Surprising Alzheimer’s Truth: Genes Are Not Destiny. Really.
Reasons To Reject Sugar Now
When my sainted mother passed away, she had been living with Alzheimer’s for years. In the end, it wasn’t Alzheimer’s that took her — it was cancer. More on that later.
Looking back, her story is riddled with clues that could have helped us restore her mind, her life — and mine — if only we had understood the underlying cause.
Coconut Oil is Not Snake Oil, but…
I remember when my father came across an article about a woman who claimed to have cured her husband’s Alzheimer’s with coconut oil. Desperate to try anything, they both started drinking one-ounce shots of coconut oil three times a day.
Coconut oil is excellent brain food, and while it didn’t hurt, we all missed the point.
The point wasn’t the coconut oil. The point was ketosis: the process of fueling the body with fat instead of sugar. The point was to replace the sugar-laden Standard American Diet (SAD) with real, whole, nutritious, foods. The point was to restore her brain — which, like all human brains, is mostly fat — by increasing healthy natural fats and cutting the inflammatory carbs that were wreaking havoc on her brain.
But we didn’t know. None of us made the connection between the cookies in her goodie drawer, her nightly ice cream habit, and her brain’s decline. Mom just loved sweets. Who doesn’t?
And her weight was fine. At 5'7", she wore size 10–12 — a normal, healthy figure by any standard. Sure, she would have been happy to lose ten or so pounds, but wouldn’t everyone? Mom wasn’t obese, nor did she have diabetes or even pre-diabetes. Her diet was never a cause for concern.
And yet it was. Mom’s love affair with sugar was quietly fueling the inflammation that was crippling her mind.
Cognitive Decline Is Not “Normal Aging”
For years, people have been told that cognitive decline is just part of growing older. It’s not. Only 10–20% of older adults experience significant cognitive decline, which means that 80–90% do not. Alzheimer’s and other dementias are not inevitable — they stem from underlying health issues, often influenced by diet and lifestyle.
Genes like APOE4 may increase the risk of Alzheimer’s, but risk is not destiny. Many with APOE4 never develop Alzheimer’s, and, conversely, some without APOE4 do.
Yes, diseases like Alzheimer’s may seem to run in families, but the real culprit is often shared habits, such as eating patterns passed down through generations. I learned to eat from my mother, and I carried the SAD into adulthood. I made it my own, of course. I traded her cookies and ice cream for “healthy” low-fat pretzels and crackers. If you know, you know…this was no improvement at all.
By the time I was in my late 50s, I was showing clear signs of cognitive decline.
Losing Myself
Three years ago, I retired early. I could no longer perform my job reliably well. I was showing up for meetings on the wrong days, forgetting critical assignments, and constantly leaving my glasses, keys, or purse on my desk. On the plus side, I got my steps in by turning around in the lobby and walking back up three flights to my classroom! At home, I’d put food in the oven and forget to turn it on, or worse — forget to turn the stove burners off.
I even found myself behind the wheel of my car on the highway, wondering where I was going or why I had left the house. My doctor ruled out brain tumors. The conclusion was clear: early Alzheimer’s.
My daughters were not yet married! The grandchildren have not yet been born! I did not want to miss the next chapter of my life.
I began researching ways to slow my decline. That’s when I discovered the connection between food and brain health. I didn’t expect miracles — I only hoped to stop getting worse.
Reversing the Worst of My Symptoms
What happened next changed my life. I changed my diet. I prioritized protein, embraced healthy fats, rejected seed oils…and drastically reduced sugar & other processed carbs.
But there was one little hurdle. Seems I’d never learned to cook, not really. Not without a box of pasta or Hamburger Helper.
So I started small. I learned a few simple recipes with real ingredients like meat, eggs, and dairy. Turns out, cooking from scratch isn’t so hard. Even better? Home-cooked meals can be downright delicious.
Within months, the fog lifted. I could remember why I walked into a room. I could leave the house in one try. I stopped leaving burners on. To my shock and delight, I realized that I wasn’t merely slowing my decline — I was reversing the worst of my symptoms.
Food: the Cause — and the Cure
Looking back, I see that food shaped my mother’s Alzheimer’s journey and nearly shaped mine. Her cookies, cakes, and nightly ice cream were more than little treats. They were the source of the chronic inflammation that ultimately bettered her brain.
The Standard American Diet is a recipe for chronic inflammation, the root cause of Alzheimer’s and other diseases. Genes may load the gun, but food pulls the trigger.
Sadly, no one seems to know this. In her final years, even her daycare program, a godsend for our family, served all the guests sweets all day long. Mom’s weight ballooned, but, hey, she was happy, right?
Cognitive Decline Is Preventable
Alzheimer’s is not inevitable. By simply changing what you eat, you can protect your brain and reduce your risk.
Here’s what I’ve learned:
- Ditch the Sugar and Refined Carbs: Your brain thrives on fat, not sugar.
- Embrace Healthy Fats: Butter, eggs, and fatty meats restore your brain.
- Cut Out Seed Oils: These oils inflame your body at a cellular level.
- Prioritize Nutrient-Dense Foods: Fill your plate with real, whole foods.
I thought my genes had doomed me to Alzheimer’s. What I’ve learned is that diet matters more than destiny.
Your Brain Deserves Better
Cognitive decline doesn’t have to be your story. You have the power to reclaim your health and protect your brain.
I’m staying strong, wise, and good by choosing good food for good health. Join me?
PS: About the Cancer
My mother’s story didn’t end with Alzheimer’s. One day, she suddenly stopped walking. The diagnosis? Late-stage cancer, in her brain and throughout her body.
Did her diet cause her cancer? Unknown. What is known is that her sweet tooth certainly fed it. Cancer thrives on glucose — the sugar that fuels chronic inflammation and wreaks havoc on the body. In contrast, cancer cells struggle to survive in a state of ketosis, when the body burns fat for energy instead of sugar.
Rejecting the SAD isn’t just about preventing Alzheimer’s; it’s about protecting your whole body from chronic diseases.
Reducing sugar isn’t deprivation — it’s self-preservation.
Hungry to start living clean and low-carb? Let’s get started. I’ve documented my 30 steps to low-carb living in an ebook, available this very moment: https://www.strongwisegood.com/low-carb-starter-kit
By the way, I do want you to know that I am not a doctor, not a scientist, not a nutritionist. I am just a late boomer sharing what I’ve learned on my journey to good health through good food.
