Neurology specialist Dr. Michael Mega joins Suzanne courtesy of Athira Pharma to discuss the root causes of Alzheimer's disease. Dr. Mega is the Director of the Center for Cognitive Health in Portland, OR. He has published multiple scientific papers, book chapters, and a textbook contributing to the field of cognitive neuroscience.

"And so how do we say disease has changed its definition from probable during life, to now definitive, by measuring the amount of plaque tangles in the living brain of our patients. So getting to those plaques and tangles can be caused by many different paths. One, you could have an autosomal dominant inherited disorder that runs in your family with 50% of the family affected. Those tend to be very rare, but that's one way to get to plaque and tangle disease or Alzheimer's disease. Other way is the foods we eat, the lifestyle we pursue, our cognitive stimulation. So all of us make these misfolded amyloid proteins, that are at first soluble, before they precipitate into the brain as plaque, but those of us that get to the disease either makes too much of them or they don't clear them properly, and they're cleared during REM sleep. So, sleep disorders are associated also with not only Parkinson's disease, Lewie body disease, but also with not clearing amyloid properly. So sleep abnormalities, not eating a healthy Mediterranean style diet, being under stress at work or at home, not having cognitive stimulation that keeps your brain active during aging, having diabetes, having heart disease. There's many different roads to get to Alzheimer's. What is the real cause? Well, it's multifactorial, which has been the reason, the main reason, why it's so hard to treat this disorder."

He emphasizes that there are many ways of developing Alzheimer's disease. Developing medications may be able to remove the amyloid beta proteins and prevent this sort of cognitive decline. We're getting closer to proving the hypothesis that amyloids are the cause of Alzheimer's. He feels that upcoming medications may be used in the future more for prevention instead of treatment.

Visit the Center for Cognitive Health to learn more, see details on cutting edge research, and a list of active clinical trials at their clinic. You can also call (503) 476-9788. Hear more Alzheimer's-related podcasts from Athira Pharma, as well as other shows with Dr. Michael Mega. Visit lift-adtrial.com to learn about Athira Pharma's LIFT-AD Alzheimer's Disease trial. 

Neurology specialist <a href="http://www.centerforcognitivehealth.com/our-team/">Dr. Michael Mega</a> joins Suzanne courtesy of <a href="https://www.athira.com/">Athira Pharma</a> to discuss the root causes of Alzheimer's disease. Dr. Mega is the Director of the <a href="http://www.centerforcognitivehealth.com/">Center for Cognitive Health</a> in Portland, OR. He has published multiple scientific papers, book chapters, and a textbook contributing to the field of cognitive neuroscience.
"And so how do we say disease has changed its definition from probable during life, to now definitive, by measuring the amount of plaque tangles in the living brain of our patients. So getting to those plaques and tangles can be caused by many different paths. One, you could have an autosomal dominant inherited disorder that runs in your family with 50% of the family affected. Those tend to be very rare, but that's one way to get to plaque and tangle disease or Alzheimer's disease. Other way is the foods we eat, the lifestyle we pursue, our cognitive stimulation. So all of us make these misfolded amyloid proteins, that are at first soluble, before they precipitate into the brain as plaque, but those of us that get to the disease either makes too much of them or they don't clear them properly, and they're cleared during REM sleep. So, sleep disorders are associated also with not only Parkinson's disease, Lewie body disease, but also with not clearing amyloid properly. So sleep abnormalities, not eating a healthy Mediterranean style diet, being under stress at work or at home, not having cognitive stimulation that keeps your brain active during aging, having diabetes, having heart disease. There's many different roads to get to Alzheimer's. What is the real cause? Well, it's multifactorial, which has been the reason, the main reason, why it's so hard to treat this disorder."
He emphasizes that there are many ways of developing Alzheimer's disease. Developing medications may be able to remove the amyloid beta proteins and prevent this sort of cognitive decline. We're getting closer to proving the hypothesis that amyloids are the cause of Alzheimer's. He feels that upcoming medications may be used in the future more for prevention instead of treatment.
Visit the <a href="http://www.centerforcognitivehealth.com/">Center for Cognitive Health</a> to learn more, see <a href="http://www.centerforcognitivehealth.com/blog/">details on cutting edge research</a>, and <a href="http://www.centerforcognitivehealth.com/clinicaltrials/">a list of active clinical trials</a> at their clinic. You can also call (503) 476-9788. Hear more <a href="https://answersforelders.com/athira-pharma/">Alzheimer's-related podcasts from Athira Pharma</a>, as well as other shows with <a href="https://answersforelders.com/tag/dr-michael-mega/">Dr. Michael Mega</a>. Visit <a href="https://www.lift-adtrial.com/">lift-adtrial.com</a> to learn about Athira Pharma's LIFT-AD Alzheimer's Disease trial.

Answers for Elders is the North Star in Navigating Senior Care.  Our content is designed to Empower Seniors and their Families through the Daunting Journey of Aging.

Featuring our host, Suzanne Newman and top industry providers across the USA, together, we support, coach and assist seniors, caregivers and their families in finding the best independent solutions in world of aging, with a comprehensive line-up of topics covering Health & Wellness, Life Changes, Living Options, and Money & Law.

Answers for Elders is the North Star in Navigating Senior Care.  Our content is designed to Empower Seniors and their Families through the Daunting Journey of Aging.
Featuring our host, Suzanne Newman and top industry providers across the USA, together, we support, coach and assist seniors, caregivers and their families in finding the best independent solutions in world of aging, with a comprehensive line-up of topics covering Health &amp; Wellness, Life Changes, Living Options, and Money &amp; Law.

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Empowering Seniors and their Families through the Daunting Journey of Aging

For Caregivers: If you're caring for a senior loved one, or navigating later life care, we help make the journey so much easier for you and your family.

For Seniors: We help you be proactive to prepare for your aging years ahead, honoring your wishes.

Featuring our host, Suzanne Newman and top industry providers across the USA, together, we support, coach and assist families in finding the best independent solutions in world of aging, with a comprehensive line-up of topics covering Health & Wellness, Life Changes, Living Options, and Money & Law.

Empowering Seniors and their Families through the Daunting Journey of Aging
For Caregivers: If you're caring for a senior loved one, or navigating later life care, we help make the journey so much easier for you and your family.
For Seniors: We help you be proactive to prepare for your aging years ahead, honoring your wishes.
Featuring our host, Suzanne Newman and top industry providers across the USA, together, we support, coach and assist families in finding the best independent solutions in world of aging, with a comprehensive line-up of topics covering Health &amp; Wellness, Life Changes, Living Options, and Money &amp; Law.

Answers for Elders

Dr. Michael Mega, director of the Center for Cognitive Health in Portland, OR, talk about how diet, lifestyle, cognitive stimulation, and genetics all play into the paths to influence whether we can avoid Alzheimer's.

Avoiding the Paths That Cause Alzheimer's

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/5e27a451-e6e6-4c51-aa03-a7370003783c/clips/2088ad15-5516-4569-9d97-b02001565d98/transcript

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