[Book Review] It's Not "Because You're Old," It's "The Price of Neglect"

Dale Bredesen's "The End of Alzheimer's"
It is commonly accepted that illness becomes more frequent and aches increase with age
The prevailing view is that once Alzheimer's symptoms appear,
it is generally difficult to see improvement
The author challenges this conventional wisdom
Without proper management, the disease can develop even at a young age
Conversely, with good management, improvement is possible even after onset
The author claims there are actual cases of recovery
Emphasizes the importance of dietary therapy as a management method
Identifies sugar as the main enemy to defeat

No matter how much wealth, fame, or power one may possess, no one can defy the passage of time. Aging is generally accepted as a natural law. The human body is like a physical tool, and it is considered natural for illnesses to become more frequent and aches to increase as we age. In particular, when it comes to Alzheimer's disease, the prevailing view is that once symptoms appear, it is generally difficult to see improvement.

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However, the author challenges this conventional wisdom. Dale Bredesen, a world-renowned authority on degenerative neurological diseases and head of the medical division at the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences in Germany, emphasizes, "Let go of the belief that 'this is just what happens as you get older.'" He argues that if you do not take proper care of your body, you can develop Alzheimer's even at a young age, but conversely, with good management, it is possible to maintain a healthy life even in old age.

The author even claims that there have been cases of 'curing' Alzheimer's disease. "I have seen cases where brain volume, as measured by MRI, improved. (Omitted) Problems that were once thought to be inevitable with age disappeared entirely. No more losing things, no more forgetting tasks, no more struggling with lack of concentration."

The recent surge in dementia and Alzheimer's cases among younger generations suggests that the primary cause of these diseases is not simply 'age,' but rather 'health management.' According to a 2020 survey by the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, a regional health insurance coalition covering one-third of the U.S. population, the dementia diagnosis rate among people aged 30 to 44 increased by 373% between 2013 and 2017. This far exceeds the 143% increase among those aged 55 to 64. Researchers analyzed that excessive exposure to electronic devices such as TVs, computers, and mobile devices, brain atrophy due to obesity, and abnormal synaptic activity likely had negative effects.

In this context, the author points out that early-onset dementia patients are being treated almost identically to elderly patients, and that many doctors simply attribute the disease to bad luck. The author also criticizes current dementia medications for only temporarily enhancing cognitive function and slightly slowing disease progression. He adds, "I have long argued that it is cruel for doctors to treat dementia patients in their 60s, 70s, and 80s (not just the young) in this way."

So, what is needed? The author suggests that dietary therapy could be one solution. He argues that the dangers of fat have been excessively emphasized compared to the dangers of sugar, stating, "If I had to name the main enemy to defeat, it would be sugar." "Sugar provides a massive amount of energy to the body at once, but in return, it shortens the lifespan of both the body and brain. It is involved in inflammatory responses and negatively affects memory. (Omitted) When I think of sugar, what comes to mind first is that this toxic substance causes extreme confusion in our brains."

Nevertheless, in daily life, the dangers of sugar are relatively less well known compared to other risk factors. In 1967, Harvard researchers published a paper claiming that fat was more harmful than sugar, but it was only revealed in 2016 that the study had been funded by the Sugar Research Foundation. In 2015, The New York Times reported that Coca-Cola had provided millions of dollars in research funding to scientists to promote the claim that health problems were more related to exercise than to diet.

Processed foods should also be avoided. According to a study that tracked the eating habits of 10,000 people over ten years, those whose daily caloric intake consisted of more than 20% processed foods experienced a 28% faster decline in cognitive function than those who consumed less. The author observes, "Nutrients in food are eliminated from the body before they can be used, and carbohydrates are absorbed more quickly, triggering inflammation and raising insulin levels."

The author also introduces interesting experiments related to sleep apnea, which can cause Parkinson's disease or Alzheimer's disease. A research team led by neuropsychologist Thomas Schreiner at Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich in Germany showed participants 120 images, each paired with a specific verb. For example, an apple image would be paired with the verb 'to bite.' When participants recalled both the image and the verb together, a neural connection linking the two stimuli occurred in the brain, and those with better ability in this task showed more normal sleep rhythms. The frequency of recalling the image and the associated word before falling asleep was also higher.

Additionally, the author recommends regular sleep of 7 to 9 hours a day, combining aerobic and strength exercises, and 'brain health techniques' that break fixed routines and provide new stimulation to the brain. He emphasizes that these practices help enhance neuroplasticity (the reorganization of neural circuits) and form new neural pathways.

The book offers a wealth of fascinating health information centered on Alzheimer's disease, making it highly informative. However, with its substantial length of 545 pages and densely packed explanations supporting each claim, readers may find it somewhat overwhelming. Taking time to read slowly or selectively focusing on key sections could be a good approach.

The End of Alzheimer's | Written by Dale Bredesen | Translated by Je Hyo-young | Simm-Simm | 548 pages | 25,000 KRW