Functional Medicine approach to Neurodegenerative Diseases

Functional Medicine Approach to Neurodegenerative Diseases (NDDs) from Parkinson’s Disease, to Alzheimer disease and Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

Functional approach to neurodegenerative Conditions

Neurodegenerative disease (NDDs) is an umbrella term for a range of conditions which primarily affect the neurons in the human brain.

Neurons are the building blocks of the nervous system which includes the brain and spinal cord. Neurons normally don’t reproduce or replace themselves, so when they become damaged or die they cannot be replaced by the body. Examples of neurodegenerative diseases include Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and Huntington’s disease.

Neurodegenerative diseases are incurable and debilitating conditions that result in progressive degeneration and / or death of nerve cells. This causes problems with movement (called ataxias), or mental functioning (called dementias).

General Functional Medicine Approach to NDDs (MS, ALS, Dementia, Parkinson’s Disease and Alzheimer’s disease) 

Genetically Modified Foods (AKA GMOs), and specific pro-inflammatory foods were shown to be contributing factors to numerous autoimmune conditions, in addition to NDDs. For the past decade I’ve observed that many of my patients presenting with such conditions, typically react to wheat, dairy, eggs and corn.

Gluten, found in wheat, rye, barley and oats, is a major cause and contributor to the neurodegenerative process, as well as numerous autoimmune diseases. Most doctors dismiss gluten as a problem. Traditional diagnostic testing has focused on blood antibody tests and or intestinal biopsies. Unfortunately, traditional tests for gluten sensitivity are often incorrect. There tends to be a lot of false negatives. Therefore, I just have patients eliminate gluten from their diet.

General Guide: I typically recommend an anti-inflammatory diet, diet that is nutrition dense, low caloric, rich in low glycemic fruits and vegetables, without any processed foods i.e. no saturated fats, sugar, or unwanted chemicals, I also ask the patient to eliminate their severe food reactions from their diet, this is followed by balancing their hormones, support detoxification pathways, improve their gut function (absorption, elimination, and natural flora), and correct any other structural or physiological imbalances that we can find.

For more information about functional medicine and my approach to care please watch:

###

BOOK YOUR APPOINTMENT

Click below to get started and schedule your appointment online.