Many years ago, my grandmother died of the ravages of Alzheimer’s. My family and I watched a vibrant, energetic ‘life of the party’ descend into what can only be described as a vegetative state. It was awful.

Alzheimer’s Disease

Neurological disease — Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, ALS — are horrific diseases that will almost certainly become more prevalent in the years ahead due to the demographics of aging baby boomers.

So what will you do to increase the odds of you not becoming a neurological disease statistic?

The unfortunate thing about these conditions is that by the time they manifest themselves as recognisable, much of the damage is done. This is a classic example of the importance of prevention.

What brings about these neurological conditions?

Bad luck? Don’t think so.

Genetics? Perhaps there are some with a predisposition to this — but not a reason to resign yourself to surrender [right, Angelina?].

I feel — and many scientists around the world share this view — that it is a combination of our lifestyle and our toxic environment that breeds these neurological conditions. The very same things that cause virtually all other chronic diseases.

For neurological diseases like Alzheimer’s, you can look at two main areas of concern:

• Inflammation
• Excitotoxicity

Inflammation is something you just don’t want going on inside your body. It promotes disease. And so much of it results from lifestyle choices. The foods you eat, chemical exposure, your level of exercise, your state of mind — all these can affect the amount of inflammation residing in your body.

Excitotoxicity is often self-administered. Using zero-calorie sugar in your coffee, buying diabetic-approved desserts, drinking diet soda? You are poisoning your brain cells with excitotoxins. Fluoride [toothpaste, municipal tap water, dentist office] does it. Heavy metals like lead, cadmium, aluminium, and mercury [dentists again, flu and other vaccines] damage cells as well.

What steps can you take to minimise the effects of inflammation and excitotoxicity?

In a coming post we will explore things you can do to reduce the odds of neurological disease.