Key Insights on Alzheimer's Disease: Diagnosis, Treatment, and Lifestyle Factors

02/07/25 • 74 min

Today, I’m joined by Dr. Ken Sharlin, a board-certified neurologist, to discuss the truth about Alzheimer's disease—what causes it, why early detection is critical, and how functional medicine is changing the game. We dive into:

✅ The real difference between Alzheimer’s and dementia
✅ Why conventional neurology often fails patients
✅ The latest diagnostic tools & treatments—including blood-based biomarkers
✅ The power of lifestyle medicine to prevent & slow cognitive decline
✅ The future of regenerative medicine & stem cell therapy for brain health

This episode is packed with cutting-edge research and practical strategies you won’t hear from your regular doctor. Tune in now! 🎧

This episode is packed with cutting-edge research and practical strategies you won’t hear from your regular doctor. Tune in now! 🎧

Previous Episode

Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome- Unraveling this Condition

In this episode I do a deep dive on POTS:

What is POTS? Learn about Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome, how it impacts the nervous system, and why it's on the rise—especially post-COVID.
Symptoms & Diagnosis: Discover the key criteria for diagnosing POTS, how it differs from other forms of dysautonomia, and common symptoms like dizziness, fatigue, brain fog, and gut issues.
Root Causes & Triggers: Understand the connection between POTS and factors like autoimmune conditions, concussions, long COVID, gut health, mast cell activation, and hormonal imbalances.
Why Conventional Treatments Fall Short: Find out why simply taking salt tablets, wearing compression stockings, or using beta-blockers may not be enough—and what a more comprehensive approach looks like.
A Functional Approach to POTS: Dr. Zimmerman breaks down a neurological and immune-based framework for evaluating and treating POTS, focusing on brain function, balance, gut health, and inflammation.

To learn more about POTS we have a blogpost on our clinic website: https://peakbrainandbody.com/dysautonomia-and-pots-why-you-have-dizziness-headaches-and-chronic-fatigue/

Next Episode

Understanding Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Band-Aid Diagnosis or Root Cause Issue?

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Band-Aid Diagnosis or Root Cause Issue?

Understanding Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) – Dr. Zimmerman breaks down the diagnostic criteria for CFS, also known as myalgic encephalomyelitis, including persistent fatigue, post-exertional malaise, and unrefreshing sleep.
Overlapping Symptoms & Misdiagnosis Risks – Many conditions share symptoms with CFS, such as autoimmune disorders, thyroid dysfunction, and neurological issues. Without proper testing, a CFS diagnosis may be a "band-aid" rather than addressing the true cause.
Key Systems to Evaluate – Dr. Z emphasizes the importance of examining three major systems: the immune system (COVID, mold exposure, autoimmunity), the nervous system (concussions, strokes), and energy production (blood sugar, thyroid, anemia, hormones, sleep). The nervous system should still be evaluated even if you haven't had a concussion or a stroke.
The Link Between Long COVID & CFS – Many post-COVID symptoms closely resemble CFS, suggesting viral triggers may play a significant role. Identifying immune system dysfunction is key to proper treatment.
A Whole-Body Approach to Recovery – Instead of symptom management, Dr. Z advocates for a root-cause approach, integrating functional neurology and medicine to optimize brain-body health and restore energy levels.

🔹 Listen now to learn how to uncover the real reason behind your chronic fatigue and take steps toward lasting recovery!

Brain Body Reset - Key Insights on Alzheimer's Disease: Diagnosis, Treatment, and Lifestyle Factors

Transcript

Today I'm joined by Ken Sharlin, MD. Welcome to the show. Thank you so much. So I want to dive into this. So we're talking about a topic that is of great interest to so much of the population. So we're going to talk about Alzheimer's. Tell us a little bit about your background because you're uniquely qualified to talk about this topic in a way that many of the people who are on podcasts they're just really not, they're not in the, you know, in the way you are. Well, thank you. I appreciate tha