Last Friday night (actually, about 2:00 Saturday morning), I was awake and reading posts on the Alzheimer’s community of Reddit. A post suddenly caught my full attention:
“I was diagnosed about a year ago. At my last appointment, Dr. Sharlin said that I have improved by 35 percent.
Someone asked about exercise; I haven’t discussed specific exercises with them, but I mostly work in my garden. If I can’t go outside, I will ride my exercise bike, but I don’t enjoy that like I do working outside.
They do not use the normal medications that I see other people take. My medication is one that Dr. Sharlin and a pharmacist have developed.
I highly recommend them.”
A bit of quick research and I found Dr. Ken Sharlin’s clinic website. The website states, “Dr. Sharlin is a leading proponent of neurological disease reversal, an approach that challenges the traditional belief that neurodegenerative diseases are progressive and irreversible.”
I turned on a light and read that statement again. Yep, it says, “neurological disease reversal” and “challenges the traditional belief that neurodegenerative diseases are progressive and irreversible.”
My skeptical radar alarm went off loudly. With an open, hopeful, and slightly skeptical mind, I started digging.
What is Functional Medicine?
Functional medicine is a patient-centered healthcare approach that looks for the root causes of disease rather than just treating symptoms. There are three core principles:
Systems biology: Views the body as one connected system instead of separate organs.
Root-cause focus: Asks why a disease is present instead of only naming the condition.
Personalized care: Builds custom health plans based on unique genetics, environment, and lifestyle.
Most functional medicine clinics and doctors follow these patient treatment protocols:
Detailed history: Providers spend more time learning about your life, diet, stress, and past trauma.
Advanced testing: Uses specialized lab work to find hidden imbalances in gut health, hormones, or inflammation.
Lifestyle changes: Focuses heavily on food as medicine, better sleep, stress management, and movement.
Is Ken Sharlin a Real Doctor?
Ken Sharlin, M.D., M.P.H., IFMCP, is a board-certified neurologist. He earned his medical and public health degrees from Emory University School and completed his neurology residency at the University of Virginia and Vanderbilt University. Additionally, he holds certification from the Institute for Functional Medicine.
What is Sharlin Health and Neurology?
According to the clinic website, they combine the expertise of a board-certified neurologist with the principles of functional medicine.
The website states, “Unlike most traditional neurology practices that focus solely on symptom management or functional medicine clinics that may lack the specialized expertise in neurological conditions, we bridge the gap by integrating the two. By blending traditional neurology with the holistic principles of functional medicine, we provide you with a truly comprehensive and transformative care experience.”
The website talks about their “patient-centered approach” and “personalized treatment plans.”
The skeptical side of my Alzheimer’s brain went to the Duke University School of Medicine, Department of Neurology website to compare their stated patient care approach. It says, “Every aspect of our program is tailored to your needs with highly-specialized neurological care.” Additionally, Duke Neurology’s website states, “Whatever your diagnosis, our treatment goal is the same: we want you to live the fullest life possible, free from debilitating symptoms, pain, and other side effects caused by neurological disorders.”
This simple comparison between Duke Neurology, a top-tier traditional neurology practice, and the holistic principles of functional medicine offered by Sharlin Health and Neurology seems to demonstrate a similar focus on personalized patient treatment.
I kept digging and discovered the Brain Tune Up! offered at Sharlin Health and Neurology. According to their website, “the Brain Tune Up! is our protocol that combines the principles of neurology and functional medicine to both treat and help prevent chronic illnesses related to neurological disease.” The website describes the Brain Tune Up! as a “personalized roadmap” that helps each patient “achieve their optimal health and wellness.”
Based on my experience at Duke Neurology and my discussions with other Alzheimer’s disease patients being treated at other traditional neurology clinics, I believe achieving patients’ optimal health and wellness is a standard goal. These traditional neurology clinics may not brand their patient care protocols with a catchy name - but, the end goal is similar.
At this point in my research, every indication is that Sharlin Health and Neurology provides excellent patient-focused neurological treatment.
What about Dr. Sharlin’s belief that neurological disease can be reversed?
Sharlin Health and Neurology website states, “Dr. Sharlin is a leading proponent of neurological disease reversal, an approach that challenges the traditional belief that neurodegenerative diseases are progressive and irreversible.”
As I continued scrolling the Sharlin Health and Neurology website, I found this statement that reads like a combination of a marketing pitch and a legal disclaimer:
“We have been told it’s impossible to reverse cognitive decline. That Alzheimer’s disease is a death sentence. Memory loss cannot be improved. Well here is PROOF of just how WRONG traditional medicine is. While every patient is unique and results vary, this sampling is representative of the kind of outcome you can expect when you join me.”
Following the above statement is a link to a 2018 study published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease & Parkinsonism by Dr. Dale Bredesen and several colleagues. Dr. Sharlin is one of the study authors. The study demonstrated that a personalized, multi-factorial precision medicine program can yield documented cognitive improvements in 100 patients. 1
2018 Study Overview & Results
Patient Group: 100 patients experiencing cognitive decline due to Alzheimer’s disease, Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), Subjective Cognitive Impairment (SCI), or undiagnosed decline.
Average Improvement: A mean improvement of 4.9 points on cognitive tests like MoCA, MMSE, or SLUMS.
Improved Domains: Frequently enhanced areas included memory, facial recognition, and navigation.
Less Improved Domains: Areas like calculation and aphasia showed less frequent improvement.
Sustainability: Gains were generally sustained as long as patients maintained the protocol
Treatment Approach
Targeted Interventions: The method addresses multiple potential root contributors instead of relying on a single drug.
Key Factors Managed: Protocols tackled insulin resistance, inflammation, nutrient and hormonal imbalances, sleep issues, and toxin exposures
My Interpretation of the 2018 Study
From a strict scientific and conventional medical perspective, the study design and reported results do not provide absolute proof that the Sharlin Health and Neurology website promotional language implies.
1. It is a case series, not a Clinical Trial
The Study Design: The 2018 paper is a retrospective case series, which is essentially a compilation of 100 success stories from various physicians.
The Limitation: In traditional medicine, a case series cannot serve as definitive “proof” of an intervention’s efficacy. It lacks a control group to compare against. The authors themselves state in the abstract that the data merely “provides further support for a randomized, controlled clinical trial”.
2. Selection Bias
The Patient Pool: The study purposefully looked at 100 patients who showed documented improvement.
The Missing Data: It does not track or report the total number of patients who attempted the protocol but experienced no change or continued to decline. Therefore, calling it representative of “the kind of outcome you can expect” bypasses standard statistical objectivity.
3. Inclusion of Pre-Alzheimer’s Conditions
The Diagnoses: The 100 patients were not all individuals with advanced, irreversible Alzheimer’s disease. Many had Subjective Cognitive Impairment (SCI) or Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI).
The Implication: Catching and optimizing cognitive function during these early, pre-dementia stages is vastly different from reversing advanced Alzheimer’s disease.
Conclusion
As an Alzheimer’s patient, advocate, researcher, and author, I find the website’s promotional language deeply concerning. Characterizing preliminary case reports as ‘proof’ of disease reversal blurs the line between clinical optimism and unsupported marketing. For vulnerable families facing a devastating diagnosis, such claims risk creating false hope. There is currently no consensus within mainstream neurology, nor data from randomized controlled clinical trials, demonstrating that Alzheimer’s disease can be reversed.
Based on published patient reviews, Dr. Sharlin provides excellent neurological care and treatment. Many patients have experienced improvements to their specific neurological disease. I applaud Dr. Sharlin for those positive results.
I have invited Dr. Sharlin to respond to my report. If he responds, this report will be updated to include his perspective.
The information in this report is not intended to be medical advice. My opinions, supported by scientific data, are expressed.
Bredesen DE, Sharlin K, Jenkins D, Okuno M, Youngberg W, et al. (2018) Reversal of Cognitive Decline: 100 Patients. J Alzheimers Dis Parkinsonism 8: 450. DOI: 10.4172/2161-0460.1000450