Could Alzheimer’s be a preventable, treatable condition caused by something as common as insulin resistance? This powerful new article explores the emerging view of Alzheimer’s as Type 3 Diabetes—a metabolic disorder where the brain is starved of energy despite being flooded with glucose. For caregivers, seniors, and families affected by dementia, this could be the hope we’ve been waiting for: real prevention strategies that start with the food we eat and the habits we build today.
Read more about how metabolic health may hold the key to memory, identity, and independence.
(Note: About Us, a reference bibliography, related books, videos and apps can be found at the end of this article.)
Article Highlights
- Alzheimer’s may be a form of “Type 3 Diabetes”—driven not by amyloid plaques, but by insulin resistance in the brain.
- Despite decades of research and billions in funding, drugs targeting amyloid and tau have failed to improve cognition or slow disease progression.
- The hippocampus, the brain’s memory hub, requires insulin to absorb glucose; when it becomes insulin resistant, it starves—despite high blood sugar.
- Ketones are the brain’s backup fuel and do not require insulin to be used—but modern diets keep insulin too high to produce them.
- Dr. Ben Bikman’s research shows that glucose metabolism genes are downregulated in Alzheimer’s brains, while ketone metabolism remains intact.
- Fasting insulin levels are more predictive of Alzheimer’s risk than age or even genetics, according to long-term population studies.
- PET scan research confirms that Alzheimer’s brains struggle to use glucose but can still effectively use ketones.
- Women with PCOS—a condition linked to insulin resistance—show cognitive impairment and reduced brain glucose use in their 20s.
- Symptoms like brain fog, migraines, poor focus, and “hanger” may be early signs of metabolic dysfunction in the brain—not just annoyances.
- Other conditions linked to insulin resistance include erectile dysfunction, fatty liver, PCOS, and infertility—all share the same root cause.
- Three lifestyle pillars to improve brain metabolism:
- Control insulin (lower refined carbs, prioritize fat/protein)
- Lower stress (cortisol promotes insulin resistance)
- Reduce inflammation (ditch seed oils, address gut health)
- Avoid processed and “gluten-free” junk foods—many are loaded with insulin-spiking starches like tapioca and potato.
- Embrace ancestral fats (olive, coconut, animal, avocado) and avoid industrial seed oils (soybean, corn, canola) that fuel inflammation.
- Even with early Alzheimer’s, metabolic changes can improve cognition—the brain may still respond when given proper fuel.
- The takeaway: Alzheimer’s is not inevitable—it’s often the end result of decades of dietary and metabolic damage. Prevention begins now.
Introduction
Alzheimer’s disease has earned its place among the most feared diagnoses in modern medicine—perhaps even more so than cancer. While cancer patients often fight back with aggressive treatments and retain some semblance of agency, Alzheimer’s slowly erodes identity itself. It doesn’t just rob people of memories; it dissolves their very sense of self.
We’ve thrown billions of dollars and decades of research at this monster. The result? A string of failed drugs, false hope, and a clinging obsession with two biological culprits: amyloid plaques and tau tangles. These twisted proteins, once seen as the smoking guns of Alzheimer’s, have proven to be more like tombstones—markers of damage, not its origin. Despite repeated failures, the medical establishment continues to double down on the same targets, pouring more resources into a paradigm that isn’t just broken—it’s bankrupt.
But what if we’ve been asking the wrong question all along?
In a groundbreaking shift, metabolic scientist Dr. Benjamin Bikman and a growing chorus of researchers are making a bold claim: Alzheimer’s isn’t just a brain disease. It’s a metabolic disease. More specifically, it may be a form of “Type 3 Diabetes”—a consequence of the body’s growing resistance to insulin, the hormone that governs energy distribution.
If that sounds radical, good. Paradigm shifts always do. But this one is grounded in hard science, emerging data, and a painfully simple observation: our brains are starving in the middle of a metabolic buffet. And the cause is not bad luck or bad genes—it’s a system-wide failure to process energy, fueled by the modern diet.
What if the path to preventing—or even reversing—cognitive decline has been hiding in plain sight all along? Not in our neurons, but in our pancreas. Not in miracle drugs, but in blood sugar.
Welcome to the new frontier of Alzheimer’s: the war against insulin resistance.
The Failed Promise of the Current Paradigm
Billions Spent, Nothing Gained
For decades, the dominant theory in Alzheimer’s research has revolved around two pathological hallmarks: amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. These twisted protein accumulations in the brain have been framed as the prime suspects—the toxic agents that kill neurons, erode memory, and leave patients trapped in a cognitive fog.
It sounds tidy. Clean. Mechanistic. And utterly ineffective.
Despite over $40 billion invested in research and drug development, not a single treatment targeting amyloid or tau has produced meaningful long-term benefit. Clinical trials have repeatedly failed to improve cognition, halt progression, or even significantly slow the disease. Some drugs have reduced amyloid burden—on brain scans—but patients remained cognitively impaired. Like sweeping up ashes after the fire, it’s too little, too late.
Worse yet, these plaques and tangles are only conclusively identifiable after death. That makes them a poor diagnostic target and an even worse focus for early intervention. By the time we confirm their presence, the brain has already been ravaged.
And still, the scientific establishment doubles down.
The Hypocrisy of “Evidence-Based Medicine”
The phrase “evidence-based medicine“ is often wielded like a sword—an appeal to authority, an unassailable standard. But what happens when the “evidence“ we base our medicine on fails, over and over?
The Alzheimer’s field has clung to a failed theory for over 30 years. Like a gambler on a losing streak, the bets keep getting bigger, the losses deeper. Why? Because changing course would mean admitting the last three decades were mostly wasted. Entire academic careers, pharmaceutical pipelines, and institutional reputations have been built on the amyloid hypothesis. To walk away now would be to collapse the house of cards.
The sunk-cost fallacy isn’t just a psychological quirk. In science, it’s a funding strategy. Research grants are doled out to those who fit the existing mold. Dissenters—those who challenge the status quo—are often sidelined, underfunded, or dismissed.
The irony is bitter: the very system that prides itself on skepticism and falsifiability has become dogmatic and defensive. The promise of Alzheimer’s research—rooted in reductionism and molecular blame—has not only failed to produce a cure, it has blinded us to the real culprit hiding in plain sight: a broken metabolic engine.
The Metabolic Theory of Alzheimer’s
Insulin Resistance in the Brain
To understand Alzheimer’s as a metabolic disease, we need to look beyond the tangled debris of dying neurons and ask a simpler question: What is the brain running on—and what happens when that fuel supply is compromised?
The hippocampus, the brain’s memory and learning center, is one of the most energy-hungry organs in the body. It demands a constant, steady supply of fuel—primarily glucose. But here’s the twist: accessing glucose isn’t automatic. It requires the hormone insulin, which acts like a key, unlocking glucose channels called GLUT4 transporters embedded in the neurons.
Sound familiar?
This is the same mechanism that governs how muscles and fat cells absorb sugar from the bloodstream. And like those tissues, the hippocampus can become insulin resistant—unable to respond to insulin’s signal, even when it’s present in abundance.
The result? A paradoxical form of cellular starvation. Blood sugar can be high, insulin can be elevated, but brain cells—locked out of their primary fuel source—are running on empty. This creates an energy gap, a shortfall between the brain’s massive metabolic demands and its actual fuel availability. Over time, this energetic failure can impair cognition, damage neurons, and open the door to full-blown dementia.
Ketones: The Brain’s Backup Fuel
Thankfully, the brain has a backup system. It can run on an alternative fuel called ketones—molecules produced in the liver when insulin levels are low and fat is being burned for energy. Unlike glucose, ketones don’t require insulin to enter the cell. They glide effortlessly across the blood-brain barrier, offering a lifeline to starving neurons.
There’s only one problem: in the modern diet, ketones are almost never produced.
Why? Because we’ve structured our lives—nutritionally and behaviorally—around chronic insulin elevation. The typical Western diet, loaded with refined carbs and eaten from dawn until dusk, keeps insulin perpetually high. And high insulin levels block ketone production. That means for most people, the metabolic escape hatch is welded shut. The brain is trapped, unable to access either its primary or secondary fuel source.
We’re looking at a generation of people whose brains are swimming in glucose but dying of starvation.
Type 3 Diabetes
This is where the term Type 3 Diabetes comes in—not as clickbait, but as a mechanistically accurate description of what’s happening in the Alzheimer’s brain.
Like type 2 diabetes, the condition is characterized by:
- Chronically elevated insulin
- Impaired glucose uptake
- Progressive insulin resistance at the cellular level
But instead of blood sugar building up in the bloodstream, it’s the brain that pays the price. As Dr. Ben Bikman puts it, “Alzheimer’s is what happens when the hippocampus becomes insulin resistant.“
It’s not just theory. Multiple studies have shown that fasting insulin levels are a better predictor of future Alzheimer’s than age. In fact, one large Finnish study found insulin markers to be more statistically significant than any other factor—including genetics.
This isn’t just a reframing. It’s a rescue mission. And it starts by recognizing that Alzheimer’s is not an inevitable fate coded into our DNA, but a metabolic consequence of how we eat, live, and treat our bodies.
Evidence Supporting the Insulin Resistance Model
The theory that Alzheimer’s is a metabolic disease is more than a thought experiment. It’s grounded in hard data—from gene expression analysis to brain scans to long-term clinical studies. The evidence is mounting, and it all points in the same direction: the brain is metabolically broken long before memory begins to fade.
Fasting Insulin Predicts Alzheimer’s Risk
In a landmark Finnish study, researchers tracked common metabolic markers in a large population over time. Their findings were shocking: fasting insulin levels were a better predictor of future Alzheimer’s than age itself. That’s right—the amount of insulin circulating in your blood, not your birth certificate, was more statistically significant in forecasting cognitive decline.
It’s a wake-up call: Alzheimer’s doesn’t strike out of nowhere. The seeds are sown decades earlier, and insulin resistance may be the soil in which they grow.
Hippocampal Gene Expression
Dr. Benjamin Bikman’s own lab at Brigham Young University took the investigation a step further. His team analyzed post-mortem hippocampal tissue from individuals who had died with or without Alzheimer’s disease. What they found was stark.
- Genes related to glucose metabolism—from uptake to breakdown—were significantly downregulated in Alzheimer’s brains.
- In contrast, genes involved in ketone metabolism remained normal.
The implication is profound: Alzheimer’s brains lose the ability to run on glucose, but retain the machinery to run on ketones. The engine is intact—it’s just not getting the fuel it was designed to use.
Human Imaging Studies
This isn’t just molecular. It shows up in real-time brain imaging.
Neurologist and researcher Dr. Steven Cunnane used PET scans to measure how different brains absorb energy. His studies revealed that patients with Alzheimer’s—and even those with just mild cognitive impairment—had dramatically reduced glucose uptake in key brain regions like the hippocampus.
But when those same brains were provided with ketones?
Uptake was normal.
In other words, the problem isn’t fuel availability—it’s fuel type. The glucose engine is broken, but the ketone engine still works. Cunnane dubbed this the “energy gap“—a shortfall between what the brain needs and what it can access. And here’s the kicker: this gap is visible decades before symptoms emerge.
PCOS & Early Brain Decline
Still think this is just an old-age issue? Think again.
In a separate study, young women in their 20s with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)—a condition closely linked to insulin resistance—were shown to have reduced glucose metabolism in the brain. They also scored lower on cognitive function tests compared to women of the same age and weight without PCOS.
The takeaway? Cognitive decline doesn’t begin with memory loss in your 60s—it begins with metabolic dysfunction in your 20s.
This aligns with Dr. Bikman’s warning: “We are not just talking about avoiding Alzheimer’s 30 years from now. We’re talking about brain performance today.”
The evidence is converging from every angle: molecular biology, imaging, endocrinology, and real-world clinical data. Alzheimer’s may wear the mask of a brain disorder, but at its core, it looks and acts like a disease of metabolism.
Real-World Consequences
Why Current Treatments Fail
We’ve been trying to solve Alzheimer’s like it’s a plumbing problem—scrape away the amyloid plaques, patch the leaks, restore the flow. But what if the real problem isn’t the pipes, but the fuel supply?
If the brain is starving due to insulin resistance, then removing plaques is like repainting a crumbling building without fixing the foundation. It might look better temporarily, but the structural collapse continues. You can’t drug your way out of a fuel crisis.
Even worse, there’s growing evidence that amyloid buildup may not be the cause of Alzheimer’s at all—it might be the brain’s desperate defense mechanism. A metabolic injury leads to stress, inflammation, and cellular dysfunction. Amyloid may simply be the scar tissue, not the disease.
Early Warning Signs
The body whispers before it screams. And for many, the first signs of insulin resistance in the brain don’t look like Alzheimer’s—they look like everyday struggles:
- Brain fog after meals
- Irritability when you haven’t eaten (“hanger”)
- Poor focus in the afternoons
- Crashes after sugary snacks
- Frequent migraines
These symptoms are often dismissed as laziness, low willpower, or stress. But they’re not character flaws—they’re metabolic red flags. They’re signs that your brain’s energy system is already strained, already faltering, already showing the early cracks that—if ignored—could widen into permanent damage.
Other Diseases Linked to Insulin Resistance
Alzheimer’s may be the most feared endpoint, but it’s far from the only disease on the insulin resistance spectrum. In fact, many of today’s most common and poorly treated conditions share the same root cause:
- Erectile dysfunction: Often the first sign of insulin resistance in men.
- Fatty liver disease: Driven by elevated insulin levels, not just alcohol.
- Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS): A hormonal disorder caused by insulin excess.
- Infertility: Both male and female reproductive issues are now tightly linked to metabolic dysfunction.
In modern medicine, we treat these as separate problems—send patients to different specialists, prescribe different pills. But they’re not different diseases. They’re branches growing from the same sick metabolic tree.
Treating the symptoms is like trimming the leaves. We need to cut down the root.
And that root, in far more cases than we’ve been willing to admit, is chronically elevated insulin—driven by our food, our stress, our environment, and our outdated assumptions about health.
What Can We Do About It?
The science is in. The evidence is overwhelming. Now comes the most important part: what do we do with it?
The bad news is that insulin resistance is rampant. The good news? It’s reversible—often quickly and profoundly—through changes that are entirely within our control.
The Three Pillars to Improve Brain Metabolism
- Control Insulin
- This is the first—and most important—step. Chronically elevated insulin is the driving force behind insulin resistance, and the primary source of the brain’s energy crisis.
- The solution? Cut back on refined carbohydrates and added sugars. Shift toward whole, unprocessed foods rich in healthy fats and quality protein.
- You don’t need to starve. You need to stop spiking insulin all day long.
- Lower Stress
- Chronic stress isn’t just a psychological burden—it’s a metabolic one. Stress hormones like cortisol and epinephrine directly induce insulin resistance.
- Poor sleep, constant email alerts, unresolved trauma—these aren’t just inconvenient. They’re inflammatory.
- Practice mindfulness, prioritize sleep, build resilience. Your brain can’t thrive in survival mode.
- Reduce Inflammation
- Many forms of inflammation originate in the gut—from seed oils, food sensitivities, and microbiome imbalances.
- Industrial seed oils (like soybean, corn, and canola) are chemically extracted, oxidize easily, and fuel chronic inflammation.
- Swap them out for ancestral fats like grass-fed animal fat, coconut, olive, and avocado oils.
Inflammation, stress, and insulin all feed into each other. Fix one, and you loosen the knot. Fix all three, and the system starts to reset.
Practical Dietary Shifts
You don’t need a PhD to start changing your brain’s fuel mix. Here’s how to begin:
- Avoid refined carbohydrates: Not just sugar, but even so-called “healthy“ gluten-free alternatives. Many are just starch bombs in disguise.
- Favor ancestral fats: These are the fats we’ve evolved with for millennia—animal fat, egg yolks, coconut oil, olive oil, avocado. They’re stable, satiating, and anti-inflammatory.
- Ditch industrial oils: If it comes in a clear plastic bottle, has a long shelf life, or says “vegetable“ oil—toss it.
- Embrace ketones: You don’t need to eat a stick of butter to get into ketosis. Try intermittent fasting, low-carb eating, or moderate-intensity exercise. All of these lower insulin and increase ketone production, giving your brain the clean fuel it desperately needs.
Hope, Not Helplessness
The most powerful message in Dr. Bikman’s work is this: it’s not too late.
Even in early Alzheimer’s, people have improved cognition by lowering insulin and boosting ketones. Memory sharpens. Focus returns. Energy rises.
This isn’t a miracle. It’s biology working as intended.
And for everyone who hasn’t yet crossed into cognitive decline, the message is even simpler: prevention doesn’t start at diagnosis. It starts now.
A Paradigm Shift for Healthcare
Waiting for the healthcare system to catch up is a losing game. The incentives are misaligned. The dogma is too entrenched. But you don’t have to wait for a pharmaceutical savior or a government guideline.
You can act today.
- Start with your food.
- Take responsibility for your metabolic health.
- Be skeptical of one-size-fits-all advice that ignores root causes.
- Ask your doctor for fasting insulin and HOMA-IR—not just a fasting glucose.
- Read labels. Learn what seed oils are. Question the narrative.
In short: be your own advocate. But beyond advocating for ourselves, we need raise awareness and accountability for the healthcare system at large, that we need them to not just treat health issues, but to focus more on prevention.
The real cure for Alzheimer’s may not lie in the next billion-dollar trial. It may be in your kitchen, your habits, your mitochondria.
This isn’t just about staving off dementia in your 70s. It’s about having a sharper mind, a stronger body, and a longer, more independent life—starting right now.
Conclusion
We are decades deep into the wrong paradigm—and the price has been catastrophic. Millions of lives lost. Billions of dollars wasted. Families devastated, not because Alzheimer’s is untreatable, but because we’ve been treating the wrong thing.
Alzheimer’s is not some tragic fluke written into our DNA. For most people, it is not a genetic inevitability—it is a metabolic consequence. It is what happens when the brain can no longer access the energy it needs to function, because the rest of the body has been hijacked by insulin resistance.
But here’s the good news: insulin resistance is reversible. And when we reverse it, we don’t just lower our risk of Alzheimer’s—we boost our mental clarity, emotional stability, fertility, energy, and long-term health.
We don’t need another failed billion-dollar drug to save us. We need a metabolic awakening.
It starts with food. With lifestyle. With understanding. With refusing to accept “normal“ brain fog, migraines, or fatigue as part of aging.
But it doesn’t end with personal responsibility. We must also raise our voices and raise the standard. We must demand that our healthcare system stops reacting to sickness and starts investing in prevention. That it stops obsessing over molecular debris and starts addressing metabolic dysfunction. That it sees us not as walking prescriptions, but as whole, living systems.
The science is clear: we’ve been starving our brains while drowning them in glucose (sugar and carbs). It’s time to stop.
It’s time to feed them what they actually need.
Disclaimer: As a Senior Health Advocacy Journalist, I strive to conduct thorough research and bring complex topics to the forefront of public awareness. However, I am not a licensed legal, medical, or financial professional. Therefore, it is important to seek advice from qualified professionals before making any significant decisions based on the information I provide.
Copyright: All text © 2025 James M. Sims and all images exclusive rights belong to James M. Sims and Midjourney unless otherwise noted.
References
Related Cielito Lindo Articles
Sims, J. M. (n.d.). What if we’ve been chasing ghosts? Cielito Lindo Senior Living. https://cielitolindoseniorliving.com/what-if-weve-been-chasing-ghosts/
Sims, J. M. (n.d.). How misguided theories delayed Alzheimer’s cure. Cielito Lindo Senior Living. https://cielitolindoseniorliving.com/how-misguided-theories-delayed-alzheimers-cure/
Sims, J. M. (n.d.). How food labels and dietary guidelines fuel insulin resistance. Cielito Lindo Senior Living. https://cielitolindoseniorliving.com/how-food-labels-and-dietary-guidelines-fuel-insulin-resistance/
Sims, J. M. (n.d.). The connection between Alzheimer’s and diabetes: What you need to know. Cielito Lindo Senior Living. https://cielitolindoseniorliving.com/the-connection-between-alzheimers-and-diabetes-what-you-need-to-know/
Sims, J. M. (n.d.). The top controllable dietary risks for Alzheimer’s disease. Cielito Lindo Senior Living. https://cielitolindoseniorliving.com/the-top-controllable-dietary-risks-for-alzheimers-disease/
Sims, J. M. (n.d.). Breaking down insulin resistance: Pathways to Type 2 diabetes and Alzheimer’s. Cielito Lindo Senior Living. https://cielitolindoseniorliving.com/breaking-down-insulin-resistance-pathways-to-type-2-diabetes-and-alzheimers/
Sims, J. M. (n.d.). Integrating preventive care in the fight against chronic diseases. Cielito Lindo Senior Living. https://cielitolindoseniorliving.com/integrating-preventive-care-in-the-fight-against-chronic-diseases/
Sims, J. M. (n.d.). Embracing control: How 12 risk factors shape our health and longevity. Cielito Lindo Senior Living. https://cielitolindoseniorliving.com/embracing-control-how-12-risk-factors-shape-our-health-and-longevity/
Websites
National Institute on Aging. (n.d.). Alzheimer’s disease fact sheet. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/alzheimers-disease-fact-sheet
Alzheimer’s Association. (n.d.). 2024 Alzheimer’s disease facts and figures. https://www.alz.org/media/Documents/alzheimers-facts-and-figures.pdf
Research Papers
Cunnane, S. C., Courchesne-Loyer, A., Vandenberghe, C., St-Pierre, V., Fortier, M., Hennebelle, M., … & Castellano, C.-A. (2016). Can ketones compensate for deteriorating brain glucose uptake during aging? Implications for the risk and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1367(1), 12–20. https://doi.org/10.1111/nyas.12999
Craft, S., et al. (2012). Intranasal insulin therapy for Alzheimer disease and amnestic mild cognitive impairment: A pilot clinical trial. Archives of Neurology, 69(1), 29–38. https://doi.org/10.1001/archneurol.2011.233
de la Monte, S. M., & Wands, J. R. (2008). Alzheimer’s disease is type 3 diabetes: Evidence reviewed. Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology, 2(6), 1101–1113. https://doi.org/10.1177/193229680800200618
Reaven, G. M. (2005). The insulin resistance syndrome: Definition and dietary approaches to treatment. Annual Review of Nutrition, 25, 391–406. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.nutr.24.012003.132155
Taylor, M. K., Sullivan, D. K., Mahnken, J. D., Burns, J. M., & Swerdlow, R. H. (2017). Nutritional status and dietary intake in middle-aged and older adults with mild cognitive impairment. The British Journal of Nutrition, 118(1), 2–11. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007114517001786
Books
Bikman, B. (2020). Why we get sick: The hidden epidemic at the root of most chronic disease—and how to fight it. BenBella Books. ISBN: 9781950665684
Bredesen, D. E. (2017). The end of Alzheimer’s: The first program to prevent and reverse cognitive decline. Avery. ISBN: 9780735216204
Lustig, R. H. (2021). Metabolical: The lure and the lies of processed food, nutrition, and modern medicine. Harper Wave. ISBN: 9780063027718
Taubes, G. (2020). The case for keto: Rethinking weight control and the science and practice of low-carb/high-fat eating. Knopf. ISBN: 9780525520061
Newport, M. T. (2013). What if there was a cure for Alzheimer’s disease and no one knew? (Updated ed.). Self-published. ISBN: 1459671082 (Note: This article and case study on ketones and cognitive improvement helped popularize the metabolic model.)
Videos / Lectures
Bikman, B. (n.d.). Insulin and brain health: How metabolic dysfunction leads to cognitive decline [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2P10Nlwp_us&list=PLmB2dHqb_WqAgWiTgLgR4TUnirH0I2jvE&index=175
Additional Resources:
Video: How Insulin Resistance DESTROYS Your Brain & Causes ALZHEIMER’S / DEMENTIA! | Ben Bikman
0:42 – Discussion on the importance of understanding insulin resistance.
5:30 – The hippocampus relies on glucose and ketones for energy.
9:05 – Insulin resistance in the brain is likened to type 3 diabetes.
13:09 – The impact of small meals on insulin levels and metabolic health.
15:09 – The brain’s desperate need for ketones when insulin is ineffective.
19:02 – Insulin’s role in fat metabolism and energy production.
24:15 – Genetic foundations of Alzheimer’s disease discussed.
30:05 – Correlation between insulin resistance and cognitive decline.
34:01 – Chronic diseases are interconnected, emphasizing a holistic view.
41:10 – Stress as a contributor to insulin resistance and its management.
48:21 – Discusses the unique state of brain energy use and its relevance.
49:46 – Mentions the impact of acute stress on blood pressure and brain function.
51:01 – Highlights the inevitable drop in brain energy from starch consumption.
54:06 – Talks about measuring brain glucose use in conditions like epilepsy.
55:14 – Shares personal experiences with ketogenic diets and brain health.
59:01 – Discusses the irony of gluten-free products affecting glucose levels.
1:02:02 – Emphasizes the importance of avoiding processed foods for better health.
1:06:32 – Explains the necessity of certain fats in the diet for brain health.
1:19:19 – Connects dietary choices with mental health and cognitive decline.
1:28:07 – Stresses the significance of quality fats for maintaining insulin sensitivity.
Book Review: Why We Get Sick: The Hidden Epidemic at the Root of Most Chronic Disease—and How to Fight It. By Benjamin Bikman, Published: September 7, 2021
Overview
Dr. Benjamin Bikman, a professor of pathophysiology and a leading researcher in metabolic science, presents a bold and persuasive argument that insulin resistance is the common denominator behind many of today’s most pressing chronic health conditions—including Alzheimer’s, diabetes, heart disease, and even infertility. In Why We Get Sick, Bikman combines hard science with actionable advice, making the case that recognizing and reversing insulin resistance is key to improving longevity and quality of life.
Synopsis
The central thesis of Why We Get Sick is that insulin resistance—when the body stops responding efficiently to insulin—is not just a precursor to type 2 diabetes but also a contributing factor in a wide spectrum of chronic illnesses. Bikman outlines how modern diets, sedentary lifestyles, and poor sleep habits fuel this metabolic dysfunction.
He walks readers through:
- What insulin resistance is and why it develops
- How it contributes to diseases like Alzheimer’s (sometimes called “type 3 diabetes”), cardiovascular issues, cancer, and more
- Symptoms and risk factors to watch for
- How current medical practice often treats symptoms, not root causes
- A straightforward, science-based lifestyle plan to improve insulin sensitivity through low-carb eating, time-restricted feeding, physical activity, and quality sleep
Bikman also addresses misconceptions around fat, cholesterol, and glucose, urging readers to rethink conventional dietary guidelines.
Key Themes
- Insulin Resistance as Root Cause: This is the book’s central argument—chronic disease stems from, or is worsened by, insulin resistance.
- Metabolic Health Over Weight Loss: Bikman encourages readers to focus on metabolic markers rather than the number on the scale.
- Dietary Reform: A low-carb, high-fat diet (reminiscent of ketogenic principles) is presented as the optimal dietary approach to reverse insulin resistance.
- Prevention through Lifestyle: Exercise, proper sleep, stress reduction, and fasting strategies are emphasized as powerful, drug-free interventions.
- Healthspan vs. Lifespan: The goal is not merely to live longer but to live better—avoiding the frailty and decline often associated with aging.
Writing Style
Bikman’s tone is passionate yet approachable. While the book delves into cellular biology and hormone function, he does so in a way that is digestible for the general reader. His background as a scientist lends credibility, but he avoids heavy jargon, making the book suitable for both laypeople and those with a medical or caregiving background.
He also maintains an empathetic tone, especially when discussing the frustrations of managing chronic illness, which will resonate with seniors and caregivers alike.
Conclusion
Why We Get Sick is an enlightening and empowering read that connects the dots between lifestyle, diet, and disease. For seniors and those caring for aging loved ones, it offers a proactive approach to staving off cognitive decline, improving energy, and reducing the risk of debilitating diseases. While some of the nutritional advice may challenge mainstream thinking, the book is rooted in robust science and delivers practical steps that can be implemented immediately.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5 out of 5 stars)
A must-read for anyone interested in the root causes of chronic disease, especially relevant for older adults, caregivers, and those facing early cognitive or metabolic concerns. Dr. Bikman combines cutting-edge research with practical solutions in a clear, motivating package.
Book Review: The Coconut Oil and Low-Carb Solution for Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and Other Diseases: A Guide to Using Diet and a High-Energy Food to Protect and Nourish the Brain By Mary T. Newport
Overview
Dr. Mary T. Newport, a neonatologist turned caregiver, offers a compelling and personal exploration of how medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs), particularly from coconut oil, may offer therapeutic benefits for neurodegenerative diseases. Drawing from her own husband’s experience with early-onset Alzheimer’s, Newport presents a blend of memoir, science, and nutritional guidance aimed at helping others manage or potentially prevent cognitive decline through dietary intervention.
Synopsis
This book builds on the foundation set by Dr. Newport’s earlier work, Alzheimer’s Disease: What If There Was a Cure?, and serves as both a follow-up and expansion. Newport details her husband’s remarkable cognitive improvements after incorporating coconut oil and MCT oil into his diet. The narrative is enriched with updated research and an accessible breakdown of how ketone bodies—produced when the body metabolizes MCTs or enters ketosis through a low-carb diet—may serve as an alternative energy source for the aging or diseased brain.
The book includes:
Practical guidance on incorporating coconut oil and MCT oil into meals
Low-carb and ketogenic diet strategies tailored for brain health
Case studies and testimonials from others who have tried the regimen
Basic recipes and nutritional suggestions
Key Themes
Brain Energy Metabolism: The core idea is that the aging or Alzheimer’s-affected brain becomes less efficient at using glucose, and ketones offer a cleaner, more accessible fuel source.
Nutritional Therapeutics: Newport argues that diet—particularly ketogenic or low-carb approaches—can support or even reverse some symptoms of neurodegeneration.
Caregiving & Advocacy: The book is also a caregiver’s journey, highlighting the emotional and practical challenges of supporting a loved one with Alzheimer’s.
Anecdotal vs. Scientific Evidence: While the personal stories are powerful, Newport also strives to balance them with medical insights, although the book occasionally leans more toward anecdotal advocacy than rigorous clinical science.
Writing Style
Newport writes with compassion and urgency, blending technical information with lay-friendly explanations. Her medical background adds credibility, but she maintains an approachable tone throughout. Readers with little to no scientific training will find the book easy to digest, though professionals may wish for more clinical rigor or peer-reviewed data.
Conclusion
The Coconut Oil and Low-Carb Solution offers an intriguing, hopeful, and often moving perspective on nutritional strategies for brain health. While it is not a substitute for clinical treatment and is not universally embraced by the medical community, it provides valuable insights and practical steps for those looking for alternative or complementary approaches to managing Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and related conditions. It’s particularly useful for caregivers and individuals seeking to be proactive about cognitive aging.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4 out of 5 stars)
A passionate and informative guide that blends personal experience with emerging nutritional science, especially valuable for caregivers and those exploring non-pharmaceutical strategies for neurodegenerative conditions.
Book Review: The Complete Book of Ketones: A Practical Guide to Ketogenic Diets and Ketone Supplements By Dr. Mary Newport, Published: February 19, 2019
Overview
In The Complete Book of Ketones, Dr. Mary Newport expands her mission to bring awareness to the healing and preventive power of ketones, especially in relation to brain health. Building upon her personal journey and earlier works, Newport delivers a thorough, science-backed, and accessible guide to understanding and applying ketogenic strategies. This is not just another diet book—it’s a comprehensive resource tailored to those seeking better cognitive, metabolic, and overall health through ketosis.
Synopsis
Rooted in both personal experience and scientific research, this book explores the vast potential of ketones—not only as an energy source but as a therapeutic tool. Newport’s own journey began when her husband Steve, who was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s, showed notable cognitive improvements after introducing coconut oil and ketone-producing supplements into his diet.
The book is structured into several key areas:
The science of how ketones fuel the body and brain
A deep dive into types of ketogenic diets (classic keto, modified Atkins, MCT-based, etc.)
Guidance on how to measure and increase ketone levels safely
An extensive overview of ketone supplements: esters, salts, and oils
Personal testimonies from individuals with neurological disorders, diabetes, cancer, and more who’ve benefited from keto strategies
Practical tools: keto-friendly food lists, sample meal plans, and sourcing advice
It’s equally useful for keto beginners and experienced adherents, with a clear focus on therapeutic application, especially for those dealing with age-related diseases or cognitive decline.
Key Themes
Ketones as Brain Fuel: The book emphasizes ketones as an alternative energy source for brains compromised by disease or aging.
Therapeutic Nutrition: A central message is that diet can significantly impact chronic disease management, particularly neurodegeneration.
Ketone Supplements: Newport demystifies the growing market of ketone esters and salts, offering guidance on safety, efficacy, and sourcing.
Patient Empowerment: Through both science and storytelling, the book empowers readers to take control of their health through informed dietary choices.
Preventative Health: There is a strong emphasis on using ketosis not just for treating illness but for maintaining vitality as we age.
Writing Style
Dr. Newport has a unique talent for making complex biochemistry feel approachable. The tone is compassionate and deeply personal while remaining educational. She balances clinical explanations with engaging anecdotes and step-by-step advice. The layout is user-friendly, with boxed highlights, checklists, and FAQs that make the information easy to reference and digest.
Conclusion
The Complete Book of Ketones is an indispensable guide for anyone considering the ketogenic lifestyle, especially seniors, caregivers, and those dealing with neurodegenerative conditions. While it doesn’t shy away from scientific depth, it remains highly readable and practical. More than just a “how-to” book, it’s a deeply personal and empowering guide written by a physician with real-world caregiving experience. For those serious about exploring ketone therapy for health and longevity, this is a must-read.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐½ (4.5 out of 5 stars)
An informative and heartfelt guide to the science and practice of ketones for brain and body health—particularly relevant for aging individuals and caregivers navigating Alzheimer’s or related conditions.
About Us - Cielito Lindo Senior Living
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We are Cielito Lindo – a senior care facility in beautiful San Miguel de Allende and we serve as the assisted living and memory care component of Rancho los Labradores, which is a truly incredible one-of-a-kind country club resort-like gated community. Rancho los Labradores consists of individual villas, man made lakes, cobblestone streets, and a rich array of wonderful amenities (e.g., tennis, club house, pools, cafe, long and short term hotel suites, theater, Cielito Lindo, a la carte assisted living services).
What makes this place so amazing is not only the beauty and sense of community, but also the fact that you can have the lifestyle you desire with the care that you need as those needs arise… and all of this at a cost of living that is less than half of what it would cost comparably in the US.
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