The Ageless Brain: Why Cognitive Decline Is Optional—If You Know What to Look For

What If Memory Loss Wasn’t Inevitable?

Most of us assume that forgetting names, losing our keys, or struggling to focus is just part of getting older. But what if it didn’t have to be?

In this episode of The Root Cause Medicine Podcast, I sat down with Dr. Dale Bredesen—renowned neurologist, researcher, and author of The End of Alzheimer’s—to discuss his newest book, The Ageless Brain. He’s reframing memory loss not as a fate we can’t escape, but as a preventable—and often reversible—process when addressed early with the right tools.

The Cognoscopy: A Brain Checkup Everyone Should Get

Dr. Bredesen coined the term cognoscopy to describe a brain health screening everyone over age 35 should receive. Like a colonoscopy, it’s designed to catch early changes—except this time, it’s for your brain.

The cognoscopy includes:

• 🧪 Blood biomarkers: P-Tau217, GFAP, NFL—for early detection of Alzheimer's-related changes, inflammation, and neuronal damage

• 🧠 A simple cognitive assessment

• 🧲 Optional MRI with volumetrics for deeper insight if symptoms are present

Together, these give us a window into the earliest signs of decline—years before memory loss becomes obvious.

Cognitive Decline Isn’t One-Size-Fits-All

Cognitive changes follow a pattern:

1. Asymptomatic biochemical changes

2. Subjective Cognitive Impairment (SCI)—you know something's off

3. Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI)—measurable on tests

4. Dementia—loss of daily function

And here’s the hope: Dr. Bredesen says that people in the SCI stage improve virtually 100% of the time when supported with a root-cause approach.

Root Causes Are Detectable—and Treatable

Dr. Bredesen’s approach is rooted in precision medicine. Instead of masking symptoms, he teaches us to test and treat what's driving the decline. Common culprits include:

🔹 Insulin resistance 🔹 Chronic inflammation 🔹 Toxins (like mold and heavy metals) 🔹 Oral and sinus infections and dysbiosis 🔹 Hormone & nutrient deficiencies 🔹 Mitochondrial dysfunction and poor sleep

Targeted Supplements That Support Brain Function

One of my favorite parts of our conversation was diving into the specific nutrients that help clients reclaim their cognition.

Here are some of Dr. Bredesen’s top recommendations:

🧠 Magnesium threonate – supports cognitive function and crosses the blood-brain barrier 💥 Citicoline or Alpha-GPC – choline donors that help with memory and focus 🛡️ Glutathione – the master antioxidant, critical for detox and inflammation support 💪 CoQ10 – essential for mitochondrial energy 🔋 Omega-3s – lowers inflammation and supports brain cell membranes 🌀 SPMs (Specialized Pro-Resolving Mediators) – helps resolve chronic inflammation ⚖️ Vitamin D, B12, and Folate – foundational for methylation and brain detox 🌿 Adaptogens and pregnenolone/DHEA – to modulate stress and hormone-related decline Pro tip: He also suggests oral probiotics, and supports emerging therapies like photobiomodulation and mitochondrial transfusions for more advanced cases.

I don't recommend buying these supplements online since the FDA does not regulate the production of supplements and many can contain harmful, inactive or unlisted ingredients. You can find cGMP / NSF/ safe, regulated and tested forms of these supplements here.

The Brain Is a Ferrari—Fuel It Accordingly

Dr. Bredesen says don’t support a high-performance car with cheap gas—and your brain is no different.

Dr. Bredesen’s core lifestyle pillars include: 🔹 Plant-rich, mildly ketogenic diet 🔹 Aerobic + resistance exercise 🔹 Deep, restorative sleep (with wearables!) 🔹 Stress reduction and breathwork 🔹 Brain training (like Brain HQ) 🔹 Detox support (SPMs, binders, sauna, and oral health care)

You Are Not Powerless—Testing Is the First Step

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, here’s what I want you to know: “Every single contributor to cognitive decline is addressable.” —Dr. Dale Bredesen

It starts with testing. This is how we move from fear to empowerment—and from symptoms to healing.

Final Thoughts: Make Your Brainspan Match Your Lifespan

Cognitive decline isn’t an inevitable part of aging. With the right tools, we can extend not just how long we live—but how clearly we think and feel while we do it.

🎧 Tune in to the full episode for:

• Dr. Bredesen’s protocol for reducing the risk of cognitive decline

• What to test and when

• Inspiring stories of recovery—even from ApoE4+ clients

Resources

• Dr. Dale Bredesen: drbredesen.com, @drdalebredesen

• Book: The Ageless Brain – Available in paperback, Kindle, and Audible

• Episode: Root Cause Medicine Podcast with Dr. Dale Bredesen

• Labs & Testing: Rupa Health

• Supplements: Store Link

References

1. Bredesen DE. The Ageless Brain. 2024.

2. Bredesen DE et al. “Reversal of cognitive decline: 100 patients.” J Alzheimer’s Dis. 2020.

3. Bush AI. “The ‘amyloid cascade hypothesis’ has misled the Alzheimer field.” Nat Rev Neurosci, 2021.