Patients often tell me they would like to live as long as they reasonably can, provided they do not suffer cognitive decline. More often than not, people care less about how long they live and more about how well they live, specifically as it pertains to their brain.
Anyone who has seen a relative suffer from a neurodegenerative disease – such as dementia or Alzheimer’s disease – can no doubt relate to the debilitating nature of these conditions. Unlike heart disease and cancer, which kill directly, the fatal impact of neurodegenerative diseases is often indirect.
While much is still unknown, data suggest that there are indeed things that can be done to ward off one’s risk of developing a neurodegenerative disease. Aside from genetics, the next most common risk factor we see is vascular disease.
The adage “what’s good for the heart is good for the brain” rings true here. Meaning, the factors that increase your risk for atherosclerosis – such as high blood pressure, smoking, and elevated apoB – also increase the risk of dementia.
Below is a collection of past articles and podcasts exploring such tactics. My hope is that this content can serve as helpful resources to dive deeper into this topic as well as support your ongoing longevity journey.
North is to south what the clock is to time
There’s east and there’s west and there’s everywhere life
I know I was born and I know that I’ll die
The in between is mine
I am mine
– Pearl Jam
Reporting relative risk values alone can be inappropriate and misleading for the individual and the public.
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