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I was on a secret conference call the other day that included doctors and association executives in the field of Alzheimer’s research. The question came up about what a particular industry executive should say when asked about topics in Alzheimer’s research.

The first suggestion had to do with drug trials and how to get more people enrolled in them.

Then a doctor from a prestigious West coast medical school started mentioning the idea of prevention. Not much response.

Then another noted physician started talking about plaques and tangles and other LATE pathological findings in patients with Alzheimer’s. He thought that drugs to address those issues should be highlighted.

I then spoke up and said I support the doctor who suggested prevention. We should focus more upstream with preventative measures, before the tombstones of Alzheimer’s (plaques etc.) manifest.

Then the drug doctor said that these measures — diet and exercise and meditation — might only prevent Alzheimer’s by 2 years.

That got my dander up so I said,

“You don’t know that because that has never actually been studied. Indeed, research points to a long time, 20 years, before people have changes in their brain and they develop symptoms.1

Preventive measures may slow memory loss by 2 years or 5 years or 10 years or even longer,” I argued.

Indeed, in recent studies, depression, a condition that improves with natural treatment was associated with higher risk factor for Alzheimer’s.2

By the same token, cardiovascular fitness was associated with less risk of AD as was control of blood pressure.3

My own research has revealed that that by using these natural measures, brain blood flow is increased and cognitive function is improved in people struggling with early memory loss. This is a clear indicator that preventing early symptoms from getting worse helps prevent the onset of Alzheimer’s.

And there are even more benefits. My meditation technique boosts happiness and reduces fatigue, anger, and pain in only 12 minutes.4

Back to the phone call. After all of this discussion, the one doctor who must unfortunately remain nameless, said,

“Yes, but if we discuss prevention then our message of treatment of the disease with drugs will be diluted.”

That says it all.

Less disease = less drugs = less money in the pocket of drug companies and apparently less money in this guy’s pocket as well.

Drug pushing doctor in bed with Big Pharma and finally the truth comes out.

But I’m not going to let that stop me.

I say it’s time to forge ahead with the message of prevention, even in the face of big money corruption.

Be aware that if we don’t prevent AD, the latest prediction is for there to be 106 million cases worldwide by 2050.5

That’s a lot of lost memories.

Make sure you take care of your brain fitness starting right now.

Best of Blessings,

Dr. Dharma

References

1. Ferri CP, etal. Lancet. 2005; 366:2112-2117

2. Dura, R. et al. Alzheimer’s and Dementia. 5 (2009) 66-74.

3. Edo, R., et al. Alzheimers Dis Assoc Disorders. Vol 23. Number 3. July-Sept 2009 198-204.

4. Khalsa, D. Newberg, A., Enhanced Cognitive Function and Cerebral Blood Flow after Meditation Training in Subjects with Memory Loss. Submitted For Publication. August 2009.

5. Ferri CP, et al. Lancet. 2005;366:2112-2117.

[Ed. Note: The author of seven best-selling books, Dharma Singh Khalsa, M.D., often referred to as Dr. Dharma, is America’s # 1 Brain Longevity Specialist. To be part of his on-line community, receive his free newsletter, The Healing Minute, and claim a free e-book, go to www.drdharma.com. You may contact him at info@drdharma.com.]