Chronic inflammation beginning in middle age has been linked to cognitive decline in later years, according to a new cohort study. Chronic inflammation can result from poor diet, stress, environmental toxins, or lingering infections, among other things. In the study of over 12,000 participants, midlife inflammation was correlated with a sharp decline in cognitive decline – especially memory.
This is one of the first studies of its kind to look at midlife inflammation and memory rather than inflammation later in life. Dr. Keenan Walker of Johns Hopkins University, one of the authors of the study, elaborates:
While other studies have looked at chronic inflammation and its effects on the brain in older people, our large study investigated chronic inflammation beginning in middle age and showed that it may contribute to cognitive decline in the decades leading up to old age. Overall, the additional change in thinking and memory skills associated with chronic inflammation was modest, but it was greater than what has been seen previously associated with high blood pressure in middle age.”
You see, there have been previous studies linking hypertension (or high blood pressure) to lowered memory and overall cognitive decline, but the new study shows that inflammation may have an even more dramatic affect on memory in later years. Many older people suffer from dementia or other cognitive issues. Dementia is an umbrella term that describes symptoms of brain disorders rather than a specific disease. Alzheimer’s disease is a type of dementia. This study shows that inflammation may be at the root of these diseases.
But Walker clarified that inflammation may not be the direct cause of cognitive decline, but rather a marker of, or response to, neurodegenerative brain disease. It is generally accepted that factors leading to memory loss and cognitive decline begin in middle age. That may be when the body is most receptive to interventions that can stop or slow the mechanisms that lead to such a decline.
We’ve talked about inflammation before, and how chronic inflammation may be at the root of most chronic disease. From coronary disease, to Alzheimer’s, to cancer, nearly all major health conditions stem from systemic inflammation. And while acute, localized inflammation in response to injury is part of the body’s natural healing process, chronic, ongoing inflammation can wreak havoc on your health.
And while toxins, lack of exercise, and ongoing stress can all cause chronic inflammation, the number one cause of chronic inflammation in the U.S. is poor diet. Refined oils, processed meats, chemically altered foods, and anything processed under extreme heat tend to be inflammatory. And the Standard American Diet (SAD) promotes this kind of inflammation.
This isn’t the first study to show a connection between inflammation and cognitive decline – especially Alzheimer’s disease. One study evaluating the dental health of Alzheimer’s patients found that patients with gum disease and the subsequent inflammation had a six-fold decline in cognitive decline. Another study around the turn of the millennium found that taking anti-inflammatory drugs reduces the risk of developing Alzheimer’s.
But anti-inflammatory drugs only treat the symptoms, while ignoring the problem and introducing a litany of side effects. Long-term use of these drugs can introduce a host of new health problems. As with most drugs, they treat one symptom while introducing a new one. The best way to fight inflammation is to address the root cause.
Dr. Walker understands the many devastating effects of chronic inflammation. “Chronic inflammation is tough on the body, and can damage joints, internal organs, tissue and cells. It can also lead to heart disease, stroke and cancer.”
So, if inflammation plays an important role in cognitive decline, what can we do to reduce inflammation and set ourselves up for a healthy, prosperous life long into our later years? There are several ways, and we’ve got you covered with an “anti-inflammatory cheat sheet.”
1| Reduce Your Stress
This can include mental stress, toxic stress, and nutritional stress. When our bodies experience stress, we induce an inflammatory response meant to address that stress. When we are in a constant state of stress, we are in a constant state of inflammation.
2| Increase Water Intake
Proper hydration is the best way to help your body rid itself of toxins. When we aren’t drinking enough water, toxins can begin to build up within our bodies. And the type of water we drink makes a big difference. Toxins in our water can actually contribute to inflammation, so it’s important to have properly filtered water.
3| Cut Sugar
CANCER FEEDS ON SUGAR! Does this mean you can’t have anything sweet? Absolutely not. But it DOES mean you need to be aware of how much sugar you consume. And more importantly, what kinds of sugar. Sugar from fruit is much different than the refined white stuff you see at the store. Natural sweetener is amazing. Refined sugar is white death.
4| Get More Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Our bodies require both Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids. But the Standard American diet provides us with way too many Omega-6 acids and not hardly enough Omega-3 acids. Finding ways to limit Omega-6 and increase natural Omega-3 acids can help immensely in the quest to reduce chronic inflammation.
5| Get Regular Exercise (but don’t overdo it!)
I’ve talked at length about the importance of exercise. After all – I was a professional bodybuilder in my youth. But as important as exercise is for health, it’s also important to allow time for rest and healing. Exhaustion and overexertion can lead to chronic inflammation, which is NOT good for your health. Whatever your exercise routine, be sure it includes time for your body to rest and heal.
6| Eat the Right Diet
WHAT YOU PUT INTO YOUR BODY MATTERS! As the saying goes, “garbage in, garbage out.” To truly minimize chronic inflammation and to properly equip your body’s natural immune system, it’s IMPERATIVE that you consume the right nutrition.
So much of our food today is not even real food. It’s been stripped of nutrients, loaded with toxins, and does nothing but fill you with empty carbs. If you want to be proactive against inflammation, cognitive degeneration, and a host of other ailments, seek out natural, whole, nutritious foods that feed your body. Too much of what we consume these days is fake, and the absolute best way to protect your body and mind is to eat a diet rich in whole, organic, non-GMO foods that will encourage healing instead of inflammation.
I wonder if you can help. My inflammation is off the charts. C reactive protein has been 105 now 21. Diet is good. Take prednisone for autoimmune pain. Nothing brings it down. I am 78 years old but in good health till 2 years ago when I had pulmonary embolism and then 4 months later a stroke. I’m willing to try supplements and would like more info on collagen. I thought this article would be about collagen but it wasn’t.
Elizabeth Zelenak
Hi Elizabeth –
Thanks for sharing your concerns with us.
For overcoming severe inflammation we would recommend speaking to a health professional so they can best guide you based on your body type. Unfortunately, we are unable to give any kind of medical advice. The best advice we can give you is to consult with one of the doctors we interviewed in the Global series.
Please note that we are not able to select an expert for you.
We’ve created a page with the experts’ contact info as it was available to us.
Here’s the link to the actual webpage:
http://thetruthaboutcancer.com/experts-info-sheet/
We do have one more resource you may be interested in. During our Live Event 2017 series, Dr. Patrick Quillin suggested contacting The Institute of Functional Medicine to locate a practitioner in your area.
If you are interested, here is the link to search for a Functional Medicine Practitioner in your area: https://www.ifm.org/find-a-practitioner/
Also, if you want to take a look at our article on collagen I’ve linked it for you below:
https://thetruthaboutcancer.com/collagen-benefits/
Hope this is helpful. Blessings and love!
You will find the Collagen Article on the next article after this one. Look for the arrow or guide to send you over.
Thank you!
Very clear and to the point guide lines we can all use.
Once again thank you for your informative valuable info on health,God bless your endeavors.
God bless you and your family, Rob!
Hi Ty,
I just wanted to thank you and your family for everything you do. I have watched all of your truth about cancer documentaries. They have provided great info that I passed along to my sister who was diagnosed 4 years ago with non Hodgkin limfoma. Unfortunately it has returned. I told her about intervenes vitamin c along with the treatment she wishes to take along with hydrogen treatments. I just wish she would listen more to me. Again, thank you for everything and for listening to me. God Bless. : )
Hi Ty and Charlene, As you know, I’ve been a subscriber of your life saving, down to earth and extremely informative emails since you started your quest many years. The ” A GLOBAL QUEST ” Series is mind blowing. Thank you and Charlene so much for the work you both have done and also to your dedicated research team that supports your work and helps you put all this together.
I love all of your emails, videos and life changing and saving information, Thank you so much!
I lost 4 dogs in a 2 year period and it was so stressfull but on top of it all I put a hole in my head from a truck tool box from holding the lid against a wood pile trying to find a fertilizer in the box itself! To make a long story short I ended up with a heart attack and stents put in my heart! I had no say because the Doctor found another sucker to pay for blood thinners to keep the stents open! What I’m trying to say the blood thinners I’m taking takes your memories away from you also! I can better say what I want too on the internet than talk. I’m quickly losing the ability to say and wright the words I want and the spelling of them! Sorry for any mistakes I have made! This is a warning on how medicine can rob you of your dignity and freedom! You’ve got to answer this question what if the world goes to hell? what are you going to do for help? I’m 73 years old , my Husband 80 ,He had a stent put in the back of his heart which gave him a chance to breath better! He is loseing his mind also because of the medicine! The medicine robbed me of my mind and the ability to do anything anymore! It’s just not cancer anymore! Martha Gilson
Martha, I am SO sorry about your health issues and those of your husband. What a heartbreak! You have both had surgeries. Have you considered that your doctors may have had you on Flouroquinolone antibiotics during or post surgery? The Flouroquinolone family of antibiotics, Cipro, Levaquin, and several others, can and do rob people of their health, including, but certainly not limited to, their memories. They destroyed my mother’s memory, especially her short-term memory. They also attack connective tissue, and the patient’s own DNA in the Mitochondria. Most doctors do not even realize it, because they don’t read the updated FDA warnings. I have informed my doctor that I am “allergic” to flouroquinolones. The nurses get all surly and so do the docs, as they challenge me; what KIND of reaction do you have? Without missing a beat, I tell them of my mother’s experience with them, and that allergies tend to be familial in many cases, and Mama and I have several of the same allergies, so I refuse to allow Flouroquinolones in my body. Guess how they destroyed Mama’s life with them? She had to be hospitalized twice with hypokalemia, (I am an RN, BTW) r/t medications she takes, and since potassium out of parameters can mess with your entire body, she had loose stools, she said. So, the hospital has a PROTOCOL to put their patients on Flouroquinolones, in SPITE of their black box warning, until they can recover a stool to test for C-Dif. She never had C-dif, and they were never able to test a stool. DAYS worth of FLouroquinolones. Finally, she was given RX for the antibiotic to take at home, and THAT is when we read the paper that comes with the pill- the actual medication ‘insert’, not the printout. And that is when we knew. See, the nurses o the floors are expected to know about the medicines, and all its potential problems, etc, but we NEVER see the Rx insert. EVER. Unless we each specifically request the pharmacy to send us one to read in our spare time (RIGHT?!) at work. There is no spare time. So, nursing staff do not know. Docs dont keep up or know, and Big Pharma wont tell the patients in the printouts that there is a black-box warning on their meds. It is now up to us consumers to STUDY every medication we are given BEFORE we take it. May your husband and you both be blessed as you heal from the effects of modern medicine. TTAC helped me so much when I was given the cancer diagnosis! but you are right. Its no longer just cancer anymore. The Rx for good health is still the same, though.
Nattokinase great for, preventing and dissolving blood clots or Vitamin E. Both are blood thinners. Do the research. Hope it helps. But need someone with knowledge to get you off the pharma blood thinners! Blessings to you.
Interesting to know, Sunny! Thank you for sharing. 🙂
Sunny, only natural vitamin E is effective as a blood thinner (D-alpha tocopherol). Synthetic vitamin E is not good for you (dl-alpha tocopherol). Also, Helichrysum will dissolve blood clots and fish oils will help with that too. I have a blood clotting tendency and was told that I would have to be on blood thinners for life. I didn’t feel good when I took the drug. I have been taking natural vitamin E and other natural supplements to keep my blood flowing for many years.
Hi ive been diagnosed with large vasulius can u give me some advice and information please
Hi Julie –
Thanks for your comment.
Unfortunately, we’re unable to give medical advice but we do have a list of health experts and doctors whom we trust. I’ve shared the link with you below in case it’s helpful. Please note that we are not able to select an expert for you.
We’ve created a page with the experts’ contact info as it was available to us.
Here’s the link to the actual webpage:
http://thetruthaboutcancer.com/experts-info-sheet/
Also, during our Live Event 2017 series, Dr. Patrick Quillin suggested contacting The Institute of Functional Medicine to locate a practitioner in your area.
If you are interested, here is the link to search for a Functional Medicine Practitioner in your area:
https://www.ifm.org/find-a-practitioner/
Sending prayers of love and healing your way. ❤️