My Alzheimer's Journey
Part 165 - False Hope
Hello, Friends.
A post on Reddit yesterday morning referred readers to a YouTube podcast about lifestyle changes that could reverse Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The video begins with Christine Carter saying, “Alzheimer’s can be reversed with lifestyle.” Of course, that is impossible.
The podcast is “Diacardia”, hosted by Dan Mulhern. Dan is an author and speaker. His expertise is leadership. He describes his podcast as:
Diacardia means "through the heart" or "between hearts." It's a podcast for two to listen and share. The heart is your core, the source of your power and your passion. It's also a precious place of vulnerability. It's wisely guarded. Diacardia is the practice of speaking from the heart and listening fully with the heart. When you do this practice, you grow, your partner grows, and your relationship grows.
Christine Carter has a PhD in sociology. Her website offers this brief bio:
Christine Carter, Ph.D. is one of the most credible voices in the science of human flourishing. A Harvard Medical School-trained Wellness and Lifestyle Coach, Senior Fellow at UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center, and member of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, Dr. Carter has spent over two decades translating research into practical tools that actually change lives. Her work has been featured everywhere from The New York Times and the Washington Post to Oprah, The Today Show, and The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.
Alzheimer’s disease can’t be reversed. Alzheimer's pathology is driven by the accumulation of two proteins in the brain: amyloid beta plaques and tau neurofibrillary tangles. These proteins eventually lead to irreversible cell death and brain atrophy.
I am writing an article on cognitive decline for Greg’s Alzheimer’s Research Report. As part of my research, I reviewed work conducted at the Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience. The lead scientist, Evgenia Salta, has this quote as part of her bio:
“If a computer crashes, you can press control-alt-delete to restart the whole thing. But if your brain crashes, like Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases, you can’t. In neurodegenerative diseases, nerve cells become damaged and die, causing the brain to increasingly falter. Well-known examples are Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and huntington. Often, medications can alleviate the symptoms associated with these conditions, and sometimes they can slow the course. But healing is still not possible.
“Healing is not possible.”
As someone suffering from Alzheimer’s, and as an Alzheimer’s advocate, the podcast concerns me because false claims give people false hope. I agree that a healthy lifestyle can help manage Alzheimer’s symptoms and possibly slow the disease progression. Reversing Alzheimer’s is not possible with a healthy lifestyle.
There are many false hopes for Alzheimer’s patients and their families offered by dozens of “snake oil salesman”. Their fraudulent remedies, cures, and solutions are valueless. Let’s look a few of these questionable solutions:
Robert W. B. Love operates a Florida clinic that sells a wide variety of supplements. On his Instagram videos, he says he is a neuroscientist and that he has a “medical clinic in Florida helping people prevent Alzheimer’s”. A recent video has Dr. Josh Helman as a guest, and he states that to prevent AD you need to avoid eating fried foods. One of the reasons he states is that fried foods contain acrylamide - a proven neurotoxin. It is believed that acrylamide plays a role in cognitive decline; however, there have been no studies proving acrylamide is a direct cause of AD. For a variety of health reasons, we should limit our consumption of fried foods.
In another Instagram posted by Robert Love, he states there are three supplements that “prevent and reverse” AD. I agree the supplements he recommends may be helpful in managing AD symptoms. My concern is the video presentation and his choice of words.
There is woman who produces and posts video on Instagram and TikTok. Her screen name is jaemamajams. I do not know anything about her credentials. In a December 31, 2025 Instagram video she states, “a new study shows that Alzheimer’s disease can be reversed to achieve full neurological recovery.” The study she references was testing the effects of NAD+ on mice. The results are promising; however, there have been no trials on humans.
Dr. Kevin Reese is the creator of Head-To-Toe Healing. He has an Instagram video where he states he has seen people “correct AD” and have “better cognitive function than before they had AD”. He also says, “the medical monopoly doesn’t know how to correct any brain condition.”
In addition to the videos posted on social media, there are hundreds of advertisements for a range of supplements, food products, and devices. I saw an advertisement on Instagram this morning for a “hand steadiness device” that reduces hand tremors. The price is $337.55 (reduced to $270.04). It doesn’t seem to have a $270 value.
These products, supplements, books, etc. generally target people who are desperate for a cure or a magic anything to reduce their pain. Not all, but many, of the products make false or exaggerated claims. Ultimately, people get false hope, and they purchase products that may have zero real benefit.
The only solution is for the consumer to be aware and cautious. The sellers of these products rarely break any laws. Telling a lie is only a legal problem if the lie causes harm.
In my mind, many of these advertisements and videos cross my ethical line. I know that as cultures evolve, new technologies emerge, and our collective understanding of human rights deepens, society re-evaluates what is considered right and wrong. I suppose, I should get with the times and adjust my ethical line. Nay, I like my ethical boundary right where it is.
How Am I Doing?
I have not noticed much change in my cognitive function in the past week. My hand trembles are more frequent. I often get cold flashes. Depression and sadness are constant companions.
My studying and writing keep my mind active. Writing this blog and the research report give me a purpose in life. Linda and I work together on our online stores. It is very difficult to start a successful online store. The competition is great and the search engine algorithms are challenging. This is why I ask you to spread the word among your social network and friends.
I take life one day at a time.
Thank you for your continued support.
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Thank you!
Are you interested in learning about Alzheimer’s emerging treatments and related developments? Visit my research report.
