EPISODE 39 - Cognitive Decline, Alzheimer’s Disease & Potential Benefits of Low-Carb & Ketogenic Diets w/ Amy Berger

In this episode, Dr. Bubbs interviews nutrition expert and author of the Alzheimer’s Antidote, Amy Berger MS, who takes a deep dive into topics of brain health, cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease. Amy discusses how Alzheimer’s disease is an energy crisis in the brain, how the brain cells are effectively “starving” for fuel and the potential role low-carb and ketogenic diets may play in providing the brain with an alternate and effective fuel source. She also unpacks the physiology of beta-amyloid plaques, neurofibrillary tangles, and the critical role of cholesterol and key nutrients like choline and vitamin B12 in brain health. Lots of actionable and insightful tips here from Amy!

"Lay-Ups" In This Episode

1)          In Alzheimer’s disease is an energy crisis in the brain

2)          Brain cells, called neurons, are struggling to metabolize glucose effectively and “starving” for fuel.

3)          Alzheimer’s disease has been dubbed “type-3 diabetes” in the medical literature.

"Performance Hacks" From This Episode

1)          The predominant abnormality in Alzheimer’s disease (AD)is a reduction in the rate of glucose uptake by the brain (i.e. CMRglu) and AD patients have shown up to 45% reductions in CMRglu.

2)          Beta-amyloid plaques are present in higher amounts in AD patients, formed for a protective reason, however when produced in excess (often due to chronically high insulin levels) contribute to cognitive decline.

3)          The brain contains 25% of the body’s total cholesterol amount and higher cholesterol levels are associated with less likelihood of cognitive decline in old age.

Coffee Talk

Amy’s morning Coffee + cream + stevia

About Amy Berger

Amy Berger, MS, CNS, NTP, is a Certified Nutrition Specialist and Nutritional Therapy Practitioner. She is a US Air Force veteran who now specializes in using low-carbohydrate nutrition to help people reclaim their vitality through eating delicious, wholesome foods, and teaching them that achieving vibrant health doesn’t require starvation, deprivation, or living at the gym. Her motto is, “Real people need real food!” You can read her blog at http://www.tuitnutrition.com/, where she writes about a wide range of health and nutrition-related topics, such as insulin, metabolism, weight loss, thyroid function, and more. Follow Amy on Twitter too @tuitnutrition

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