DEMENTIA ACTION PLAN
Give your brain a fighting chance!
About The Book
What future do you want?
Alzheimer’s is the fastest growing disease in the U.S. and certainly one of the most frightening. Despite millions of dollars and years of research, we still have no way to cure Alzheimer’s dementia or reverse its devastating effects.
You may be wondering, “Will I lose myself to dementia?”
You are right to be concerned, but don’t despair. Someday a cure will come. Until then, you have within yourself the power to unlock your body’s hidden defenses against dementia and give yourself your best chance for a bright future.
Dementia Action Plan describes lifestyle choices that will help you fight dementia, as well as many specific suggestions for a personalized plan. Symptoms of dementia appear up to 20 years after damage to the brain begins, so the time to start this fight is now.
Your body and brain want to stay healthy. Let Dementia Action Plan help to make that happen.
What’s inside
TABLE OF CONTENTS
FOREWORD
PREFACE
INTRODUCTION:
A Framework for Your Dementia Action Plan
SECTION 1:
Definitions, Explanations, and Context
1 Cognitive Impairment: What We Should Know
2 Old and New Models of Alzheimer’s Treatment
3 Inflammation and Dementia
4 Genes and Dementia
SECTION 2:
Rid Your Life of
Dementia-Related Risks
5 Rid Your Life of Sleep Deprivation
6 Rid Your Life of Inactivity
7 Rid Your Body of Increased Oxidation
8 Rid Your Body of Threats to Mitochondria
9 Rid Your Body of Refined Sugar
10 Rid Your Body of Nutritional Problems
11 Rid Your Body of Ultra-Processed Foods
12 Rid Your Body of Nutritional Gaps
13 Rid Your Body of Excess Salt
14 Rid Your Body of Harmful Drinks
15 Rid Your Body of Stress
16 Rid Your Mind of Anxious Thoughts
17 Rid Your Body and Mind of Tension
18 Rid Your Body of Gut Problems
19 Rid Your Body of Toxins
20 Rid Your Body of Hormone Imbalances
21 Rid Your Body of Endocrine Disruptors
SECTION 3:
Stimulate Your Brain
22 Social Connection
23 Keep Learning
SECTION 4:
Moving Forward
24 New Habits, New Life
25 Your Dementia Action Plan
ADDENDUM:
A Salute to Caregivers
Introduction
I almost died twice.
The first time was in 2007. I went into cardiac arrest, and my heart stopped beating for eight seconds.
I was working as a doctor at a hospital at the time. Instead of putting myself under a cardiologist’s care, I decided to treat myself. I knew what to do. I was certain disease care would solve my problems, so I took cholesterol and blood pressure medications and went on with my life.
But I never dealt with the underlying causes of my heart disease. I kept drinking too many soft drinks, smoking, gaining weight and never exercising, so I became sicker and sicker.
I remember going to New York City with my family to watch the ball drop at Times Square on New Year’s Eve. We did a little sightseeing, ate delicious food, and by the time evening came, I didn’t have the energy or the desire to go with my family to Times Square.
I have a picture from that trip. I looked close to death. And I was—closer than I realized.
My second wake-up call came in 2013, a few months after my trip to New York City. Alone in a hotel room, preparing to go to one of my out-of-town jobs as a doctor, I went to get a drink of water and woke up on the floor. I had passed out and was bleeding from a cut on my forehead. I somehow managed to drag myself to my phone to call 911.
At that time of my life, I was working long hours in an emergency room, smoking, eating way too much, and sleeping only four or five hours each day. I drank coffee frequently but still had trouble staying awake. I was often short of breath and had to use a CPAP machine to sleep.
I was also taking three blood pressure medications every day that failed to bring my systolic pressure any lower than 190, and along with taking both Zantac and Protonix for my acid reflux, I bought Tums in bulk.
Worst of all, I had lost my ability to think clearly. I had always loved to learn and had enjoyed using that learning on behalf of my patients in the emergency room.
But now, because of brain fog, it was becoming harder and harder to stay sharp, alert and equipped to do my job.
As I lay in the hospital following my cardiac arrest, I couldn’t help wondering, What is wrong with me?
Chapters
Pages
Dementia Action Plan offers you a chance to fight for your life and your memories—and win!
—Dr. Terry Wahls, MD, Foreword
About the author.
Hamid Reza Sagha, M.D. is a board-certified physician in emergency medicine, family and community medicine, as well as integrative and functional medicine. He has practiced medicine since 1995. For the last 11 years, he has worked in an emergency and critical care setting. He currently works as an emergency physician in Decatur, Illinois.
Hamid Reza Sagha, M.D.
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