We need to talk about something that scares the hell out of most people: losing our minds.
I don’t mean the daily stress of running a business or managing a family; I’m talking about dementia and Alzheimer’s. If you’ve been following my work at Brooktree for any length of time, you know I’ve spent the last 25 years obsessed with Health, Wellness, and Lifestyle. And frankly, the traditional medical approach to brain health—waiting until things break and then trying to patch them up—isn't working.
I recently came across some fascinating insights from Dr. Ashley Froese that align perfectly with what I’ve believed for years: Dementia isn’t just a brain problem; it’s a whole-body metabolic breakdown.
The "Type 3 Diabetes" Connection
For decades, we’ve been told that Alzheimer’s is all about amyloid plaques and tau proteins tangling up in the brain. But here’s the kicker: those plaques might just be the tombstone, not the killer. The real culprit often starts years earlier with inflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and insulin resistance.
Researchers are now starting to call Alzheimer’s "Type 3 Diabetes." Just like your body can become resistant to insulin (leading to Type 2 Diabetes), your brain can stop responding to insulin, too. When that happens, your brain cells literally starve because they can't process the fuel they need, even if you’re swimming in blood sugar.
This is why I constantly preach lifestyle management over quick fixes. If you treat your body like a dumpster fire, you can’t expect your brain to remain a sanctuary.
The New Frontier: Peptides and "Bio-Hacks"
The science is finally moving upstream to look at root causes. There is some incredibly promising research coming out regarding peptides—signaling molecules that tell your cells what to do.
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GLP-1 Agonists: You know these as the weight-loss drugs everyone is talking about. It turns out they might help fix brain inflammation and insulin resistance.
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Dihexa & SS-31: These are heavy hitters in the research world (not yet mainstream) that look at repairing synaptic connections and stabilizing the mitochondria—the power plants of your cells.
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MOTS-c: This one is fascinating—it’s an "exercise mimetic." It mimics the cellular benefits of working out. (But let’s be clear: this is not an excuse to skip the gym).
Disclaimer: I’m not a doctor, and neither I nor Brooktree Consulting are prescribing these. But the science behind repairing the system rather than just treating symptoms is what gets me excited.
Practical Steps: Supplements Worth Your Time
While peptide therapy is cutting-edge (and expensive), there are accessible ways to support your brain metabolism right now. Based on the metabolic theory of neurodegeneration, here is what I’d be looking at:
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NAD+ Precursors (NMN/NR): Think of NAD as the battery charger for your cells. Levels drop as we age, so topping this off is a smart play for energy.
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Omega-3s (High DHA): Your brain is mostly fat. Feed it good fat. Look for high DHA content—it’s the building block of your neurons.
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CoQ10: Essential for mitochondrial energy, especially if you are on a statin (which depletes it).
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Magnesium L-Threonate: The only form of magnesium that effectively crosses the blood-brain barrier to support memory.
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Vitamin D: It’s not just a vitamin; it’s a hormone. Low levels are consistently linked to cognitive decline. Get out in the sun or supplement it.
My Opinion? There Is No Magic Pill
Here is the hard truth. You can take all the NAD and peptides in the world, but if you aren't sleeping, if you're eating processed garbage, and if you're sedentary, you are fighting a losing battle. Supplements are just that—supplemental.
The goal is to build a lifestyle where peace, physical activity, and proper nutrition are the baseline, not the exception. We want to save our money and our health so we can actually enjoy life later on—whether that’s retiring to South Africa or just enjoying a quiet afternoon in the sun.
Ready to get your lifestyle back on track?
At Brooktree Consulting, we don’t just throw diet plans at you; we build a comprehensive strategy to manage your overall lifestyle, health, and longevity. If you want to get back into the best shape of your life and protect your future, let’s talk.
Click here to schedule a Discovery Call with me or visit Brooktree.life to learn more about becoming a private client.
Let’s get to work.
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