Dementia complications often lead to death… but as the brain dies off, so does the body

January 7, 2024

Death… by DEMENTIA? Stay OUT of an early grave… by keeping your brain BIG

We recently lost Rosalynn Carter… who died just months after announcing she had dementia.

Now, this former first lady lived to the grand old age of 96…

But I couldn’t help but notice how SWIFTLY she declined at the very end… moving into hospice just DAYS before her death. 

Unfortunately, that’s not so UNUSUAL with older folks struggling with the same diagnosis…

And no matter what you think of her… her politics… or her husband, former President Jimmy Carter (who survives her at age 99)…

You’ve got to ADMIT how heartbreaking it is to lose a loved one that way. 

Fortunately, dementia DOESN’T have to be a DEATH SENTENCE…

But too often, it takes away a patient’s will to live…

And, ultimately, it could send them into an EARLY grave.

Here’s to keep dementia from sending you into a DOWNWARD spiral…

And to keep your final years as “golden” as possible, despite memory loss.

Now, I don’t have any special access into the medical records of the former FLOTUS…

But what I DO know is that she worked tirelessly for DECADES to help spread awareness on mental health…

And that, upon her own diagnosis, REJECTED the stigma surrounding dementia that so often keeps folks from seeking help. 

Of course, those with dementia need LOTS of support… both emotionally and in their physical space. 

They often need a caregiver to help them get around…

And eventually, they can no longer take care of themselves… including dressing or feeding themselves. 

If it gets to the point where they can’t swallow their food or medicine… they could become MALNOURISHED and FRAIL…

VULNERABLE to infections…

And TAKEN DOWN by any number of complications. 

When the dementia progresses really FAR down the line… the damage that started in the “memory center” of the brain (a.k.a. the hippocampus) actually spreads to other areas…

Including ones that control bodily functions… like breathing. 

According to one Columbia University researcher, once enough brain cells die off… the body can no longer survive.

While most reports will say someone died “with” dementia… and not “from” dementia…

It’s worth noting that the advanced progression of the disease could VERY likely shorten lifespan. 

But it’s not necessarily a DONE DEAL. 

Right NOW, you can keep those brain cells healthy and vital… and start beating back brain shrinkage… 

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BEFORE any cognitive decline takes hold. 

I’ve got TWO key ways to keep brain shrinkage at bay:

  1. SOCIALIZE instead of isolating yourself.
  2. OFFSET the effects of air pollution.

“Social isolation” became a headline-grabbing topic during pandemic lockdowns… but it was ALREADY a huge issue for older folks with mobility issues and a lack of independence. 

Being isolated from your social circle not only could make dementia WORSE if you already have it… but the loneliness that ensues could also SHRINK a healthy brain!

And when it comes to air pollution, it’s tough to control how much GARBAGE is in the air you breathe… especially if you’re living in or near a city with factories, traffic, and who knows what else.

But you can NEUTRALIZE some of those toxic effects… simply by taking a quality fish oil supplement. 

A 2020 study published in Neurology showed how omega-3s could help SLOW brain volume loss (a.k.a. shrinkage)… and PROTECT brain cells against damage from pollution exposure. 

There’s one more thing you can do to keep your brain BIG well into your golden years.

A study out of Washington University in St. Louis found that a relatively moderate dose of B vitamins helped keep gray matter from WASTING AWAY in Alzheimer’s patients. 

The amounts used in that study were:

  • folic acid 0.8 mg
  • vitamin B6 20 mg, and
  • vitamin B12 0.5 mg. 

You can get some B vitamins from your diet… but I like to recommend supplementing with a high-quality B complex vitamin daily just to cover all your bases.

For better health,

Dr. Marc S. Micozzi, M.D., Ph.D.

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