My Story
In 2015, I was told that I had early stage memory loss, almost certainly due to Alzheimer’s disease. I was 65. I did poorly on cognitive tests, and MRIs showed relentless atrophy of my brain. I was initially in the stage known as “mild cognitive impairment” which immediately precedes “Alzheimer’s dementia.” In 2016, I had episodes when I couldn’t recall my zip code or my phone number of 30 years, and I was baffled by the traffic when trying to cross the street.
We all know that Alzheimer’s disease is a terrible disease that robs people of their dignity and their very identity. It is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States, bankrupting families in the process of killing its victims. While it may be common in the elderly, it is definitely not normal.
In 2015, I read that a drug intervention should be on the market by 2019, so there seemed to be hope. Unfortunately, that drug intervention never appeared. There are a few medications to treat symptoms, but a medicine to cure my disease is still not here.
But since 2016 my cognitive test scores have improved steadily, and other manifestations of the disease, such as regular episodes of depression, have almost completely disappeared. I know my zip code, and I cross the street safely. I doubt that I am now worse off than I would have been from normal aging. My life has changed completely. Why?
After my diagnosis, I researched what was known about Alzheimer’s disease and what could be done about it. I found a set of lifestyle interventions that, taken together, dramatically turned things around for me.
Am I cured? No. But I’m told I may have bought ten years for myself and my family.
If you or someone you love is showing signs of cognitive impairment, or if you want to help prevent Alzheimer's disease, you should read this book. It is the personal story of someone dealing successfully with the disease, accompanied by the scientific research that explains why I am now so much better than in 2015.