(Saturday, April 11, 2026)
I have been sad since my Mayo diagnosis, even though I do lots of research. Dr. Perlmutter’s recent podcast had a good interview with Majid Fotuhi, MD, PhD, a neurologist and adjunct professor at Johns Hopkins University. I got his newest book from the library called “The Invincible Brain.” I am halfway through it. The data in chapter nine, “A Revolution in the Testing and Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease,” is quite startling in a very positive way. He writes about five clinical trials for lifestyle interventions and three clinical trials for new AD drugs (including lecanemab and donanemab). A California study encouraged these lifestyle interventions: plant-based healthy diet, exercise at least 30 minutes a day, yoga, daily meditation or breathing exercises, and frequent participation in support groups. All lifestyle-change participants in the five studies had significant improvements in cognitive functions (increases of 204%, 221%, 475%, 1147% and 211%). Placebo participants in four of those studies had worsening cognitive functions. All of the participants in the three AD drug studies, placebo groups and takers of anti-amyloid meds, had worsening cognitive functions. Dr. Fotuhi is hopeful that new, important medications will be available in the next five to ten years.
My small cognitive improvement: since I make sure I write at least an hour or two every day, I am not having much trouble spelling. I did at first. It is normal for older folks to create occasional misspells.
Perhaps my positive mind dreams are premonitions. Exercise, exercise, exercise. Breathe, breathe, breathe. Don’t drink. Don’t smoke. “Don’t worry. Be happy.”
