Dementia
Neurodegeneration vs Neurodegenerative disease
Neurodegeneration is the loss of neurons or connectivity. Neurodegenerative disease is the buildup of tau proteins, amyloid beta plaques and alpha-synuclein Lewy bodies; it leads to progressive and distinctive changes in brain chemistry. Dementia is the umbrella term for all neurodegenerative diseases. The best measure for addressing dementia is catching it early. The earlier the detection, the better the prognosis. Upper cervical care has a powerful effect on reversing or significantly slowing down the dementia process when treatment begins in the early stages. There are many different types of dementia including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s disease, frontotemporal or vascular dementia, dementia with Lewy bodies, hypothyroid and hormone deficiency dementia, B12 dementia, autoimmune and AIDS dementia and alcohol and drug related dementia.
Warning signs of neurodegeneration:
- Forgets recently learned information, memory lapses in the middle of conversations
- Forgets dates, appointments, events and location
- Slowness of thinking and speaking, mental fatigue
- Loss of smell, especially in the left nostril– neurodegeneration begins in the left side of the brain and affects the olfactory bulb as one of its earliest target sites. The olfactory nerve is ipsilateral so the left side nostril loses sensitivity first.
- Tremors or shaking
- Clumsiness in hands and feet, tripping
- Trouble sleeping
- Trouble moving or walking (slow, uncoordinated, stiff or cramping muscles, history of frozen shoulder, loss of muscle endurance, arm or leg heaviness)
- Dizziness, fainting, disorientation or a sensation of shifting in environment
- Constipation
- Soft or low voice (hypophonia)
- Balance that is worse on one side or prone to sway to one side while walking or standing
- Masked face (appearing upset or emotionless)
- Inability to convey emotion while speaking (aprosody of speech)
- Reduced blinking
- Stooping, hunching over or head tilted away from weak side
- Micrographia- particularly if the end of the sentence has letter smaller than at the beginning of the sentence
- Macrographia- handwriting larger than normal and or erratic, difficult to read
- Postural instability and bent spine syndrome (camptocormia)
- Need to hold handrail and watch step carefully while walking downstairs
- Wide stance, feeling unsteady and prone to falling in the dark, sometimes heel to toe walking
- Hyperkinetic uncontrolled muscle movements and ataxia such as restless legs, dystonia, hemiballism, chorea and tics
- Intense need to clear throat regularly or contract a group of muscles
- Constant nervousness, anxiety, restless mind and OCD
- Nausea, car sickness or seasickness
- Poor planning, motivation, organization, attention span, focus, concentration, impulse control, social behavior, creativity, imagination and judgment
- Depression, laziness, apathy, difficulty making decisions
Requirements for a Healthy Brain
Activation & Oxygen:
A healthy brain relies on proper oxygen and stimulation. To support this, ensure regular access to clean air and water—your body’s main oxygen sources. However, several factors can lower oxygen and brain activation, including dehydration, anemia, vitamin B12 or folate deficiency, low thyroid function, chronic inflammation, and a sedentary lifestyle. In fact, regular exercise—especially short bursts of high-intensity activity—greatly boosts oxygen flow, activates the brain, and enhances neurological performance.
Stress Management:
Meanwhile, managing stress is equally vital for optimal brain function. The main causes of oxidative stress include blood sugar imbalances, chronic infections, and food sensitivities. Because each person reacts differently to emotional and physical stress, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. Therefore, understanding your stress triggers and adopting personalized relaxation techniques—such as those shared in our “Deep Relaxation” blog—can help protect your brain and body from long-term damage.
How Toxins, Nutrition, and Blood Sugar Affect Brain Health
Low Toxic Load:
Protecting your brain starts with reducing exposure to environmental toxins. First, be mindful of ingredients in your household and personal care products. Next, pay attention to additives in your food and water, such as MSG and aspartic acid—known excitotoxins that can accelerate neuron damage. For a deeper understanding, see “Excitotoxins: The Taste That Kills” by Dr. Russell Blaylock.
Nutrition:
Equally important, maintaining proper nutrition supports long-term brain health. Deficiencies in vitamins E, D, B12, and thiamine are closely linked to neurodegeneration. A balanced B-complex supplement ensures proper absorption and prevents issues like ataxia. Additionally, vitamins D and E require healthy fats for absorption—so choose natural fats over trans fats to promote nutrient uptake and reduce plaque buildup in arteries and brain tissue.
Glucose:
Moreover, balanced blood sugar is vital for neuron health. Research now connects Alzheimer’s and diabetes, referring to Alzheimer’s as “Type 3 Diabetes.” Blood sugar issues often stem from insulin resistance or a congested liver. To protect your brain, limit refined carbs, exercise regularly, and support liver detoxification.
The cerebellum, especially the Purkinje system, is highly sensitive to blood sugar and oxygen imbalances. When disrupted, it can trigger a chain reaction affecting the limbic, autonomic, and vestibular systems, leading to anxiety, nausea, and other symptoms. Furthermore, any interference in cerebrospinal fluid or blood flow—often caused by misalignment in the upper neck bones—can worsen these issues. Correcting these misalignments through upper cervical care restores proper nerve and fluid flow, helping to rebalance the brain’s communication systems.
Controlling the Microglial Immune System
The brain’s immune defense is called the microglial system. When this system stays chronically activated, it causes long-term inflammation that accelerates brain degeneration. Repeated concussions, poor antioxidant reserves, and inflammation from the gut are common triggers. These factors disrupt cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow, preventing the brain from healing properly. The result can be encephalitis, or “brain inflammation,” often presenting as fatigue, depression, and brain fog.
To restore balance, it’s essential to improve CSF flow by aligning the upper cervical spine and reducing inflammation at its source.
GI Inflammation Control
Because the gut and brain communicate directly through the vagus nerve, inflammation in the digestive tract can spread to the brain. The main causes are food sensitivities and GI infections. Blood testing can identify irritating foods, but most people benefit from eliminating gluten and dairy. However, butter and hard cheese are typically less problematic. By reducing gut inflammation, you can also reduce brain inflammation and protect overall neurological function.
Basal Ganglia / Frontal Lobe / Cerebellum Communication Loop
Healthy cognitive and motor function depend on the cerebellum, basal ganglia, and frontal lobe working together. These areas constantly exchange information—up to 10 times per second—to coordinate thought and movement.
When any part of this loop malfunctions, symptoms like Parkinson’s-type slowness, tics, ADHD, or OCD can appear. Because the left cerebellum controls the right frontal lobe (and vice versa), imbalance between the two sides can cause asymmetrical strength, poor coordination, and anxiety. This condition, known as fronto-cerebellar dissociation, highlights how tightly linked emotion, movement, and cognition are.
Frontal Lobe Activation of the Brain Stem
A properly functioning frontal lobe–brain stem connection keeps the nervous system balanced. If communication breaks down—due to inflammation or upper cervical misalignment—the nervous system alternates between overactive and underactive states. This disruption can lead to poor focus, low energy, and autonomic imbalance. Restoring proper alignment in the neck allows the frontal lobe and brain stem to synchronize again, supporting normal nerve function and cognitive clarity.
Cerebellum and Upper Cervical Spine Communication
The cerebellum, responsible for coordination and balance, develops from the body’s midline outward. It depends heavily on signals from spinal posture and alignment. Any misalignment weakens this feedback loop, leading to clumsy movement, poor posture, and even cognitive sluggishness. Keeping the upper cervical spine healthy ensures smooth communication between body and brain.
CSF Flow and Reducing Brain Inflammation
Efficient CSF (cerebrospinal fluid) flow is critical for clearing toxins and inflammatory proteins from the brain. Misalignments in the upper cervical spine can block this flow, leading to chronic inflammation and neurodegeneration. Reducing inflammation improves CSF circulation and helps maintain a clear, healthy brain. For lasting results, addressing both spinal alignment and microglial activity is essential.
Sources:
DCCJP Clinical Neurology
Robert Kessinger, DC, DABCI, DACBN
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles
” It is important to clarify that all of the “Requirements for a Healthy Brain,” are interrelated; each neurological function and system is inherently dependent on all other functions and systems. From a metabolic standpoint, inflammation is at the epicenter of all chronic degenerative diseases such as diabetes, cancer, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and anything under the dementia umbrella. “
“Excitotoxins – the Taste that Kills” by Russel Blaylock
“Alzheimer’s Wake up Call,” Harvard Medical School