Brain Health
Dementia may be diagnosed later in life, but the changes that lead to it can start decades earlier—long before symptoms appear. Protecting your brain health should begin now, not wait until retirement.
Dementia: Detecting It Early and Acting Early Can Change Everything — Schedule Your Comprehensive Evaluation Today
Don’t wait until your 70s: dementia can begin much earlier than you might think. Schedule an appointment with Dr. Graff and take the first step toward a comprehensive evaluation of your brain health, uncovering root causes and practical strategies for early prevention through nutrition, metabolism, and lifestyle changes.
If dementia has already begun, we will conduct a thorough evaluation that will include genetic testing, advanced laboratory analysis, and measurements of toxic levels, with the goal of identifying contributing factors and creating a personalized plan to support your brain health.
Start a brain health evaluation at age 45 to support long-term cognitive wellness
To assess your cognitive risk, you will need:
1. A comprehensive blood test (including ApoE genetic testing)
This can identify health issues and inherited risk factors that may increase your chances of developing Alzheimer’s, allowing earlier prevention steps.
2. A cognitive assessment
This is a simple evaluation of memory and thinking skills that helps detect subtle changes early, when treatment and lifestyle changes may be most effective.
3. Volumetric MRI (recommended only if experiencing cognitive symptoms)
This brain scan measures brain volume and can look for patterns of shrinkage or other changes linked to memory problems.
Why ApoE Genetic Testing Matters:
ApoE genetic testing helps identify your risk for cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease, enabling personalized prevention and early intervention strategies.
“Dementogens” is a term used to describe medications and substances that may contribute to memory problems, brain fog, or long-term cognitive decline
Common Dementogens to limit or avoid:
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Anticholinergic Medications (HIGH RISK)
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Older antihistamines are worse (First generation H1 blockers)
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Certain antidepressants (e.g. Amitriptyline)
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Bladder medications (e.g. Oxybutynin)
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Over-the-counter sleep aids
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Diphenhydramine (e.g. Benadryl, Nytol, Sominex, “PM” products)
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Doxylamine (e.g. Unisom)
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Benzodiazepines
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Sleep medications (long-term use)
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Strong Pain medications
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Certain Psychiatric Medications
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Steroid (long-term use)
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Acid-Reflux Medications (long-term use)
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Certain Cholesterol medications (Lipophilic Statins)
Measure your Anticholinergic Burden (ACB) using this online calculator: