FOR PATIENTS

NEURODEGENERATIVE DISEASES

“In a new study, Valter Longo and his colleagues show that cycles of a four-day low-calorie diet that mimics fasting cut visceral belly fat and elevated the number of progenitor and stem cells in several organs of old mice — including the brain, where it boosted neural regeneration and improved learning and memory.”

– USC News, June 18, 2015

Prevention and Treatment of Neurodegenerative Diseases

Prevention

People affected by pathologies may not do fasting-mimicking diets, unless they have the prior approval of their specialized doctor. In the case of serious or relatively serious illnesses (cancer, diabetes, or cardiovascular, autoimmune, or neurodegenerative diseases), it is important to seek permission and approval from a disease specialist as well as from a dietitian with expertise in the fasting-mimicking diet or in therapeutic fasting. The use of the fasting-mimicking diet for disease treatment should for the moment be limited to clinical trials unless the doctor determines that there are no viable options and the patient cannot wait until the conclusion of appropriate clinical trials and FDA (US Food and Drug Administration), and similar agencies in other countries, approval.

The following are guidelines for people at high risk of developing dementias (based on family history or early cognitive decline).

1 Adopt the Longevity Diet
2 Incorporate plenty of olive oil (50 milliliters per day) and nuts (30 grams per day).
3 Drink coffee. For people at relatively low risk of AD, keep it to one or two cups a day; for people at high risk, drink up to three or four cups a day. Speak to your doctor if you have problems.
4 Take 40 milliliters of coconut oil per day but consider potential heart disease risk (people with or at risk for cardiovascular disease should not use coconut oil).
5 Avoid all animal-based products with the exception of low-mercury fish and cheese or other dairy products from goat’s milk.
6 Follow a high-nourishment diet containing omega-3, B vitamins, and vitamins C, D, and E.
7 Take a multivitamin and mineral every day.

Treatment

People affected by pathologies may not do the fasting-mimicking diet, unless they have the prior approval of their specialized doctor. In the case of serious or relatively serious illnesses (cancer, diabetes, or cardiovascular, autoimmune, or neurodegenerative diseases), it is important to seek permission and approval from a disease specialist as well as from a dietitian with expertise in the fasting-mimicking diet or in therapeutic fasting. The use of the fasting-mimicking diet for disease treatment should for the moment be limited to clinical trials unless the doctor determines that there are no viable options and the patient cannot wait until the conclusion of appropriate clinical trials and FDA (US Food and Drug Administration), and similar agencies in other countries, approval.

The following are guidelines for people who have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) or dementia. This treatment plan must be approved and supervised by a neurologist and should be combined with standard-of-care therapy:

1 Follow all the dementia-prevention dietary recommendations above.
2 Consult the neurologist about incorporating cycles of a protein- and essential amino acid-deficient diet followed by normal calorie intake and/or cycles of the periodic fasting-mimicking diet.

With AD and other age-related diseases, it is important to remember that calorie- and nutrient-restricted diets are potentially dangerous to the elderly. The neurologist on the case should work with a registered dietitian to optimize the effects on brain function while minimizing risks and side effects.

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The information provided on this site is intended for your general knowledge only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment for specific medical conditions. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease without consulting with a qualified healthcare provider. Please consult your healthcare provider with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your condition.