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Wilfrid Casseron (Neurologist)
After treating dementia for many years, Dr. Daniel Gibbs, a retired American neurologist, received the diagnosis of early Alzheimer’s. In a testimonial book, the doctor explains what he did to “slow down” the disease.
Retired neurologist, Dr. Daniel Gibbs, aged 72, shares his experience with Alzheimer’s disease in “Dispatches from the Land of Alzheimer’s (which could be translated as Dispatches from the Land of Alzheimer’s)” which should be released at the end of the month.
A progressive loss of smell
The doctor explains that he started losing his sense of smell in 2006, when he was 55 years old. A progressive loss, which he notes as being the first symptom of his illness. “This is indeed the case” confirms Dr Wilfrid Casseron, neurologist in Aix-en-Provence. “It sometimes happens so gradually that patients don’t always realize it at first”.
Carrier of a genetic mutation which increases the risk of Alzheimer’s by 12
Dr. Gibbs says that while performing a DNA test, he discovered that he carried two alleles of the APOE-4 gene, which increases the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease twelvefold. By doing brain tests, he noticed that, at age 61, he had damage related to language processing.
Upon learning of this, Dr. Gibbs delved into medical literature to learn about methods to combat the disease.
Exercise, eat well and socialize
This is how the doctor discovers that “regular aerobic exercise can slow disease progression by 50%“.
He follows a variation of the Mediterranean diet, with restriction of dairy products and increased consumption of berries. A way to further slow the progression of the disease by 30 to 50%.
Finally, he tries to remain intellectually active, by reading around a hundred books a year, by socializing regularly and by getting enough sleep, at least seven hours, every night.
Asked about these practices, Dr Wilfrid Casseron approves of each of these elements. “In Alzheimer’s disease, it is not enough to do crosswords while sitting on the couch all day to combat the disease. It is important not to remain sedentary, to eat well, to wear equipment if necessary to remain in interaction and exchanges with others, to go out… These are all ways of slowing down this dementia, which does not has currently no treatment”.
Taking care of your cardiovascular health
But that’s not all. Dr. Gibbs recalls that he also takes care of his cardiovascular health, paying attention to his diabetes and cholesterol levels, his weight (avoiding obesity) but also his blood pressure and smoking. “I haven’t smoked since I was 18, otherwise I follow health guidelines religiously” he confides, explaining that his cholesterol level has always been high. “CThis is due to the presence of this APOE-4 gene, which can disrupt cholesterol metabolism.” explains Dr. Casseron.
However, he congratulates the doctor for his cardiovascular care. “His approach is the right one, I always invite my patients to monitor their cardiovascular health, because if it is poor, it will directly influence their cognitive health” he concludes.
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