Life history can provide crucial clues to what is causing Alzheimer’s disease, MCI or SCI. It is therefore important to know if you currently or have ever:
- suffered head trauma. (Have you ever been knocked unconscious?
- Had an automobile accident? Played contact sports?)
- had general anesthesia (and how many times). General anesthesia combines some toxicity of the anesthetics with what is often imperfect oxygenation, and this can affect brain function.
- have or had dental amalgams. These expose you to inorganic mercury. eat high-mercury fish. This exposes you to organic mercury.
- take certain medications (especially any with brain effects, such as benzodiazepines like Valium, antidepressants, blood pressure pills, statins, proton pump inhibitors, or antihistamines).
- used street drugs.
- drink alcohol (and how much).
- smoke or smoked cigarettes.
- been practicing good oral hygiene. Poor oral hygiene can contribute to inflammation.
- have surgical implants (artificial hips or breast implants, for instance).
- have or had liver, kidney, lung, or heart disease.
- snore. This may suggest the possibility of sleep apnea.
- consume hot-pressed oils (like palm oil). These hot-pressed oils lose some of their vitamin E during the heat processing and therefore may be damaging to your brain.
- eat foods high in trans fats or simple carbohydrates. These have multiple effects, such as vascular damage and insulin resistance.
- have chronic sinus problems. These may alert you to exposure to molds and their related mycotoxins.
- have gastrointestinal problems such as bloating or recurrent diarrhea. This may tip you off that you have a leaky gut.
- have mold in your house, car, or workplace. Most people do not realize that such exposure is a risk factor for cognitive decline.
- eat processed foods or nonorganic foods. These often contribute to insulin resistance and toxin exposure.
- had tick bites. Ticks carry over 70 different pathogens, such as the Lyme disease Borrelia, and the chronic inflammation associated with these may contribute to cognitive decline.
- take proton pump inhibitors for reflux. These reduce the stomach acid needed for digestion, and therefore reduce the uptake of zinc and vitamin B12, among other nutrients.
- use makeup, hair spray, or antiperspirant. These relate to toxic exposure.
- don’t sweat much (one important route for toxin elimination).
- been constipated (bowel movements also eliminate toxin).
- don’t drink enough purified water (urine also removes toxins).