Brain fog, fatigue, and forgetfulness – these are all symptoms my clients tell me about in my functional medicine practice. Because of this, brain health and hormones are always on my radar. I always want to provide the most up-to-date and research-backed options available.

Alzheimer’s disease is a major healthcare crisis, affecting an estimated 5.7 million Americans. As the most common type of dementia, Alzheimer’s is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by the presence of beta-amyloid and tau proteins within brain and nerve cells. This condition disproportionately impacts menopausal women, with 3.2 million diagnosed cases. While aging, family history, and genetics are unmodifiable risk factors, the link between hormones and Alzheimer’s, particularly in menopausal women, is becoming clearer.

The Impact of Menopause on Alzheimer’s Risk

Menopause marks a significant transition in a woman’s life, often accompanied by various physical and psychological changes. When ovaries stop producing estrogen and progesterone during menopause, women may experience brain changes associated with Alzheimer’s, including:

• Alzheimer’s-related plaques: Women in mid-life have 30% more of these plaques than men of the same age.
• Brain glucose metabolism: Women have 22% lower brain glucose metabolism, leading to reduced energy levels in the brain.
• Brain shrinkage: Women experience about 11% more brain shrinkage.
• Learning and memory problems: Reduced estrogen in post-menopausal women may make them more prone to these problems.

Early identification of metabolic risk factors like insulin resistance and hormonal imbalances may help delay or reduce the progression of Alzheimer’s disease.

Insulin Resistance and Alzheimer’s

Insulin resistance, a condition that affects how the body processes glucose, can increase the risk of developing chronic diseases, including Alzheimer’s, diabetes, and obesity. It is also linked to other health problems like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and breast and endometrial cancer. Insulin resistance can cause fatigue and weight gain, common symptoms during menopause. Addressing insulin resistance and hormonal imbalances early on is crucial in mitigating the risk of Alzheimer’s disease in women.

Why Should You Do an Alzheimer’s Risk Assessment?

An Alzheimer’s Risk Assessment utilizes the groundbreaking p-Tau217 biomarker for early and accurate detection of Alzheimer’s disease. This biomarker is a reliable indicator of Alzheimer’s pathology, including extracellular amyloid-beta plaques and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles of hyperphosphorylated tau (p-tau), even before clinical symptoms appear.

Convenient and Cost-Effective

A simple blood draw makes this testing more accessible and cost-effective compared to traditional methods like lumbar puncture or imaging studies. This convenience encourages more individuals to seek early assessment and potentially alter the course of the disease through timely intervention.

Highly Accurate Results

The p-Tau217 biomarker shows a strong correlation with PET imaging and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) testing, ensuring highly accurate results. This accuracy provides confidence in the diagnosis and helps guide appropriate treatment and management strategies.

Comprehensive Clinical Information Support

An Alzheimer’s Risk Assessment offers detailed clinical information support materials. These resources help healthcare providers understand and interpret the results, aiding in the early detection and diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease and allowing for better-informed decision-making.

Take Action Today

Early identification and intervention are key to managing Alzheimer’s disease! By understanding your risk factors and taking proactive steps, you can potentially delay or reduce the progression of this debilitating condition. An Alzheimer’s Risk Assessment provides a convenient, cost-effective, and highly accurate means of early detection!

Schedule a consultation today to discuss your risk factors and explore the benefits of early Alzheimer’s detection Don’t wait—take control of your health and future now.

Don’t Wait! Build A Better Brain Today!

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There’s nothing quite like a refreshing glass of cold water in the summer, especially when it’s infused with the flavors of nature. Fruit-infused water is a delightful treat all year!

As a child, I cherished the days spent on my grandparents’ five-acre farm, where I would pick fresh peaches from the trees and pluck juicy strawberries from the vines. Those sun-soaked summers in rural Georgia ingrained in me the belief that food truly is medicine.

Fruits are rich in antioxidants, which help shield our bodies from illness. More importantly, they are a vital source of water, essential for the health of our brain, organs, tissues, and every living cell.

This collection of easy recipes is crafted to keep you well-hydrated while inspiring creativity in the kitchen. I hope you enjoy each one as much as I do.

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Thirty years ago, I was passionate about my career in critical care medicine. From car accidents to cardiac arrests, I learned the fascinating science of heart-lung medicine and assisted with emergency procedures that saved lives. But after twenty years in the ER and ICU, I knew it was time to get out in the community to not only save lives but improve the quality of life. So, I dusted off my duffle bag and went to graduate school to become a nurse practitioner and open my own practice..

But shortly after opening my own practice, I found myself immersed in a different ‘critical care’ – Alzheimer’s disease and dementia – a crippling disease that impacts not only the patient but their entire family.

After opening my own practice, I found myself deeply involved in a different kind of ‘critical care’—one that focuses on Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. These devastating conditions not only affect the patient but also take a heavy toll on their families.

Did You Know:

• As of 2020, over 55 million people worldwide were living with dementia. This number is expected to nearly double every 20 years, reaching 78 million by 2030 and 139 million by 2050. Much of this increase will occur in developing countries.
• The global annual cost of dementia care stands at $1.3 trillion USD and is projected to soar to $2.8 trillion USD by 2030.
• In the United States, approximately 1 in 9 people aged 65 and older has Alzheimer’s disease. Additionally, around 110 out of every 100,000 adults aged 30 to 64 have early-onset Alzheimer’s, a debilitating and life-changing condition.
• Diagnoses of early-onset dementia and Alzheimer’s surged by 373% among Generation X and Millennials in 2020, with the average age of those affected being just 49.
• When Alzheimer’s begins in midlife, particularly as hormones are changing, women may face a higher risk of misdiagnosis.

I’ve created a special edition of Healthy Housecalls With Angel that’s all about brain health, giving you the tools to build a healthier brain.

Delivered twice a month, this subscriber-only newsletter focuses on functional nutrition to help you make smarter food choices.

Subscribe to Build A Better Brain Newsletter + Community Today to Get:

• Evidence-Based Insights: Stay current on the latest research linking nutrition, mood, and brain health, with practical tips to easily incorporate into your routine.
• Brain-Healthy Recipes: Discover quick recipes designed to reduce inflammation, improve methylation, and strengthen the gut-brain connection.
• Nutritional Guidance: Receive expert advice on essential vitamins, minerals, and adaptogenic herbs to enhance brain function.
• Curated Recommendations: Access top-rated books and podcasts to deepen your understanding of brain health.
• Prevention Focus: Learn about preventive measures that support long-term health at every age.

Start your journey to better brain health and enjoy greater vitality, focus, and presence in your daily life.

Click the button to say Yes, Angel. I want to build a better brain today!

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GET YOUR FREE BONUS!

Subscribe today and you’ll get access to my latest eBook: Build A Better Brain With The MIND Diet. The MIND Diet is designed to optimize overall health and has been shown to benefit brain health in particular! Your MIND Diet ebook includes:

• An explanation of the science behind the MIND diet and its health benefits
• 10 foods to focus on and 5 to limit
• Examples and tips for foods to incorporate each week
• A sample one-week meal plan to get you started – FAST! .. and so much more!

Fit & Functional Nutrition Corner

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Slow-roasted salmon is one of the simplest and most brain-boosting dishes you can make at home. This simple, tasty meal not only incorporates the HB 5 Food Groups but also packs in 7 of the 10 brain-healthy food groups from the MIND diet—berries, leafy greens, fish, legumes, whole grains, vegetables, and extra-virgin olive oil—all in one meal.

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*Live Rewind*

Missed out? No worries – you can catch up and listen in today!

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I recently came across new research highlighting 17 medications that could significantly affect your health and liver function—important information you need to know!

Tune in to discover more, and get the tips, tools, and strategies to help you live a longer, healthier life.

Join me every Friday at 12 PM ET, where you can ask me (almost!) anything and connect with others who are also on a journey to live longer and better!

Recharge Your Brain for Life!

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Design the Life You Deserve® Retreat A 5-day journey to renew, refresh & reinvent your life September 17-22, 2024 Bacalar, Mexico A retreat designed to help you quiet your mind, quiet your heart and calm the chaos so you can get clear about what matters most to you in your life.   Grab Your Suite

Gut Health = Brain Health: How to Support Both! There is a growing body of clinical literature indicating a complex communication system between the mind, brain, gut, and microbiome. It’s now believed that alterations in the gut microbiome might contribute to brain diseases such as anxiety, depression, and chronic pain. The gut-brain communication is also important because issues in the gut can affect not only mood but also brain function.   Read More

What’s New in My Health Toolkit

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Do you struggle with low energy or trouble focusing?

Mood disorders and mental illnesses impact millions across the U.S., often linked to imbalances in neurotransmitters—chemical messengers that influence mental performance, emotions, and energy. Hormones and neurotransmitters are closely connected, so an imbalance in one can disrupt the other, creating a challenging cycle that’s tough to diagnose.

The Vibrant Wellness Neurotransmitters panel identifies these imbalances, offering a comprehensive view to help uncover the root cause of chronic physical and mental conditions. By measuring key neurotransmitters and their metabolites, this panel can provide insights that may benefit those with neurological disorders like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, ADHD, or mood disorders, as well as anyone experiencing related symptoms.

Health Research + News You Can Use

Sugar substitute erythritol may increase risk for heart attack and stroke, study finds

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​Erythritol, a sugar substitute commonly used in keto-friendly and other reduced-sugar products, may increase risk for negative cardiovascular events such as heart attack and stroke, according to new research from the Cleveland Clinic.

Sugar-free products containing erythritol are often recommended for people with obesity, diabetes or metabolic syndrome as ways to manage sugar and calorie intake. Erythritol is one ingredient in the common calorie-free stevia sweetener Truvia, for example. People with these conditions are already at higher risk for adverse cardiovascular events such as stroke.

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Catch Up on the Podcast!

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How can something as simple as building a garden help you build a better brain? Join me for a relaxing evening in my garden tomorrow at 7PM EDT as I team up with my friend Maurice Smith to talk about Soil, Soul & Spirit. Relax, unwind, and leave inspired!

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We Want to Hear from You!

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With millions of people around the world we know there are a lot of stories how small changes in lifestyle led to great success.

We’re sure you have one of those stories!

Take a moment to share your story and get the chance to be showcased in our new Reader Spotlight right here and on our blog.​

Send us your story and we’ll also include it in an upcoming copy of our newsletter!

Let’s connect!

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