The Cure for Alzheimer’s Disease is Prevention, Part Two
ABSTRACT
In this work, I seek to bridge traditional healing knowledge with current scientific understanding. I offer this information as a guide to those who wish to protect their minds, nourish their bodies, and live with greater awareness of the choices that shape our future health. May this booklet serve as a starting point for deeper exploration, personal empowerment, and meaningful action. May it inspire hope where there is fear, clarity where there is confusion, and purpose where there is doubt.
Dr. Gregory Lawton
The Cure for Alzheimer’s Disease is Prevention, Part Two
By Gregory Lawton, D.C., D.N., N.D., D.Ac.
This booklet was written from a place of deep personal experience, clinical insight, and the conviction that healing is possible, when we begin early and act with intention. Alzheimer's disease is not a sudden event but a long process of decline that often begins years or even decades before its symptoms become evident. As both a practitioner and a son, I have witnessed its devastating effects. My mother, Betty, walked this path. Her story, and the stories of many patients and friends, have taught me that prevention is not only possible, but also essential.
In this work, I seek to bridge traditional healing knowledge with current scientific understanding. I offer this information as a guide to those who wish to protect their minds, nourish their bodies, and live with greater awareness of the choices that shape our future health. May this booklet serve as a starting point for deeper exploration, personal empowerment, and meaningful action. May it inspire hope where there is fear, clarity where there is confusion, and purpose where there is doubt.
Let us walk the path of prevention together.
A Personal Journey,
My mother, Betty, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease at the age of 62. However, her symptoms began to appear long before that diagnosis. She was a vibrant woman, an excellent cook, and a loving mother who enjoyed preparing what at the time were considered to be healthy meals and sugary desserts. But like so many Americans living on the Standard American Diet (SAD), she unknowingly contributed to the development of a condition that would later rob her of memory, autonomy, and dignity.
I have seen the same story unfold in the lives of others, including my former student, employee, and dear friend, Steve. Despite trying to make healthier choices later in life, he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and in previous years had suffered multiple ICU stays due to complications from blood clots. When Steve lamented that his attempts at health had failed, I asked him to think back to how he was eating and living 12 to 15 years before his diagnosis and when the cancerous cells first started growing in his pancreas. His response made it clear: the damage had started long before he decided to change his diet and lifestyle.
Alzheimer’s disease, like many chronic degenerative illnesses, is not a sudden onset condition. It is a process that unfolds over decades, rooted in poor metabolic health, chronic inflammation, and the toxic burden of modern diets. This booklet is not about despair. It is about empowerment. The cure for Alzheimer’s, I argue, is prevention, and that prevention begins with understanding the metabolic nature of this disease.
This neuro-metabolic collapse explains why Alzheimer’s symptoms can be so devastating. The root issue is not just memory loss but energy deprivation at the cellular level. It's not that the brain isn't being fed, it's that it's no longer able to eat. Addressing this through dietary changes that restore insulin sensitivity and offer ketones as an alternative fuel source can slow or even reverse this degenerative process in its earliest stages.
The Sugar Trap: Hidden Culprits in ‘Healthy’ Foods
Many products marketed as "healthy", such as granola bars, protein snacks, sports drinks, and trail mixes, contain hidden sugars that drive insulin resistance and inflammation. These sugars are often disguised under names that sound less harmful or more “natural,” but their effects on brain and metabolic health are essentially the same.
Here’s a list of common harmful sugars and sweeteners found in processed health foods:
• High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) – a cheap, highly processed sugar that floods the liver and contributes to fatty liver disease and insulin resistance.
• Brown Rice Syrup – often found in "natural" energy bars, this is still a concentrated glucose source with a high glycemic index.
• Evaporated Cane Juice – simply a euphemism for sugar; may sound healthy but has no nutritional advantage.
• Agave Nectar – marketed as natural, yet it is extremely high in fructose, which is directly linked to hepatic and brain insulin resistance.
• Fruit Juice Concentrates – used in snack bars and cereals to imply fruit content, concentrated sugar with minimal fiber or nutrients.
• Tapioca Syrup – a glucose-heavy sweetener often found in organic snack bars and baby foods.
• Honey and Maple Syrup – while natural, they still spike blood sugar and insulin, especially in concentrated forms or when consumed frequently.
• Maltodextrin – a starch-based sugar substitute with a glycemic index even higher than table sugar.
• Sucrose, Dextrose, Glucose – basic sugars that are rapidly absorbed, promoting insulin spikes and energy crashes.
Even when these sugars are added in “small” amounts, the cumulative burden across meals, and over time, can lead to chronic insulin signaling disruptions in the brain. Educating patients and readers to read labels carefully and recognize these hidden forms of sugar is a critical step in any prevention plan.
A Prevention-Oriented Dietary Strategy
The human brain can utilize two primary fuels: glucose and ketones. In states of carbohydrate restriction or fasting, the body produces ketones, which serve as an efficient, anti-inflammatory energy source for neurons. A diet that supports ketone production can help restore metabolic function to the brain (Newport et al., 2015; Taylor et al., 2019).
• Quinoa
• Steel-cut oats (unsweetened)
• Sweet potatoes
• Lentils
• Chickpeas
• Black beans
• Wild rice
• Butternut squash
Excellent Fats and Oils:
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Cold-pressed flaxseed oil (not heated)
• Organic coconut oil
• Avocados
• Chia seeds and hemp seeds
• Almonds, walnuts, pecans
Ketone-Friendly Foods and Supplements:
• MCT oil (1 tbsp in coffee, tea, or smoothies)
• Coconut milk or cream (unsweetened)
• Grass-fed butter or ghee
• Pasture-raised eggs
• Sardines, mackerel, salmon (rich in omega-3s)
Suggested Meal Timing:
• 2–3 meals per day
• 12–16 hour overnight fasting window
• No snacks unless truly hungry, and then choose nuts or olives
Hydration and Support:
• Herbal teas (peppermint, green tea, ginger)
• Filtered water with lemon or cucumber
• Electrolyte support with sea salt, magnesium, potassium-rich foods
Beyond Diet: A Lifestyle for Brain Health
Prevention also requires a lifestyle that reduces inflammation, supports vascular health, and enhances neuronal repair:
• Daily Physical Activity: Movement increases brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), enhancing neuroplasticity (Erickson et al., 2011).
• Quality Sleep: Deep sleep is essential for glymphatic clearance of toxins from the brain.
• Stress Reduction: Chronic stress raises cortisol and disrupts insulin regulation. Mindfulness, breathwork, and spiritual practice are powerful tools.
• Gut Health: A healthy microbiome protects the blood-brain barrier and modulates inflammation. Include fermented foods and prebiotics (Kobayashi et al., 2017).
• Cognitive Engagement: Lifelong learning, puzzles, reading, and meaningful conversation help maintain neural connections.
Movement as Metabolic Necessity
Human metabolism is not designed to function optimally in a sedentary state. For most of our evolutionary history, daily survival demanded constant physical activity, hunting, foraging, building, walking, lifting, and adapting to environmental challenges. These movements were not optional add-ons but essential to the regulation of blood sugar, insulin sensitivity, and cellular energy use.
Modern lifestyles, however, have removed this fundamental stimulus from daily life. Sedentary behaviors, sitting for hours at desks, driving instead of walking, engaging with screens rather than physical environments, have decoupled movement from metabolism. The result is a body that is overfed and underutilized, where glucose and insulin pathways become dysregulated due to lack of physical demand. Muscles, which are the primary site of glucose disposal, become insulin resistant when not used regularly. Without movement, glucose remains elevated in the bloodstream, insulin levels rise, and over time, the metabolic machinery becomes sluggish and inflamed.
Exercise, whether through walking, strength training, stretching, or purposeful labor, is not simply for cardiovascular fitness or weight control. It is an essential regulator of glucose transporters (especially GLUT-4 receptors), mitochondrial biogenesis, and insulin receptor sensitivity. It also activates AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), a master switch in metabolic regulation. Without regular physical activity, it is biologically impossible to maintain normal glucose and insulin homeostasis for long.
This is why exercise is not an afterthought in Alzheimer's prevention, it is central to preserving brain metabolism. Physical movement increases blood flow to the brain, boosts brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), reduces inflammatory cytokines, and ensures the metabolic pathways that fuel neurons remain efficient and adaptive.
Physical Activity and Movement as Metabolic Medicine
It is impossible to maintain healthy glucose metabolism and insulin regulation without regular physical activity. Human physiology evolved in constant motion, and our metabolic machinery is tightly coupled to muscular contraction. Movement acts as a trigger for the activation of glucose transporters in muscle cells, primarily GLUT-4, allowing glucose to enter cells independently of insulin. This process reduces blood sugar, improves insulin sensitivity, and provides energy to working muscles.
• Mosconi, Lisa. Brain Food: The Surprising Science of Eating for Cognitive Power. Avery, 2018.
• Wahls, Terry. The Wahls Protocol: A Radical New Way to Treat All Chronic Autoimmune Conditions Using Paleo Principles. Avery, 2014.
• Gundry, Steven R. The Plant Paradox: The Hidden Dangers in “Healthy” Foods That Cause Disease and Weight Gain. Harper Wave, 2017.
• Hyman, Mark. The UltraMind Solution: Fix Your Broken Brain by Healing Your Body First. Scribner, 2008.
• Ludwig, David. Always Hungry?: Conquer Cravings, Retrain Your Fat Cells, and Lose Weight Permanently. Grand Central Life & Style, 2016.
About the Author
Gregory Lawton, D.C., D.N., N.D., D.Ac. is a licensed chiropractor, naprapath, and acupuncturist, as well as a certified naturopath and master herbalist. With more than five decades of experience in holistic healthcare, he has taught thousands of students in massage therapy, manual medicine, herbal medicine, and traditional Asian therapies. He is the founder of multiple hospital-based health promotion and education programs as well as professional continuing education workshops, including AcuMyoTherapy and FastTrack clinical certifications. Dr. Lawton is also a poet, artist, martial artist, and teacher of Yang-style Tai Chi Chuan. A lifelong member of the Baháʼí Faith, he integrates science, spirituality, and service into every dimension of his work. His publications, lectures, and student workbooks reflect his deep commitment to preventive medicine, patient empowerment, and natural healing.
References
• de la Monte SM, Wands JR. Alzheimer's disease is type 3 diabetes–evidence reviewed. J Diabetes Sci Technol. 2008;2(6):1101-13.
• Kandimalla R, Thirumala V, Reddy PH. Is Alzheimer's disease a type 3 diabetes? A critical appraisal. Biochim Biophys Acta. 2017;1863(5):1078-89.
• Morris MC, Tangney CC, et al. Dietary fats and the risk of incident Alzheimer disease. Arch Neurol. 2003;60(2):194-200.
• Power SE, O’Toole PW, Stanton C, et al. The gut microbiota and diet in brain health and Alzheimer’s disease. Ageing Res Rev. 2014;18:43–56.
• Newport MT, VanItallie TB, Kashiwaya Y, et al. Use of ketone ester in a case of Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer's Dement. 2015;11(1):99-103.
• Taylor MK, Sullivan DK, Mahnken JD, et al. Ketogenic interventions for Alzheimer’s disease: a review of clinical trial evidence. J Nutr Gerontol Geriatr. 2019;38(3):248-72.
• Longo VD, Panda S. Fasting, circadian rhythms, and time-restricted feeding in healthy lifespan. Cell Metab. 2016;23(6):1048–59.
• Mattson MP, Moehl K, Ghena N, et al. Intermittent metabolic switching, neuroplasticity and brain health. Nat Rev Neurosci. 2018;19(2):63–80.
• Erickson KI, Voss MW, Prakash RS, et al. Exercise training increases size of hippocampus and improves memory. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2011;108(7):3017–22.
• Kobayashi Y, Sugahara H, Shimada K, et al. Therapeutic potential of Bifidobacterium breve strain A1 for preventing cognitive impairment in Alzheimer’s disease. Sci Rep. 2017;7(1):13510.
• Cunnane SC, Courchesne-Loyer A, St-Pierre V, et al. Can ketones compensate for deteriorating brain glucose uptake during aging? Implications for the risk and treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2016;1367(1):12-20.
• Krikorian R, Shidler MD, Dangelo K, et al. Dietary ketosis enhances memory in mild cognitive impairment. Neurobiol Aging. 2012;33(2):425.e19–425.e27.
• Gómez-Pinilla F. Brain foods: the effects of nutrients on brain function. Nat Rev Neurosci. 2008;9(7):568–578.