The simple test that slashes Alzheimer’s risk
Mainstream researchers are still stuck on the Launchpad when it comes to developing reliable drugs to prevent and treat Alzheimer’s disease (AD). And after years of trial and error, they still have nothing to show for it.
Meanwhile, other researchers (driven by science, rather than Big Pharma profits) have discovered a simple way to significantly reduce your risk of developing Alzheimer’s.
Unfortunately, you’ve probably never heard about it since it’s outside the realm of the medical mainstream’s interests.
What’s even more astounding is that this approach also provides an easy way to determine if your Alzheimer’s risk is high. And it even shows promise in slowing the progression of the disease once it’s underway!
Why this approach isn’t being used by every doctor in America is beyond me…
Taking control of your cognitive health
The key to this Alzheimer’s breakthrough is regulating an amino acid called homocysteine. At normal levels, homocysteine doesn’t pose a problem.
But if your homocysteine levels are too high, it can be downright toxic to your brain. And not only does this affect your cognitive health, but high levels also put your cardiovascular system in jeopardy, leaving you more prone to a stroke or heart attack.
Luckily, there’s an effective way to lower your homocysteine levels. It’s fairly simple, and may actually be found in a few dietary supplements — some of which you might already be taking. (More on that in just a minute.)
But first, let’s talk a little more about how high blood levels of this amino acid can affect you and your health.
For instance, in a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, researchers reported that a homocysteine level over 14 micromoles per liter nearly doubled AD risk! The researchers also found that high homocysteine signaled Alzheimer’s progression and severity.
Because of this study and other similar trials, Dr. Fred Pescatore says that a homocysteine blood test is one of the very first tests he orders for every new patient who walks into his office.
In his Drug-Free Protocol for Reversing Alzheimer’s and Dementia he says, “This one test does something that absolutely terrifies mainstream medicine: It puts you in control of your health — without drugs.
“You see, if the test shows you’re in the ‘danger zone,’ all you need to do to fix it is take a handful of inexpensive nutritional supplements. In fact, the medical establishment ignores this particular health marker… mainly because they don’t have a drug to dole out for it.”
Amplifying the benefits
As I mentioned earlier, there’s a good chance you’re already taking some or all of the supplements that Dr. Pescatore recommends for what he calls the “mainstay in targeting homocysteine.” They are:
- L-methylfolate (a form of folate, or vitamin B9) — 20 mg per day
- Methlycobalmin (vitamin B12) — 2,000 micrograms per day
- Vitamin B6 — 100 mg per day
- N-acetyl cysteine (a powerful antioxidant) — 1,200 mg per day
- Omega-3 fatty acids — 3,000 mg daily of EPA/DHA from fish oil
Dr. Pescatore adds that when you take a combination of omega-3s with B vitamins, it amplifies the homocysteine-lowering effect.
To demonstrate the power of these easy-to-find nutrients, he cites a study that included 67 patients with high homocysteine levels and Alzheimer’s or cognitive impairment.
In those who supplemented with B9, B12, and n-acetyl cysteine, the atrophy rate of the hippocampus (the brain area responsible for memory and emotion) was four times slower than the control group.
“And even more impressive,” he adds, “the rate of shrinkage in the cortex (responsible for thought and action) was more than 11 times slower in the supplement group.”
Take your cognitive health into your own hands
Dr. Pescatore offers one more warning about homocysteine: It’s a silent killer. High levels usually produce no symptoms.
So given the long list of health dangers associated with high homocysteine, Dr. Pescatore recommends that you ask your doctor to check your homocysteine levels.
“It’s a simple blood test,” he says, “offered by every major lab. Just ask your doctor to order it for you. And if, for some reason, your doctor refuses, take your health into your own hands — and order it yourself.”
Dr. Pescatore explains that a company called Direct Labs allows you to order a test without a doctor. Unfortunately, not all states allow it, but you can check the Resource Directory of Dr. Pescatore’s Drug-Free Protocol for Reversing Alzheimer’s and Dementia for all the details.