes that cause damage to nerve cells. Understanding how the stress response extended to a chronic level causes multiple negative physiological changes in multiple systems in the body. It is essential to understand how we can not only reduce the damage of stress on our brains but also on every other system in our bodies.

I have just outlined how not supporting three of these Pillars damages the brain. However, our Fourth Pillar is equally important in supporting neurologic function. That is your “Sleep Right” component. One study published in 2017 indicates that “chronic sleep loss…may predispose the brain to further damage.” This study indicates that this damage occurs through changes in genes that affect astrocytes in the brain. This effect is caused by increased inflammation causing neurodegenerative conditions (Alzheimer’s) over time.

I trust that you can now understand the statement that I made at the beginning of this article. That being that, I do not consider Alzheimer’s to be a disease in the true concept of diseases as we understand today. It is a result of poor lifestyle choices over a period of decades that in most instances cause chronic inflammation, followed by degenerative changes in multiple systems in the body. The most germane changes relative to my topic today are the changes that occur in the central nervous system.

While seemingly easy to envision, for many, these lifestyle changes require digging out from under layers of chronic issues or long-term bad habits. That is where real support and professional guidance comes in. If you know you need to make changes, but you don't think you can do it on your own, I invite you all–no matter where you reside geographically—to join us for our upcoming Crave Clinic. I assure you that you will experience the beneficial effects of living a lifestyle that is congruent with the way you are genetically designed to live. You will learn in detail how to support the Four Pillars of Health and learn techniques to maintain those lifestyle choices long after the 21-day program ends. You can register for the program here. 

As always, I hope that you have learned more about the causes and potential remedies that you can incorporate into your daily routines that will direct you towards a “Longer Healthier Life”. To learn more about how to achieve that Longer Healthier Life you can order my book of the same title, Dr. Pfeiffer’s Guide to a Longer Healthier Life.