This 3-question quiz could rescue you from an Alzheimer’s diagnosis

Early detection of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) can be critical, giving patients a chance to slow—and in some cases even reverse—the progression of the disease.

In Dr. Marc Micozzi’s Complete Alzheimer’s Prevention and Repair Protocol, he points out three key questions you should ask yourself to determine if you’re exhibiting early AD warning signs.

But first, there’s one surefire warning sign of Alzheimer’s I want to make you aware of, as well as the easiest ways to detect and remedy the problem.

I’m talking about your vitamin D level, which surprisingly, is closely linked to your cognitive status.

Long-term research reveals clear risks and benefits

Dr. Micozzi points to results from a 2014 breakthrough study that demonstrated the importance of maintaining healthy vitamin D levels for optimal brain health.

For six years, researchers analyzed the health markers of more than 1,600 volunteers.

Cognitive function was measured through multiple MRIs, medical records, mental assessments, and questionnaires. Then, over a follow-up period of several years, researchers collected various blood samples from each participant.

The participants were then categorized into one of three groups, based on their vitamin D blood levels. Their levels were either:

  • Sufficient = 50 nanomoles per liter (nmol/L)
  • Low = 25 to 50 nmol/L
  • Very low = less than 25 nmol/L

Over the course of the study’s follow-up period, 171 participants were diagnosed with dementia, and 102 of those cases were confirmed Alzheimer’s.

In the final analysis, researchers reported that participants with very low vitamin D had a 122 percent increased risk of developing dementia compared to those with a sufficient level. Participants in the low group had a 51 percent increased risk.

The very next year—in 2015—another study confirmed a link between low vitamin D and accelerated rates of age-related memory loss.

Dr. Micozzi sums up the results: “These new findings suggest that the optimal vitamin D blood level to prevent dementia is 50 nmol/L. Others have argued that a higher level of 75 nmol/L is better.”

Dr. Micozzi feels your blood levels should fall somewhere in between this range.

“So make sure you know your numbers,” he advises. “Ask your doctor at your annual check-up to run a vitamin D blood test.”

There are two different blood tests that measure vitamin D. Dr. Micozzi recommends requesting the 25(OH)D test.

Additionally, he highly suggests supplementing with 10,000 IU of vitamin D3 daily. Not only will it help protect your brain, but Dr. Micozzi points out that this nutrient also “helps support mood as we get into the darker, gloomier days of late fall and winter.”

He adds, “Also—make sure to eat nutritious foods like eggs, fish, and meat, which contain healthy amounts of vitamin D.”

And of course, during the warm months of the year, spending 20 minutes per day in the full sunlight—without sunblock—is another way to help you lock in a brain-protective level of vitamin D.

What do memory lapses reveal?

In addition to measuring your vitamin D level, there are other strategies you can use to assess your general cognitive health or the potential signs of creeping dementia.

The first step is to take an inventory on yourself. According to Dr. Micozzi, this will help you recognize the difference between normal, age-related memory loss and the cognitive decline associated with Alzheimer’s disease.

All you have to do is ask yourself three questions:

  1. Do new signs of lapses in memory mean I’m at high-risk for dementia?

Answer: No.

As you get older, it’s perfectly normal to slip up now and then on names, dates, and appointments. Dr. Micozzi notes that these types of “signs” may be part of a lifelong pattern.

He adds, “These changes have more to do with neural organization than degeneration. But if you have to ask for the SAME information, over and over, that’s not typical.

“Also, take note if you need to rely more heavily on memory aids, or if you frequently forget important dates, like which day of the week the trash truck comes.”

  1. It takes me longer to complete routine tasks. Isn’t this just normal aging?

Answer: Maybe not.

Dr. Micozzi points out that when you multitask, you actually work more slowly. So he advises: “Don’t try to balance your checkbook while watching TV and/or talking on the phone. It’ll take you longer. If you want to finish quickly, focus your efforts on one activity at a time.”

But beyond that, he says, if you still have trouble performing a single routine task—like following a favorite recipe—that may signal a more significant problem.

The next question addresses one of the telltale hallmarks of dementia—and Alzheimer’s…

  1. I react to everyday stresses with greater anxiety, anger, depression, and/or mood swings than ever before. Is this a normal part of aging?

Answer: No.

In some people, exaggerated emotional responses may indicate the onset of progressive cognitive decline.

Dr. Micozzi says, “People with Alzheimer’s disease rely on routines to go about their day. They may become irritable or uncomfortable when their routine changes for any reason. As a result, they may begin to withdraw from social experiences they once enjoyed.”

Dr. Micozzi’s dementia risk self-assessment contains four more questions that explore whether or not certain cognitive changes are normal for your age or an early sign of developing AD.

You can take the entire quiz by enrolling in Dr. Micozzi’s Complete Alzheimer’s Prevention and Repair Protocol.

Click here to learn more about this indispensable approach to keeping your brain in the best of health, or click here to get started now.