Health
Can we reverse Alzheimer’s disease? Experts suggest ‘new paradigm’ for combating dementia
With more people dying from Alzheimer’s disease than ever before, experts are emphasizing the importance of early diagnosis and intervention.
The number of fatalities due to the disease increased by 141% between 2000 and 2021, according to the 2024 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures report.
Also, the number of Americans living with the disease is on the rise as well — up to 6.9 million and counting.
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“As older adults — mostly baby boomers born between 1946 and 1964 — are the fastest-growing segment of the population, and this same demographic is at the highest risk for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, it is not entirely surprising that the number of cases continues to grow,” Dr. James Galvin, chief of cognitive neurology and director of the Comprehensive Center for Brain Health at The University of Miami Health System, told Fox News Digital.
The number of fatalities due to the disease increased by 141% between 2000 and 2021, according to the 2024 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures report. (iStock)
Another factor contributing to the uptick of cases is that the disease is getting detected earlier, he noted — “due to scientific advances in knowledge, diagnostic criteria and laboratory tests that enable health care professionals to make diagnoses with greater surety and accuracy.”
Importance of early detection
Early detection and diagnosis allows the family to plan for future care at a time when the patient is able to express their wishes and desires, Galvin noted.
Also, many of the available medications to reduce symptoms are most effective when started early in the course of the disease, he added.
Patients who are diagnosed early will also have a better chance of enrolling in clinical trials for new medications and diagnostics.
Many of the available medications to reduce symptoms are most effective when started early in the course of Alzheimer’s disease, said one expert. (iStock)
“There are newer medications that have the potential for disease modification that are approved or under consideration for approval, so patients have more treatment options,” Galvin said.
The current medications largely treat symptoms and slow progression of disease — but several trials are underway to test prevention therapies.
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“Specifically, these are monoclonal antibodies against the amyloid beta-protein, the building block of the senile plaques in the Alzheimer’s brain,” Galvin said.
“This is particularly exciting, because rather than being reactive after the disease starts, these new programs are proactive and could potentially have a much greater impact on public health.”
Can Alzheimer’s be reversed?
Dr. Heather Sandison, a leading expert in Alzheimer’s and related dementia care who is based in California, said that in some cases, the disease can be slowed or even reversed.
“The ways for individuals to potentially reverse Alzheimer’s vary, because the causes of Alzheimer’s vary from person to person,” Sandison, author of the upcoming book “Reversing Alzheimer’s: The New Toolkit to Improve Cognition and Protect Brain Health,” told Fox News Digital.
Early detection and diagnosis allows the family to plan for future care at a time when the patient is able to express their wishes and desires, a doctor noted. (iStock)
“Instead of thinking of one way or one of two ways, I propose an entirely new paradigm of thinking about the causes of Alzheimer’s disease — identifying them for the individual and creating a targeted, precise approach to treatment.”
One person, for example, may have Alzheimer’s that is associated with genetic predisposition, high blood sugar and a history of strokes, she noted.
“The choices you make each day about what you put in your mouth, how much you move and what time you get to bed have the biggest impact on your long-term brain health.”
Another individual may have Alzheimer’s caused by the inhalation of toxins from environmental pollution, obstructive sleep apnea reducing the oxygen supply, and a history of traumatic brain injuries.
Someone else may have all of these factors.
“We would treat these individuals differently,” Sandison said.
“The way for an individual to potentially reverse Alzheimer’s varies, because the causes of Alzheimer’s vary from person to person,” an expert said. (iStock)
Regardless of risk factors, Sandison said the best ways to prevent Alzheimer’s are to eat a diet high in vegetables, good fats and proteins, while also getting regular vigorous exercise, quality sleep and daily stress management practices.
“The choices you make each day about what you put in your mouth, how much you move and what time you get to bed have the biggest impact on your long-term brain health,” she said.
Like any complex system, the brain and body require a “homeodynamic balance” to function well, according to Sandison.
“Imbalance — too much, too little, in the wrong place, at the wrong time — will create dysfunction and, in the case of the body and brain, disease,” she warned.
“The primary causes of imbalance in the brain include toxins, nutrients, stressors, structure, infections and signaling.”
The number of Americans living with Alzheimer’s disease has risen to 6.9 million. Like any complex system, the brain and body require a “homeodynamic balance” to function well, said one expert. (iStock)
With her reversal techniques, Sandison said she sees the best results with patients who are younger than 75, have MoCA (Montreal Cognitive Assessment) scores of 18 and above, and have a supportive network of loved ones around them, “so they can dive fully into the lifestyle changes.”
She added, “That being said, we have seen miraculous results with patients in their 80s with single-digit MoCA scores.”
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“You don’t have to be perfect, but in order to get results, you need to be willing and able to make some changes,” Sandison continued.
“If you have that, there is room for hope, no matter how much the disease has progressed.”
To her patients, Sandison recommends combining lifestyle recommendations with conventional medicine.
“Diet, lifestyle and functional medicine approaches are best used collaboratively with a primary care provider and neurologist on your team,” she said.
“I am hopeful that in the future, we will use the plaque-busting drugs to reduce structural changes in the brain … in combination with the multi-pronged approach to reversing Alzheimer’s.”
‘Connection over correction’
Sandison coined the “connection over correction” approach as a way of helping caregivers deal with what can often feel like an “overwhelming burden.”
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“There are complex emotions — ranging from joy and gratitude for the precious time with a loved one to grief and despair as you lose them slowly,” she said.
“The physical, financial and emotional toll adds up.”
Regardless of what risk factors someone has, experts recommend eating a diet high in vegetables, good fats and proteins combined with regular vigorous exercise to help reduce dementia risk. (iStock)
One way to reduce the burden is to accept that your loved one has changed and stop correcting them, according to Sandison.
“Focus your energy on connecting with them in a way that honors their current capacity,” she advised.
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“If they make a mistake with a word or repeat a question or miss an appointment … make accommodations and focus on the positive aspects of the day, not dwelling on or emphasizing the mistake.”
The “connection over correction” approach is a way of helping caregivers deal with what can often feel like an “overwhelming burden,” an expert said. (iStock)
Having compassion for loved ones with dementia and understanding they have a disease they cannot control can help to reframe these frustrating situations, she said.
“We all function best when we are experiencing connections with others and when we can avoid the unnecessary stress of feeling we are wrong or as if we have displeased someone,” Sandison added.
The biggest myth surrounding brain health, she said, is that nothing can be done to prevent or reverse dementia or Alzheimer’s.
“That just isn’t true,” she said. “It’s almost overwhelming how much you can do to optimize cognitive function at any stage of life.”
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A study from Sweden’s Uppsala University discovered a link between microplastics and multiple sclerosis (MS).
The research, published in the journal Environmental International, discovered that exposure to two common environmental contaminants, PFAS and PCBs, could increase the risk of the autoimmune disease.
PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, known as “forever chemicals,” are used in some common household products, such as non-stick cookware, textiles and cleaning products. They have also been found in drinking water throughout the U.S., according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
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PCBs, or polychlorinated biphenyls, are toxic industrial chemicals once widely used in electrical equipment before being banned decades ago, as stated by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.
The new study findings were based on blood samples of 1,800 Swedish individuals, including about 900 who had recently been diagnosed with MS, according to a university press release.
PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, known as “forever chemicals,” are used in some common household products, including non-stick cookware. (iStock)
The first phase of the trial studied 14 different PFAS contaminants and three substances that appear when PCBs are broken down in the body. These were then investigated for a link to the odds of diagnosis.
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“We saw that several individual substances, such as PFOS and two hydroxylated PCBs, were linked to increased odds for MS,” lead study author Kim Kultima said in a statement. “People with the highest concentrations of PFOS and PCBs had approximately twice the odds of being diagnosed with MS, compared to those with the lowest concentrations.”
The researchers then examined the combined effects of these substances and found that the mixture was also linked to increased risk.
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Fellow researcher Aina Vaivade noted that risk assessments should consider chemical mixtures, not just individual exposures, because people are typically exposed to multiple substances at the same time.
“We saw that several individual substances, such as PFOS and two hydroxylated PCBs, were linked to increased odds for MS,” the lead study author said. (iStock)
The final phase of the study investigated the relationship between inheritance, chemical exposure and the odds of MS diagnosis, revealing that those who carry a certain gene variant actually have a reduced MS risk.
However, individuals who carried the gene and had higher exposure to PFOS — a singular type of chemical in the PFAS family — had an “unexpected” increased risk of MS.
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“This indicates that there is a complex interaction between inheritance and environmental exposure linked to the odds of MS,” Kultima said.
“We therefore think it is important to understand how environmental contaminants interact with hereditary factors, as this can provide new knowledge about the genesis of MS and could also be relevant for other diseases.”
Multiple sclerosis is a disease that leads to the breakdown of the protective covering of the nerves, according to Mayo Clinic. (iStock)
Fox News senior medical analyst Dr. Marc Siegel commented on these findings in an interview with Fox News Digital.
“MS is a complex disease that is somewhat autoimmune and somewhat post-inflammatory,” said Siegel, who was not involved in the study. “Epstein-Barr virus infection greatly increases the risk of MS.”
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“There is every reason to believe that environmental triggers play a role, including microplastics, and this important study shows a correlation, but not causation — in other words, it doesn’t prove that the microplastics caused MS.”
The study had some limitations, the researchers acknowledged, including that the chemical exposure was measured only once, at the time of blood sampling. This means it may not accurately represent participants’ long-term or past exposure levels relevant to MS development.
“There is every reason to believe that environmental triggers play a role.”
Fox News Digital reached out to several industry groups and manufacturers requesting comment on the potential link between PFAS chemicals and multiple sclerosis.
Several have issued public statements, including the American Chemistry Council, which states on its website that “manufacturers and many users of today’s PFAS are implementing a variety of practices and technologies to help minimize environmental emissions.”
In April 2024, the EPA enacted a new federal rule that sets mandatory limits on certain PFAS chemicals in drinking water, aiming to reduce exposure. The agency also aims to fund testing and treatment efforts.
A woman working out outdoors takes a sip of water from a plastic bottle. (iStock)
Multiple sclerosis is a disease that leads to the breakdown of the protective coverings that surround nerve fibers, according to Mayo Clinic.
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The immune system’s attack on these nerve sheaths can cause numbness, weakness, trouble walking and moving, vision changes and other symptoms, and can lead to permanent damage.
There is currently no cure for MS, Mayo Clinic reports, but treatment is available to manage symptoms and modify the course of the disease.
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Sitting next to a window may help people with type 2 diabetes control their insulin levels, according to new research.
The study, published in Cell Metabolism, found that exposure to natural light — even indoors next to a window — changes how the body processes glucose and uses energy.
People in Western societies spend 80% to 90% of their time under artificial lights, which are much dimmer and less dynamic than sunlight, the researchers noted. Natural daylight is a powerful cue for the body’s internal clock, also known as the circadian rhythm.
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The body’s internal clock influences many processes, including digestion, hormone release and metabolism, according to research. When it gets out of sync, it can worsen insulin resistance and blood sugar control, which are two of the main issues caused by type 2 diabetes.
Typical lighting in homes and offices is much dimmer and lacks the biological signals provided by natural daylight. (iStock)
To test the effects of daylight on blood sugar, scientists recruited 13 adults with type 2 diabetes. Each person spent two separate 4.5-day periods in a controlled office setting, according to a press release.
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In one period, they worked in front of large windows with natural daylight streaming in. In the other period, participants worked in the same room with the windows covered and were exposed only to typical indoor lighting.
Daylight isn’t a replacement for medication or traditional management strategies like diet and exercise, the researchers noted.
Everyone ate similar meals, followed the same schedule and continued their usual diabetes medications in both conditions.
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While average blood sugar levels didn’t differ drastically between the two conditions, people spent more time in the healthy glucose range when they were exposed to natural daylight — their blood sugar fluctuated less and stayed within a desirable range for a greater portion of the day.
Participants who were exposed to daylight burned more fat and fewer carbohydrates, a metabolic pattern linked to better blood sugar regulation. (iStock)
Exposure to natural light also affected metabolism. In daylight, participants burned more fat and fewer carbohydrates for energy.
Muscle biopsies and laboratory tests further showed that the genes responsible for the body’s cellular clocks were more synchronized under natural light conditions, the study revealed.
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Better alignment of these genes can improve nutrient processing and how cells respond to insulin, the researchers concluded.
Sitting near windows or spending more time outdoors could support diabetes management alongside standard treatments, researchers say. (iStock)
However, daylight isn’t a replacement for medication or traditional management strategies like diet and exercise, according to the team.
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The study did have some limitations, including that the group of patients was small. The researchers cautioned that larger studies are needed to confirm these results and determine how much natural light exposure is optimal.
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“This study also highlights the often unnoticed impact of the built environment on our health, and raises further concerns about the prevalence of office environments with poor (natural) daylight access,” the researchers noted.
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