Dr. Douglas Brown at Mind Performance Center in Foley, AL, provides a precision-medicine, multi-prong approach to brain related diseases and disorders such as Alzheimer’s, dementia, depression, ADHD and others.

The key, according to Brown, is to address what caused the disease in the first place and catch it early. As soon as symptoms present themselves (e.g., forgetting familiar things, places, appointments), and start getting more consistent and frequent, it’s time to test. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment indicates how far along the disease has progressed. Exact protocols vary according to the person. One may have hormonal imbalances; another may have insulin imbalances—there are many variables.

“We do tons of labs,” says Brown. “Blood tells us what the body is reacting to and why inflammation, which is at the root, is happening.” High blood sugar, high insulin, low insulin sensitivity or high white blood cells are examples of biomarkers that give clues as to why inflammation exists. Testing determines metabolically what is happening in the blood.

Certified in Bredesen Protocol since 2014, Brown found that Alzheimer’s is the result of an imbalance in the brain’s neuroplasticity signaling. Brown says, “We were getting results in 2010 using the functional medicine approach, then Dale Bredesen’s research came along and validated the results we were already seeing!”

The Functional Medicine approach (nutrition, exercise, sleep, stress management, brain stimulation, detoxification and supplements) applied to the brain in specific ways is the Bredesen approach. The individualized nature of the Bredesen Protocol is foundational to the program’s success. However, results differ between individuals. Some respond within the first week, others may take as long as nine weeks. The treatment is complex, with many variables including compliance, patient support, environment and drug interactions, to name a few. Brown recommends health coaches to aid patients in walking the walk on their journey back to health. Specifically, a functional medicine health coach can provide focus and action in five modifiable lifestyle categories: Sleep, Environment, Nutrition, Stress-management, Exercise (SENSE).

Once metabolic balance is achieved with hormones, vitamins/minerals, blood, nutrients and inflammation addressed, then the arduous work of restoring brain activity can begin. Functional neurology combines vestibular rehab, pathway rehab (interconnectedness of the brain) and restoring frontal and parietal lobes.

“Neurologists will say there is no effective treatment for dementia or Alzheimer’s. What they mean is Alzheimer’s is so complex there never will be a drug to eradicate it. But there is treatment, and it’s a customized multifaceted approach.”