Alzheimer's is a disease classified by a biological process that allows TAU protein to build up in the brain. It’s characterised by the appearance of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in the brain. As the disease progresses, the brain cells begin to die, and the brain shrinks in size.
Those affected by early Alzheimer’s disease may only experience mild cognitive impairment. However, the progression of the disease is also linked to loss of memory, organising, learning and thinking skills. These could decrease the patient’s overall quality of life and impact their daily living.
Developing Alzheimer’s disease is mainly due to the death of brain cells. As more cells begin to die, the brain tissue has fewer nerve cells to operate at full capacity and ensure constant communication between neural pathways.
There are also some risk factors associated with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. They’re classified into two different categories, namely unmodifiable and modifiable factors.
Unmodifiable elements are things people cannot change about themselves, which may put them at a higher risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. Whereas modifiable factors allow more room for people with Alzheimer’s disease to change, manage or reduce the severity of the symptoms.
Unmodifiable factors include:
Modifiable factors include:
Alzheimer’s disease manifests a combination of behavioural symptoms and Dementia symptoms. The symptoms of Alzheimer's disease can vary from one person to another.
We’ve listed some common symptoms of Alzheimer’s below.
Cognitive decline is a common set of symptoms that occurs when a patient’s mental abilities are affected. These symptoms can range from mild cognitive impairment in the early stages and may get worse the longer the disease process continues. They may start showcasing:
People with Alzheimer’s often also experience changes in the way they act and conduct themselves, which oftentimes present as challenging behavioural symptoms. Patients may start showing signs of unusual, disruptive and inappropriate behaviour that’s out of the norm for them.
They may experience:
Note: Some patients may experience other symptoms not listed above. This is not an exhaustive list, and the best way to properly diagnose Alzheimer’s disease is to visit registered health professionals.
Unfortunately, there is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease at the moment. A healthcare team may be able to help you treat and manage symptoms.
At Holon, we offer cutting-edge technologies that may be helpful in treating symptoms when curing the entire disease is extremely complex or impossible. The process of treating Alzheimer's disease symptoms individually may be advantageous in identifying the most problematic issue and improving overall quality of life.
Here are a few alternative and new treatments for Alzheimer's that could bring potential positive effects.
Vielight is a scientifically tested brain photobiomodulation device that may be beneficial when treating Alzheimer’s disease. The Vielight device emits near-infrared light into the brain and nasal cavity. Vielight technology is thought to increase brain performance to reduce neurodegeneration.
Mitochondrial dysfunction is believed to contribute to the degeneration of neurons. Vielight uses transcranial light therapy or near-infrared light therapy to treat neurological and psychological conditions by enhancing mitochondrial function. Increasing or simulating mitochondrial activity may help improve cellular energy and antioxidant responses, thus potentially protecting neurons from damage or early deterioration.
Additionally, photobiomodulation has been shown to be effective when combating the neuroinflammation that contributes to neural damage and cognitive decline.
While undergoing a hyperbaric oxygen chamber session, you enter a pressurised chamber filled with 96% oxygen. The increased pressure and high oxygen levels are said to support overall cellular function and repair processes. Additionally, HBOT therapy may be beneficial to promote endogenous stem cell circulation which may potentially replace damaged cells.
Research studies showed that hyperbaric oxygen sessions improved cognitive flexibility and associative learning. For these reasons, it’s considered a promising latest treatment for Alzheimer’s.
Certain medications can cause brain swelling, and HBOT sessions may also be able to help reduce inflammation and swelling due to improved blood flow and enhanced tissue oxygenation.
Red light therapy is similar to Vielight technology in that it uses near-infrared technology, but this device can target specific areas of your body. During red light treatment, light-emitting diodes or LEDs are placed on the skin, and the wavelengths penetrate the skin, enter the cellular level and stimulate biological effects.
The main benefits of red light treatment can be linked to cell survival, proliferation and anti-apoptotic (anti-cell death) processes. It is also believed that all the near-infrared lights may achieve a therapeutic effect for certain neurodegenerative diseases.
Further information also suggests that red light therapy may mitigate or lessen the behavioural patterns associated with advanced amyloid deposits. Research studies on mice have shown that red light waves may help decelerate the progression between the different stages of Alzheimer’s disease.
Bright light stimulation is also believed to be beneficial in treating mild Dementia sleep problems by regulating the circadian rhythm.
Pulsed Electromagnetic Fields (PEMF) treatment is known for having positive effects on neurological conditions. PEMF treatment sessions are believed to impact cellular functions, including energy production and signalling pathways, leading to better recovery and overall well-being.
Exposure to low-frequency pulses during treatment may contribute to preventing certain anti-apoptotic (anti-cell death) processes. Trying electromagnetic treatment sessions may be beneficial to protect from cognitive impairment and improve memory. This treatment may still be helpful if the disease is still in the early stages or if it’s already reached moderate to severe Alzheimer’s.
Pulsed electromagnetic treatment sessions may modulate antioxidant production and be beneficial to signal transduction and immune response regulation.
Holon is one of the UK’s first holistic wellness centre facilities, providing clients access to cutting-edge wellness technologies. Our aim is to ensure clients can realistically and sustainably reach their health goals using a set of alternative healing practices grounded in science.
In addition to our leading technologies that could support Alzheimer's, we also offer comprehensive functional medicine consultations in collaboration with our partner functional medicine clinic, Solcere. Solcere's founder, Dr Heather Sandison, is a world renowned expert on treating Alzheimer's with a functional medicine approach based on a method called the Bredesen Protocol. You can buy her book Reversing Alzheimer's here.
Holon also offers advanced blood and urine testing for markers that may be associated with Alzheimer's progression, such as mycotoxins and heavy metals.
Embrace holistic treatment, healing, wellness and improved performance with Holon. Start your journey today.
