“Cognitive Decline and Dementia Clinical Strategies and Treatment Applications”
Video: Course information – Cognitive Decline and Dementia course
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If you want to treat cognitive decline effectively, you need to know how it works.
You need to understand the neurology of the brain, the role of each area of the brain, and how symptoms related to that area manifest.
Functional medicine is heading in the wrong direction when it comes to cognitive decline
In functional medicine we are seeing a trend where practitioners assume anyone who presents with cognitive decline has Alzheimer’s and put the patient on specific Alzheimer’s and dementia protocols.
We’re headed in the wrong direction with this approach.
Instead, it’s important to first figure out what is the mechanism of their cognitive decline — it’s not always Alzheimer’s disease.
While the rates of Alzheimer’s and cognitive decline are growing, it’s a mistaken and overly simplistic model to treat all cases of cognitive decline as Alzheimer’s.
Non-Alzheimer’s factors that can cause cognitive decline include:
To know what is causing your patient’s cognitive decline, it’s important to avoid immediately jumping into Alzheimer’s protocols.
Instead, you want to go step by step through the process of differentially diagnosing the underlying mechanisms and then developing clinical strategies specific to those mechanisms.
Mechanisms you will learn to treat include:
Only when you have diagnosed the underlying mechanism of cognitive decline can you put together an appropriate and effective treatment and lifestyle application.
These are some of the things I’m going to teach you in this course.
We will spend quite a bit of time making sure you understand:
How the brain works
How memory and cognition work
How recall works
How to identify break downs in those areas of the brain in your patient work up
Can your patient maintain focus while relaying their history? Do they show problems with name recall, special orientation, or their sense of direction?
By looking at symptoms like these and many more, you will learn to identify which areas of the brain are involved and what to do about them.
We will discuss applications such as:
Neuro-rehabilitative exercises
Using a functional medicine approach to look at the different risk factors
The research on nutraceuticals as they apply to various areas of breakdown
The impact of diet, environmental factors, pathogens, and other factors on health
While not all cases of cognitive decline are due to Alzheimer’s and dementia, cases of Alzheimer’s and dementia are still skyrocketing in incidence.
It’s important to understand how to manage them.
You will learn how Alzheimer’s and dementia fit in the web of blood sugar handling systems, the immune system, the integrity of the blood-brain barrier, gut health, hormones, and how these all work together.
I will walk you through all of these concepts and simplify it into a step-by-step thought process so you have the tools you need to effectively help and work with patients suffering from cognitive decline.
The only valid way to manage Alzheimer’s
Pharmaceutical companies have spent billions of dollars trying to develop a drug that will cure Alzheimer’s.
Those pharmaceutical studies have failed, and the science continues to point in the same direction when it comes to treating Alzheimer’s patients:
A multivariate, personalized lifestyle medicine approach that involves diet, lifestyle, nutrition, exercise, and strategies that impact brain health.
Although multiple factors can cause cognitive decline, the truth is Alzheimer’s is on the rise and you’re bound to run into it with your patient population. It’s important that you know how to best improve your patient’s quality of life.
Each patient suffering from Alzheimer’s disease has their own unique set of triggers that must be identified and addressed, which I will go through in this course.
I will also teach you how common concepts identified in the literature can be applied to develop a customized approach that is optimal for each patient’s unique needs.
For instance, while strategies such as a ketogenic diet, intermittent fasting, controlling insulin, reducing inflammation, dampening microglial activation, improving microbiome diversity, and so on, have been shown to be successful in managing Alzheimer’s, I’ll show you how to determine which approaches are going to work best for which patients.
Given the variables identified in the research and the fact that each patient will come in with different underlying mechanisms, how do you know where to begin as a practitioner? And how do you know if you’re missing anything?
I’ll teach you a step-by-step process for working up each patient and developing a personalized plan for them based on their unique needs and mechanisms.
Learn which area of the brain to treat for best results
Most practitioners jump into a global brain protocol when a patient presents with cognitive decline or Alzheimer’s.
That can certainly help, but there are different patterns of dementia involving different areas of the brain.
To best help your patients, you need to understand what the underlying mechanisms are, which areas of the brain are most affected, and how to treat the entire web.
For instance, focus, attention, and concentration are involved with the frontal lobe. If your patients can’t focus, stay on task, concentrate, or have a hard time planning, then you know the frontal lobe is involved.
Once information comes into the frontal lobe, it is developed into short-term and long-term memories through engaging other areas of the brain such as the hippocampus, medial temporal lobe, and the Papez circuit.
Symptoms of cognitive decline can include recalling things in the past but not being able to learn new information, forgetting important past events, losing the ability to focus and concentrate, and so on.
These are all different degrees of dementia and cognitive decline that involve different areas of the brain and different underlying mechanisms.
In this course, we’re going to walk through the neurology of focus, concentration, cognition, and recall, and then I will teach you how to find imbalances in each of these regions of your patients’ brains.
Is your practice suffering due to your OWN cognitive decline? Your most important patient may be yourself
One of your most serious cases of cognitive decline may not be a patient, but you, the practitioner.
Throughout my career I have traveled around the country and seen the same practitioners in various cities repeatedly over time. When you see someone only once or twice a year, their cognitive decline becomes very noticeable.
Are you falling behind on your schedule in your practice because you cannot focus and concentrate like you used to?
Do you find it more difficult to focus and concentrate during patient intakes or case reviews?
Do you fatigue more easily, have to see fewer patients, or take more days off?
Do you find it more difficult to retain information from seminars than you did in the past?
Is the success of your practice declining?
One of the things that we’re going do in this course is teach you — the healthcare professional — how to improve your own cognition and brain function.
I will teach you the things you can do on a day-to-day basis to light up your brain, ensure you have the best brain endurance, and optimize your recall.
These neurological attributes play an enormous role in your daily function as a healthcare provider and in the longevity of your career.
It’s possible the first and most important cognitive decline patient you have to treat is YOU.
A frequently overlooked factor in cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s: Dental health
Dental health can have a huge impact on the progression and development of cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease.
Researchers have found dental conditions such as gingivitis and periodontal disease can infiltrate the vascular system and promote atherosclerotic plaquing.
The same mechanism takes place in the brain.
The bacterial organisms from gingivitis and periodontal disease infiltrate the brain and promote the development of neurofibrillary tangles and amyloid plaques associated with Alzheimer’s disease.
As a clinician, some of the things you have to look at in patients experiencing cognitive decline is:
How is their dental health?
Do they have a bloody toothbrush?
Does brushing their teeth cause pain?
You may even want to look at their gums to see if they’re red and swollen.
This is just one of the many steps you must consider when developing a personalized treatment approach for people suffering from cognitive decline or Alzheimer’s disease.
Alzheimer’s: Type 3 diabetes
Researchers are increasingly referring to Alzheimer’s as type 3 diabetes due to the impact of high blood sugar on the brain.
Insulin resistance, pre-diabetes, and diabetes are all cases of chronically high blood sugar that have devastating impacts on the brain.
Insulin surges and high blood sugar disrupt cellular function in the brain, causing mitochondria to being failing and impairing the brain’s ability to use glucose for energy.
Chronic insulin surges from high blood sugar also turn on the brain’s immune cells, or microglia, leading to ongoing neuroinflammation. This impacts the vascular system in the brain, promoting oxidative stress and the development of advanced glycation end products.
The end result for the patient is accelerated neurodegeneration and symptoms of cognitive decline and the onset of dementia.
One of the things you absolutely have to do when you are working with a patient who has cognitive decline is assess insulin resistance. It must be managed and reversed if you’re going to have any success at improving their cognitive function and reversing their risk for developing further dementia or neurodegenerative patterns.
Dr. Kharrazian is a leading expert in diagnosing and treating cognitive decline and dementia
Datis Kharrazian, PhD, DHSc, DC, MS, MMSc, FACN, is a Harvard Medical School trained researcher, clinical research scientist, academic professor, and a functional medicine health care provider. Dr. Kharrazian earned a Master of Medical Science degree (MMSc) in Clinical Investigation from Harvard Medical School, and is a member of the Harvard Medical Alumni Association and the American Association of Immunologists.
Today, Dr. Kharrazian’s clinical models of functional medicine are used by several academic institutions, and thousands of health care clinics and practices providers throughout the world.
He maintains a private practice near San Diego, California, and consults with patients from all over the world who are seeking non-pharmaceutical alternatives. His practice is focused on developing a personalized medical approach using diet, nutrition, and lifestyle approaches.
After decades of analyzing thousands of studies and working with patients in the United States and Europe, Dr. Kharrazian developed never-taught-before clinical strategies to successfully manage cognitive decline and dementia.
Is the Kharrazian Institute Cognitive Decline and Dementia course right for you?
The Kharrazian Institute cognitive decline and dementia course is not for everyone. See if the course features below are right for you:
Frequently Asked Questions
Do any materials come with this course?
You receive access to all the recorded live videos, presentation slides, published papers, Q&A’s, assessment forms, supplement information, protocols, and all other supporting material for one to three years after the class — the sooner you register the longer you will have access to the material. This means you can rewatch the recorded lectures as many times as you’d like during this period.
Do I receive continuing education credits for this class?
12 hours of CEs are available for licensed health care practitioners. Please see the bottom of this page for more particulars.
What if I can’t digest all the information at once?
First, you are given pre-class reading material to begin familiarizing yourself with the material. Then, you have access to the recorded lectures and supporting materials for up to three years (depending on when you purchase). This means you can rewatch lectures as many times as you need.
What if I have questions after the class?
When you register you are invited to join a Members Only Kharrazian Institute Facebook group where you can ask questions and discuss cases with other practitioners.
How can patients in my area learn about me and the fact that I have taken this class?
We have created an online practitioner referral page. Licensed practitioners who have completed all of the Kharrazian Institute courses will be added to the list. Patients can search the list to look for practitioners in their area.
What if parts of the class are unfamiliar to me?
All of the Kharrazian Institute classes are designed to complement one another. As you take all the courses over time you will receive an extraordinarily comprehensive functional medicine education. Different pieces of human physiology, neurology, immunology, and endocrinology all fit together like pieces of a puzzle for one comprehensive understanding of patient evaluation and care.
MARK HYMAN, MD
Dr. Kharrazian has been a prominent educator and highly-respected clinician in the functional medicine community since the inception of functional medicine. He is an expert clinician and an innovator in this field.
CLEVELAND CLINIC, DIRECTOR OF CENTER FOR FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE
CHAIRMAN, INSTITUTE FOR FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE
TEN-TIME NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLING AUTHOR
JEFFREY BLAND, PHD, FACN, FACB
I have had the pleasure of knowing Dr. Kharrazian for more than a decade and observing his professional growth and impact as a key opinion leader in the field of Functional Neurology. He is voracious in his pursuit of learning and skill development. His pursuit of post-graduate studies at Harvard in research methods has embellished his already significant expertise in systems medicine and its application to Functional Medicine. He has a unique skill in making complex information accessible to his students and patients alike, which is a measure of an individual who is a master of his field. Dr. Kharrazian is a humble, quietly competent leader who leads by example and his presence. The Functional Medicine field is rapidly evolving, and it is through the work and leadership of a select group of professionals, of which Dr. Kharrazian is a recognized leader, that it is growing in both its adoption and successful application to the treatment of complex chronic diseases. It is truly a pleasure to call Dr. Kharrazian both a colleague and friend in our mutual advocacy in the development and application of Functional Medicine.
CO-FOUNDER, INSTITUTE OF FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE
PRESIDENT, PERSONALIZED LIFESTYLE MEDICINE INSTITUTE
Why is Dr. Kharrazian’s cognitive decline and dementia course different?
Dr. Kharrazian is an actual clinician who has been successfully treating cognitive decline and dementia in the United States and Europe for more than 20 years.
Dr. Kharrazian has witnessed countless real-life patient scenarios and developed proven strategies to address commonly overlooked issues.
Dr. Kharrazian is both a scientist and an educator.
Dr. Kharrazian has been an innovator in the field of functional medicine since its inception.
Dr. Kharrazian stays continually up-to-date with the latest scientific and medical research.
Dr. Kharrazian was trained as a clinical investigator (Master of Medical Science in Clinical Investigation) at Harvard Medical School and can effectively share with you the most relevant research.
Dr. Kharrazian has published a number of immunology studies in the most respected medical journals in the world.
DAVE PERLMUTTER, MD, FACN, ABIHM
Dr. Kharrazian’s work represents the vanguard in our understanding of the role of lifestyle choices in charting the brain’s destiny. His highly effective educational outreach has opened the door for countless healthcare providers, allowing them to dramatically increase their effectiveness in treating and indeed preventing so many of the pernicious conditions that plague our modern society.
AUTHOR, #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING BOOK,
GRAIN BRAIN AND BRAIN MAKER
KELLY BROGAN, MD, ABIHM
Dr. Datis Kharrazian is one of the most powerful clinicians of our time. From the lab to the clinic, he has studied, vetted, and applied his cutting-edge science to heal patients all over the world. I consider him to be a foremost authority in a systems approach to recovery and wellness.
AUTHOR, NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING BOOK, A MIND OF YOUR OWN
TERRY WAHLS, MD, IFMCP
Dr. Kharrazian is a brilliant clinician educator who has inspired many, myself included. He is superb at teaching clinicians the power of using functional medicine-oriented history and physical examination to understand and address the root causes of disease and health. Integrating the latest research and years of clinical experience, Dr. Kharrazian, is an international leader in Functional Medicine.
NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLING AUTHOR OF THE WAHLS PROTOCOL – HOW I BEAT
PROGRESSIVE MS USING PALEO PRINCIPLES AND FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE
CLINICAL PROFESSOR OF MEDICINE, UNIVERSITY OF IOWA, CARVER COLLEGE OF MEDICINE
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Cognitive Decline and Dementia Clinical Strategies and Treatment Applications
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Cognitive Decline and Dementia Course
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IMPORTANT NOTE: After registration, you will receive an email titled Important Login Info: Kharrazian Institute… which contains your login credentials for immediate access to all course materials and videos. After watching all videos and successfully completing the online examinations for each course, you will receive a “KI Certificate of Completion”. Otherwise, you are incomplete for the course.
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Please complete the KI course before you order the CE Credits from National University. You are NOT complete for the course unless you pass both primary exams AND watch the livestream or all videos for both days AND after you have received the KI Certificate of Completion.
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Testimonials about the Kharrazian Institute courses
More testimonials
PEDRAM SHOJAI, OMD
Dr. Kharrazian is one of the greatest minds in the functional medicine space. He’s a trailblazer and an innovator. His courses are gold and his direction is wise. If you’re in healthcare and are ready to be on the right side of history, study with this man.
AUTHOR, NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING BOOK, THE URBAN MONK
FOUNDER OF WELL.ORG
DAVID MUSNICK, MD
Dr. Kharrazian is one of the most skilled Functional medicine practitioners in the country. His understanding of interrelationships in physiology puts him in the top tier of Functional Medicine writers and educators in this country.
FACULTY OF THE INSTITUTE FOR FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE
NORA GEDGAUDAS, CNS, NTP, BCHN
Datis Kharrazian is truly among the great medical geniuses of our time. His capacity to think outside the box is second to none. He brings cutting-edge insights to the table that others have missed along the way and for this we should be eternally grateful.
AUTHOR, PRIMAL BODY, PRIMAL MIND AND PRIMAL FAT BURNER
ELIZABETH BOHAM, MD, RD
Dr. Kharrazian is a leader in functional medicine, always looking to discover the root cause of illness or dysfunction in the body and, most importantly, uncovering novel therapies to improve optimal function.
MEDICAL DIRECTOR OF THE ULTRAWELLNESS CENTER
MARK FLANNERY, DC, MS, BS
Dr. Kharrazian’s education gave me the knowledge and confidence to take on complicated chronic cases. I would not have the patient success I have without the information I gained from Dr. Kharrazian. I have taken many seminars by many different doctors but I could not do what I do without the knowledge I gained from Dr. Kharrazian.
DIRECTOR OF HEALTH WISE CLINICAL NUTRITION
JOSHUA REDD, DC, MS
Dr. Kharrazian’s education has been pivotal in every aspect of my practice. His curriculum has been my foundation for building seven thriving functional medicine clinics. I couldn’t ask for a more rewarding career path.
FOUNDER OF RED RIVER HEALTH AND WELLNESS CENTER
AUTHOR, THE TRUTH ABOUT LOW THYROID
SHANE STEADMAN, DC, DACNB, DCBCN, CNS
In the last decade, I have seen Dr. Kharrazian change the landscape of healthcare. His ability to integrate functional medicine, immunology, and neurology is second to none. Individuals like Dr. Kharrazian come around once in a lifetime. I could not be more honored to learn from him and consider him to be a wonderful mentor. I sincerely believe the Kharrazian Institute will continue to evolve health care.
DIRECTOR, INTEGRATED HEALTH SYSTEMS AND INTEGRATED BRAIN CENTERS
