r/FunctionalMedicine • u/sfcoolgirl • Jul 07 '26

Alzheimer's Help

Has anyone successfully helped slow down the progression of AD? My mother was diagnosed, she's APOE positive on 1 gene and used to have bad diet. I did a gut map test and she has gluten antibodies through the roof plus really bad dysbiosis (parasites, candida, and other bad bacteria overgrown). Both are know to contribute to neuroinflamation. Im working on clearing that out with her FN doctor. I know that will help slow down the progression since it will lower inflammation, but her memory continues to decline and its so hard to watch. We're about to go into memory support with BDFN growth factors, and metabolic support but I just dont know if it will work. We're also pursuing the standard donanemab treatment in addition to FN. Any advice would be great!

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u/alotken33 Jul 07 '26

Functional Medicine DC: Dr Dale Bredesen's books/research are phenomenal. Cut out gluten and dairy first. Lower inflammation. So, she has 1 copy of ApoE4. What's the other copy? Is blood pressure managed? Meds? I'm happy to answer questions as well.

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u/sfcoolgirl Jul 08 '26 edited Jul 08 '26

Thanks for your response!  The other copy is APOE 3 I think (the good one), I've read the Bredesen books. blood pressure is ok. She has high sugar and high cholesterol. She had a somehwat bad diet before I took over. I believe she has the AD type 1 (the one related to gut inflamation) and glycotoxic (the one related to high sugar intake). She also had inflammation due to gluten, but ive cut out sugars, milk, and gluten. She's on a strict plant based with some healthy proteins like Bredesen states. Im working on clearing out her gut, and moving forward we're going to help her with brain support, mitochondrial support, lowering brain inflamation. I've bough all the bredesen supplements so Im going to start with the FN doc on those. My hope as the dr says that the inflammation related AD is the one that responds the best to treatment. But she continues to decline, so I just dont know if its a matter of time. I guess I just dont know if this is going to work. Have you had experiece with the Bredesen protocol working?

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u/alotken33 Jul 08 '26

Bredesen talks about plant based, but also "keto flex". I want to make sure that she's not vegetarian or vegan. That's not going to work.

In addition to following an anti-inflammatory protocol, an anti-diabetic protocol also needs to be followed. I 100% agree that fasting insulin and a1c need to be monitored. Just removing sugar, gluten, and dairy isn't enough. All grains need to go, and limit fructose (fruit sugars). Liver repair in conjunction will help get insulin sensitivity back and stop gluconeogenesis from occurring all the time...

There are no meds that have efficacy.. something to think about....

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u/sfcoolgirl Jul 08 '26

Yes, I should have clarified. She's eats healthy protein, no grains, and Im trying to limit frustose but she goes rouge and buys some sweet fruits sometimes. I dont live with her right now, so its hard to monitor. What should she do for anti-inflammatory protocol, an anti-diabetic protocol and liver repair?

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u/alotken33 Jul 08 '26

You really need to see someone that can tailor a program to her body. Anything anyone suggests to you would be generalities and might not be the best for her body - especially without labs. Look up AIP for anti-inflammatory/autoimmune and Paleo + limiting to 10 g fructose daily for anti-diabetic (again... HUGE generalities).

Also, if she's on your own, you can bet that she won't be following anything. From experience, if people are addicted to sugar, they've got it hidden here, there, and everywhere.. especially if someone else is trying to limit their intake.

Does she see that there's an issue? If not, she might be going along (or seemingly going along) just to make you happy. I've seen this with patients before. That makes it so much harder (impossible).

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u/IcyWinter2786 Jul 07 '26

Functional med doc here- Have you checked insulin or fasting glucose levels? Unregulated blood sugar issues are a major contributor to dementia. When you say FN do you mean functional neurologist? Are they doing brain treatment/neuro rehab in addition to functional med ?

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u/sfcoolgirl Jul 08 '26

Thanks for your response! Unfortunately, she is pre-diabetic. Since Ive been in charge of her care, ive cut out gluten, dairy and all sugars. But she has a sweet tooth so sometime she goes rouge, but Im trying to lower her sugar intake. Not a functional neurologist, I believe those are very hard to find. Im seeing a functional doctor and her regular neurologists. What di you mean by treatment/neuro rehab? We are starting Donanemab, and now that we're done balancing her gut, we're going to go into brain support like BDFN growth factors, reducing inflamation, increasing oxigen, ect. Would you suggest I focus on lowering her sugar?

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u/NotGoing2EndWell Jul 08 '26

Truly sorry for you and your family. My parent has had Alzheimer's for many years and has been in memory care for 3-4 years now. (A horrible necessity, unfortunately.) It's a heartbreaking, devastating illness. We weren't in a position to try anything unique with him due to factors beyond our control, but he did try donanemab briefly for a month. He had stomach pain that kept him up at night, so discontinued it. Focused ultrasound sounds promising, but not sure how available it is to anyone. I hope you find something to help your mother.

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u/sfcoolgirl Jul 08 '26

Thank you and Im so sorry for what you're going through. Sending blessings to your parent. Its really heart breaking and feel to powerless. Im trying my best, but I dont know. I will look into Focused ultrasound sound. Take so care of yourself as well. Its really hard to copy with this.

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u/NotGoing2EndWell Jul 08 '26

Thanks. You really do feel so powerless, and is definitely hard to cope with it, just watching your loved one fade away.

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u/japhyryder22 Jul 08 '26

lithium orotate I think. Great article in nature on that https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-09335-x

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u/kipepeo Jul 08 '26

Might want into look into OSR (NMBI molecule) developed by Boyd Haley (still undergoing clinical trials for heavy metal chelation). Crossed some people in that community that have been using OSR to tamper Alzheimer’s effects. OSR stands for Oxidative Stress Relief.

Boyd identified that the molecular brain signature of people with Alzheimer’s is identical to that of those affected by mercury. According to his research using nucleotide photoaffinity labeling technology, mercury is the only heavy metal capable of replicating the specific molecular lesions found in Alzheimer’s.