Your Body On Fire
Dear Caregivers,
The new drug known as Ozempic is being seen as something of a wonder drug for helping people lose weight. But the drug also points to a new way to think about the causes and treatment of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease. That’s because Ozempic, and other drugs like it (which are known as “GLP-1 receptor agonists”) appear to target what is rapidly beginning to be realized as a major factor in many of the diseases that affect modern civilization — inflammation.
Like many systems in the human body, inflammation is a double-edged phenomenon. On the one hand, inflammation is vital for survival, since an "inflammatory response" is how the body wards off infections when you cut your finger, for example, battles viruses when you catch the flu, and repairs the tissue surrounding a stubbed toe.
On the other hand, scientists are now beginning to realize that there is another kind of inflammation, known as “silent,” low-level inflammation, that is a chronic condition that affects the entire body, and can contribute to heart disease, cancers, auto-immune diseases, and potentially, dementia and Alzheimer’s.
This silent inflammation is thought to be caused by lifestyle factors such as eating processed foods and sugars, being overweight, lack of sleep, being stressed, and smoking. And that can lead to a host of illnesses: In the brain, for example, some people with Alzheimer’s have a genetic predisposition to having an over-active immune response that irritates neurons and leads to the buildup of what are known as “amyloid plaques.” Scientists are uncertain whether inflammation is a direct cause of Alzheimer’s, but evidence seems to point to it being a factor in hastening the disease's progression.
What can you do to reduce inflammation in you and your loved one?
Fortunately, the answers are fairly straightforward:
Eat a healthy diet rich in vegetables and healthy fats
Maintain a healthy weight
Get a good night’s sleep
Manage stress through physical exercise and relaxation activities such as meditation.
The scientific evidence is just emerging, but it is becoming increasingly clear that in many cases, diseases like Alzheimer’s can be managed through lifestyle changes. There is still a lot of scientific research to be done, but it is a shift in how doctors are thinking about the causes and treatments of the disease.
Here is some more information on lifestyle, inflammation, and Alzheimer’s:
The Mind Diet: Meal Planning to Fuel the Brain
Scientific studies have shown that the MIND diet is associated with a slower rate of cognitive decline and a reduced risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. Here’s a guide.
How To Do Relaxation Breathing:
If you are feeling anxious, the first step to take is to break the cycle of your body’s stress response. Relaxation Breathing is a powerful technique for doing that. Here’s how.
Sleep the Stress Away:
The quality of an individual’s sleep is strongly connected to their overall physical, cognitive, and emotional health, and lack of sleep is a leading complaint of caregivers. Here are some tips on how to get some quality sleep.
Remember, if you can’t find the information you need on our website, you can always “Ask NAN” by clicking on this link.
Best,
Rosemary D Laird, MD, MHSA
Founder and Chief Medical Officer
“Inflammation is in the background of every single major illness.”
— Julie Daniluk
