Your brain is one of the most complex organs in the human body. Watching a family member slowly losing their memory and experiencing the first signs of mild cognitive impairment can be devastating. What’s worse is being the one who is struggling with cognitive decline from Alzheimer’s disease, and watching what used to be familiar faces turn into strangers. At Carolina HealthSpan, we understand that healing just the brain isn’t reality, it needs to be the whole body since there are environmental factors and genes that contribute to Alzheimer’s disease.

Dr. Bredesen, a renowned expert, and neurologist looks at Alzheimer’s disease as a whole body disease. He has discovered at least 36 risk factors that contribute to the development of Alzheimer’s and by identifying and reversing the underlying results of those who struggle with Alzheimer’s, you can improve cognitive decline. The staff at Carolina HealthSpan support the Functional Medicine approach because it looks for the root cause of disease by examining how the systems of the body work together, and because it’s patient-centered offering an individualized care plan that focuses on the whole person – mind, body, and spirit. Our team members examine your medical history, and your life as a whole to then determine and identify the underlying causes that contribute to chronic disease, and overall health problems. These can include but are not limited to: Hormonal imbalance, stress levels, nutritional issues, genetics, and environmental influences.

According to Dr. Bredesen’s studies, Alzheimer’s disease can develop from any of these main causes:

  • Atrophic – Triggered from decreased nutrients, trophic factors, and hormones
  • Toxins – Triggered by exposure to mold mycotoxins, chemicals, xenobiotics, and toxic metals
  • Inflammation – Triggered by diet, infection, chronic insulin resistance, leaky gut (intestinal permeability)


Functional Medicine in Charlotte, North Carolina

A combination of tests is required to determine what is causing an individual’s cognitive decline to hone in on all of the root causes. If you’re currently experiencing signs of cognitive decline, schedule an appointment with a functional medicine doctor at Carolina HealthSpan today, or call us at (704) 333-4817. Our doctors understand the complexity of this disease and will create a personalized therapy to get you on the path to recovery.