• Did you know Alzheimer’s is being coined Type 3 Diabetes?
• Have you been paying attention to the explosion of Metabolic Psychiatry?
• Are you up to speed on what is Metabolic Health?

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Let’s do a basic introduction on why enhancing your metabolic health is a boon for better brain health. For a basic review of Metabolic Health see previous posts, Health Markers and Metabolic Health 101.

What you say Alzheimer’s Diseases (AD) as Type 3 Diabetes (T3D) or as some folks say “diabetes of the brain.” While one can debate the nomenclature there grows daily research suggesting that individuals with poor blood glucose and insulin management are creating a state wherein brain functionality is impaired. It has long been known that Type 2 Diabetes can lead to other complications such as heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, neurodegenerative disorders, vision, dental and other impairments.

Thus, using our common sense and critical thinking skills if you develop lifestyle habits that continue this progression of poor blood glucose and insulin management leading ultimately to insulin resistance maybe your brain is negatively impacted. This is important since the CDC say more than 1 in 3 adults in US have pre-diabetes. More frightening is more than 8 in 10 don’t know they have it.

As Dr. Ken Berry, a family physician has an excellent video here on pre-diabetes. Many individuals and for that many doctors think it is no big deal. Well, I don’t know about you but I’d like both my body and brain to function for as long as possible so yeah kind of important.

The good news to the bad story is improving your overall metabolic health and becoming insulin sensitive shows promising treatment for those in early stages of AD. See below quote from an NIH study in 2020.  

“Insulin resistance is well known as an essential feature of T3D, therefore treatment strategies for T3D, particularly those aimed at improving insulin sensitivity, may also benefit those patients at risk for AD at the early stages.”

Additionally, this 2008 NIH review of evidence says:

“Referring to AD as T3DM is justified, because the fundamental molecular and biochemical abnormalities overlap with T1DM and T2DM rather than mimic the effects of either one.”

Dr. Robert Lustig, Professor emeritus of Pediatrics, Division of Endocrinology at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) one of the most prominent authorities on metabolic health has an enlightening lecture on brain health and metabolic health. The title says it all, “Metabolic Psychiatry – How Our Brains and Moods Are Governed by Our Metabolism,” highly recommend viewing and put your biochemistry brain hats on.

What is Metabolic Psychiatry?

Here is how Stanford University is defining it.

“Metabolic Psychiatry® stands at the crossroads of metabolic and mental health. There is an emerging understanding that inflammation, oxidative stress, and insulin resistance may be at the root of some brain disorders and psychiatric illnesses. Metabolic therapies can be a powerful tool in mitigating symptoms of depression, anxiety, and other serious mental illnesses.”

A sample of leading resources in Metabolic Psychiatry and related metabolic health are listed below. As a side note I’m a graduate of Dr. Ede’s course, Ketogenic Diets for Mental Health Clinician Training, which I highly recommend for fellow professionals.

• Dr. Geogia Ede
• Dr. Christopher Palmer
• Metabolic Mind initiative by the Baszucki Group
• Metabolic Multiplier

The relationship between our brain health and metabolic health is clear, how we choose to use the information is up to us.

Simple Steps to Enhance Metabolic Health

• Reduce your sugar and carbohydrate consumption
• Eliminate processed foods from your diet
• Reduce your stress and chronic inflammation
• Improve your metabolic markers
  • Waist circumference
  • Blood pressure
  • Blood Glucose
  • Triglycerides
  • HDL cholesterol

Yes, all related elements such as sleep hygiene, regular exercise, eliminating environmental toxins, medications and other health factors matter too. In the effort to help simplify and not overwhelm use the steps as a launching pad. Better metabolic health equals enhanced brain health, a two for one deal.

“Knowledge is only good if you put it to use.”

Quote from 86-year young client of mine