Nootropics vs Neurotrophics: Know the difference for preservation of brain health

Defiant Health Radio with Dr. William Davis

You have likely heard the headlines: cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia are on the rise. Part of the increase is due to an aging population. But there are reasons that are adding to the increase beyond this. The epidemics of insulin resistance (recall that dementia is often labeled “type 3 diabetes,” meaning that the brain becomes insulin resistant), SIBO endotoxemia, the ubiquity of heavy metal toxicity, and deficiencies of important nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D are likely making their own contributions.

There are a number of strategies that you can adopt, however, that hold potential for reducing your risk for developing cognitive impairment, or at least delay its onset. There are also various factors that you can supplement, some of which hold potential for improving cognition and, in some cases, slow or help prevent cognitive impairment and dementia. But this area is filled with imprecise thinking and, sadly, misleading marketing. To help you get your arms around these ideas, let me introduce you to a concept that makes gaining an understanding of what works and what doesn’t that can keep you on track and avoid pitfalls that waste time, effort, money, and have little to no benefit for brain health. It is to understand what factors provide nootropic and thereby temporary effects vs neurotrophic factors that actually generate healthy improvements in brain health and physiology.

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