Two Alzheimer’s patients have publicly claimed they beat the deadly disease by making simple but strict lifestyle changes.
new CNN The documentary “The Last Alzheimer’s Patient” features Sissi Zerbe, who reported feeling “much better” after switching to a plant-based diet and adopting serious exercise and health habits. .
Zerbe, who confessed to missing his favorite veal cutlets, said he hadn’t eaten his favorite food in five years, but credits meditation, exercise and diet, among other things, for “reversing” his symptoms.
Zerbe is a participant in a clinical trial led by Dr. Dean Ornish that is investigating the effects of major lifestyle changes on early dementia and mild cognitive impairment caused by Alzheimer’s disease. The findings will be published in the Daily Mail next month. report.
Mr. Gupta also interviewed another study participant, Simon Nicholls, who shared his own similar experience.
The 55-year-old carries two copies of the APOE4 gene, which is known to dramatically increase the risk of Alzheimer’s disease, and Avengers star Chris Hemsworth famously suffers from the disease. The men saw dramatic improvements after making lifestyle changes.
“I was very worried,” Nichols told Dr. Sanjay Gupta on camera. “I have two sons, ages 3 and 8. As I get older, it is very important for me to try to be able to serve them in the future.”
“there are many [changes] You can make lifestyle changes to hopefully delay the disease and give yourself more time. “That’s all we need until we find a cure,” he said.
Nichols seemed to find considerable motivation in her family’s past experience with dementia. His mother died of what appeared to be Alzheimer’s disease in her 70s.
“For the last 10 years of her life, she just sat in a chair and rocked while taking about 14 different medications. I wanted to live a long healthy life and get back on my feet quickly. I think so,” he said.
“Simon was on a mission, as if the Grim Reaper was peering over his shoulder. He was going to do something terrible and smear his name,” said the preventive neurologist who oversaw Nichols’ case. Dr. Richard Isaacson told CNN.
Isaacson said he was surprised to see Nichols’ Alzheimer’s disease biomarkers disappear in just over a year.
The plan began with a prescription for tirzepatide, which is found in Mounjaro and Zepbound, trendy treatments approved by the FDA to treat type 2 diabetes and weight loss, respectively.
In addition to new dietary restrictions, including eliminating sugar and ultra-processed foods and switching to a plant-based diet, Nichols also adopted a serious exercise routine, including strength training. His mornings started with a combination of walking, jogging, and cycling.
“When I first saw Simon, he was a little half-hearted, like most men in their 50s. When I saw him at nine weeks, I did a double take. He was completely It was very strong and torn,” Dr. Isaacson said.
“I love taking an hour and a half walk every morning at sunrise while listening to podcasts. I walk over 10,000 steps every day. I’m very consistent,” Nichols revealed. “I also do a slow full-body workout with weights for an hour three times a week.”
“Within those nine weeks, he lost 21 pounds, about 80 percent of his fat, and gained muscle. It was amazing,” Isaacson recalled. “I hardly recognized him.”
Isaacson said he refrained from using the word “reversal” but emphasized his excitement over the promising results observed in Nichols and other patients.
“I don’t use the word ‘reversal.’ I don’t know what reversal means when it comes to the field of Alzheimer’s disease,” Isaacson said.
“But the results in our study with Simon and the other patients are very interesting.”
