Managing Cognitive Decline

850,000 people are currently living with dementia in the UK, 539,000 people have been formally diagnosed. The projections are that by 2025 there will be 1 million people and by 2050 2 million people with dementia. There are 209,000 new cases of dementia each year, a new case every 3-minutes. Women over 60 years of age are twice as likely to develop dementia as breast cancer. 7.1% of people over 65 have dementia. Over 42,000 people under 65 have dementia in the UK.

Dementia is characterized by a loss of neurons and atrophy of brain tissue. Eventually, this leads to limitations in cognitive performance of executive functioning, memory, and attention. The neurodegenerative processes in the brain go hand in hand with limitations in physical performance of endurance capacity, muscle strength, balance, and mobility. Eventually, decline in cognitive performance and physical performance results in problems in activities of daily living and behaviour, leading to institutionalization and a decreased quality of life. Therefore, prevention of decline and preferably an improvement in both cognitive and physical performance in patients with dementia are of utmost importance.

Current research suggests that managing inflammation, glucose, pH, cardiovascular factors such as blood pressure, increasing O2 delivery to the brain and venous drainage away, adequate sleep, autonomic nervous system balance, coupled with cognitive and physical exercise, olfactory enrichment and managing other lifestyle factors may lead to better outcomes.

“Adopting an Integrated Osteopathic Approach to patient diagnosis and treatment/management may reduce the symptoms of patients presenting with dementia or perhaps reduce the functional/lifestyle/behavioural risks that may be associated with developing dementia.”

Developing this protocol is very close to my heart. Partly because my mother who is Irish, has a strong family history of Alzheimer’s. Sadly, her elder brother and younger sister both developed Alzheimer’s and died and her other sister currently has Alzheimer’s. Obviously, with such a strong family history, she was concerned about her own Alzheimer risk. So, she asked me to look into it, to see if I could develop a protocol based on current research. She embarked on  the protocol in early 2019 and has been extremely diligent at following my advice she’s currently 83 years of age with no signs of Alzheimer’s.

I was invited to present my protocol to a postgraduate Osteopathic group in November 2019, just before Covid,  and these are the comments from the organiser.

Feedback from the eVeNT Lecture November 2019

” Can an integrated approach to medicine slow down cognitive decline?”

Gerry

Everyone was blown away by your lecture!

It was truly a masterclass performance and opened our eyes into comprehending blood tests, using nutritional knowledge, understanding the biochemistry of breathing and its relationship to lifestyle and good health and many other aspects.

  Bob Gupta Organiser eVeNT Postgraduate Osteopaths

Details of the Diagnostic and Treatment programme

Patients will receive the innovative diagnostics and treatment/management interventions, currently used on complex patients at The Health Equation and developed by Mr Gerry Gajadharsingh DO, based on sound physiological principles and current research.

Managing Cognitive Decline

Diagnostics with Mr. Gerry Gajadharsingh DO

  • Diagnostic Consultation-(60 minutes +30 minutes) including a detailed history, clinical examination, capnography and Heart Rate Variability (HRV).
  • The MMSE Questionnaire (The Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) which is the most commonly used test for complaints of problems with memory or other mental abilities) and/or GPCOG (a slightly shorter questionnaire but with similar diagnostic equivalence to MMSE)
  • 1 MBR Blood Test (Haematology/biochemistry screen, ESR CRP, Thyroid (TSH FT4), Pancreas (Lipase Amylase), HbA1c and Vit D25OH
  • The Sniffin Test (olfactory testing from Burghart, 12 smell test) please see details below
  • https://www.thehealthequation.co.uk/the-health-equation-launches-its-managing-cognitive-decline-diagnostic-and-treatment-protocol/
  • Functional Blood Analysis (FBA) on the 1MBR results & follow up report.
  • An individualized Metabolic Balance ® nutritional plan.
  • Optional Genetic Risk factors APOE E2, E3 and E4 (blood test at additional charge)

Treatment/Intervention (over a 6-month period)

Osteopathic Manual Treatment (OMT) Breathing Re-Education, 3* standard consultations with Mr. Gerry Gajadharsingh DO

A Metabolic Balance ® individualised nutritional programme: Following a modified Metabolic Balance ® individualised nutritional programme, an innovative nutritional programme developed by an endocrinologist and nutritionist in Germany, coupled with appropriate nutritional supplementation. Including 2* additional standard consultations with Mr. Gerry Gajadharsingh DO.

Appropriate individualised exercise strategies (discussed during the consultations)

Individualised behavioural change (discussed during the consultations)

Via breathing exercises/stress management techniques to support physiological change including autonomic nervous system balance, O2 delivery on a cellular level and pH control.

Olfactory enhancement advice.

At the end of the 6-month programme

Follow up 1 MBR Blood Test.

Follow up MMSE or GPCOG Questionnaires at end of 6-month treatment period.

Sniffin follow up olfactory test

Final consultation at the end of 6-month treatment period to record examination findings etc and ongoing advice.

Invitation to attend a short consultation for MMSE and or GPCOG Follow up Questionnaires at M12 (1 year) from M0 (start of the programme).

Managing Cognitive Decline

Diagnostics Costs:

Patients pay a package price for the Diagnostic Consultation and 1 MBR blood test, Functional Blood Analysis report and Modified Metabolic Balance ® plan, all at a 25% discount to our normal fees. The optional APOE, E2, E3 and E4 blood test is charged at the normal TDL book price. A comprehensive report based on the diagnostic consultation and findings is provided free of charge.

Treatment Costs:

Patients pay a package price for 5* standard consultations (45 minutes) of OMT/Breathing/Nutritional support with Mr Gerry Gajadharsingh DO, at a 25% discount to our normal fees. Patients will also need to pay separately for their nutritional supplements and aromatherapy oils for olfactory enhancement, these are individualised, so costs vary.

The end of study (6 months) cognitive questionnaires, a standard consultation (45 minutes), follow up 1 MBR blood test and updated Functional Blood Analysis report, Sniffin follow up olfactory test and the 1 year follow up cognitive questionnaires are provided at a 50% discount to our normal fees.

For further information, including current fees go to Consultation & Treatment Fees