The most common thread in a growing body of research supporting Alzheimer’s prevention, treatment and reversals is variety. That’s because there are multiple causes of Alzheimer’s and it’s not the same for each person.
With that in mind, the most important question to ask about Alzheimer’s prevention or reversing symptoms is: Alzheimer’s due to what? There’s more than one answer, and your follow-up question should be: What’s causing that?
Now I’m turning your attention to mycotoxins and a condition called CIRS — Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome — as an example of a strong contributor to Alzheimer’s in many people who have the toxic type of Alzheimer’s. Dr. Bredesen refers to this as inhalational Alzheimer’s disease.
Alzheimer’s due to CIRS. What’s causing that? CIRS is defined as a chronic, progressive multi-symptom, multisystem illness caused by exposure to biotoxins (or neurotoxins derived from a biological source).
About 25% of the U.S. population has a genetic predisposition to biotoxins. Mycotoxins from molds are a type of biotoxin. CIRS develops when genetically susceptible people are exposed to certain biotoxins. Their immune system does not properly recognize the biotoxins and does not produce antibodies against them. The biotoxins are not cleared and remain in the body indefinitely, passing from cell to cell causing systemic inflammation. People with CIRS usually have a variety of symptoms, but people who have Alzheimer’s due to CIRS, which is common in those with early-onset Alzheimer’s, tend not to have all those symptoms. Their first symptoms are often associated with one or more of the following:
- Reading comprehension
- Calculating
- Organization
- Vision
- Anxiety
One of my clients who has an Alzheimer’s diagnosis has CIRS. I could list 12 things found through his lab testing that led to the irrefutable conclusion that toxicity from mycotoxin exposure was a major contributor to his cognitive decline.
Was his Alzheimer’s diagnosis accurate? Yes, according to the doctor, he met the diagnostic criteria for Alzheimer’s. But what’s causing it? In this scenario, mycotoxin exposure that resulted in systemic inflammation, oxidative stress, loss of hormonal support and more — all of which helped create the perfect storm of Alzheimer’s.
Also, the brain’s protective response to toxins and infections is to make amyloid because amyloid is anti-microbial. You can check that out here in a study done by Harvard researchers and in various interviews with Dr. Bredesen.
The point is that the diagnosis of Mild Cognitive Impairment or Alzheimer’s doesn’t give you enough information, and the good news is that the information you need is available if you get the right tests.
CIRS is tough. Even so, there’s a lot you can do to stop the chronic inflammatory process due to mycotoxins, and it’s possible to improve. With mycotoxins, it can get complicated, but it starts by locating and remediating the mold. Here are three practical action steps related to mycotoxins that you can use now, even if you don’t have symptoms.
1. Test your home: Get a HERTSMI test from mycometrics.com.
a) The HERTSMI is a mold test that analyses a dust sample for 5 molds. These molds are known as the “Big 5” that are known to cause health problems.
b) Only the ERMI and HERTSMI have been associated with sequential activation of innate immune responses, not air testing.
c) Click this link for a detailed explanation of HERTSMI testing.
d) You can also use this test prior to buying a new home. I’ve done this and so have my clients.
Please contact Mycometrics directly if you have questions about using the HERTSMI test.
2. Test yourself:
a) Use the Visual Contrast Sensitivity test. It’s an online visual test you can take in just a few minutes. The VCS test is highly accurate and supports biotoxin-related illness diagnosis in 92 percent of affected people. If your test is positive, work with a knowledgeable practitioner for further evaluation. You can take the test for free but choose the $15 option for the full report.
3) If you know or suspect mold is in your home, talk to a professional mold inspector.
a) yesweinspect.com has a good reputation.
b) You have to be picky about inspections because most mold inspectors don’t understand the health implications of CIRS and don’t fully inspect homes.
c) You have to also be careful with remediators, they don’t always get the job done to the specifications that someone with CIRS needs.
Of the clients I’ve worked with who have had CIRS, only one was aware of the mold issue in the home. Mycotoxins from mold are in the air, you inhale them. They are invisible. You may not see mold in your home because it can grow behind your drywall, your refrigerator, on the a/c coils, behind the dishwasher, under the bathroom or kitchen counter.
Alzheimer’s is complicated because it has multiple contributors, and it is confusing
because it’s not the same for each person. Don’t let that deter you! There are answers to the question: Alzheimer’s due to what? Mycotoxins are just one possibility.
Angela Chapman, M.Ed, FDN-P is a certified ReCODE practitioner and health educator. If you’re looking for ways to prevent or fight Alzheimer’s, her Sunday email is a great resource for you.