Member Testimonial

Nancy's Journey: Comprehensive Risk Reduction at 57

Background: Nancy (blinded name for privacy), a 57-year-old retiree, came to BetterBrain with concerning family history and multiple risk factors that were quietly undermining her brain health. Rather than accepting these as inevitable parts of aging, she decided to take proactive action.

The Discovery: Nancy's comprehensive testing revealed a complex picture: high homocysteine, low folate and B12, poor omega-3 ratio, elevated HbA1c (pre-diabetic), and chronic use of anticholinergic medications like Benadryl. 

Taking Action: Working with her BetterBrain coach, Nancy developed a systematic approach targeting each risk factor:

The Personalized Plan:

• Started fish oil and methylated B vitamin supplementation to address nutritional deficiencies
• Implemented targeted dietary changes with continuous glucose monitoring to minimize blood sugar spikes
• Began 1 HIIT session and 2 full-body strength training sessions per week
• Switched from Benadryl to Xyzal to reduce harmful anticholinergic exposure

3-Month Results:

• Metabolic: HbA1c reduced to pre-diabetic levels
• Biomarker optimization: Reduced homocysteine to optimal levels, improved omega-3 ratio
• Medication safety: Successfully eliminated anticholinergic burden
• Quality of life: Improved mood and energy levels
• Overall outcome: Significantly reduced dementia risk and improved day-to-day function

The Transformation

Nancy reflects that the comprehensive approach made all the difference. Instead of just focusing on one aspect of her health, we addressed multiple aspects to achieve a compounding effect. She now feels more energetic and sharper than she has in years, and her numbers prove it's working.

Featured Biomarker

HbA1c (Blood Sugar Control)

Nancy's success in reducing her HbA1c to pre-diabetic levels was a crucial part of her brain health transformation. This biomarker reflects how your body has handled glucose, and your brain depends heavily on stable glucose levels. It is strongly associated with long-term cognitive health.

What it is: A measure of your average blood sugar levels over the past 2-3 months. Unlike a fasting glucose test that captures just one moment, HbA1c shows the bigger picture of how well your body manages blood sugar over time.

Why it matters for brain health: Chronically elevated blood sugar damages blood vessels, impacts cognitive function, and increases dementia risk (particularly in the case of diabetes). Some researchers even call Alzheimer's "type 3 diabetes" because of this connection.

What affects HbA1c:

• Diet: Processed foods and refined carbs drive levels up
• Exercise: Both cardio and strength training improve insulin sensitivity
• Sleep: Poor sleep increases insulin resistance
• Stress: Chronic stress elevates blood sugar
• Body composition: More muscle mass improves glucose metabolism

Nancy's approach: She combined dietary changes with glucose monitoring, strength training, and HIIT workouts. This comprehensive strategy moved her from pre-diabetic to normal range, directly protecting her brain health.

You can read more about HbA1c optimization and metabolic health on our BetterBrain Portal.

Technique Spotlight

Anticholinergic Medication for Brain Health

One of Nancy's most important interventions was switching from Benadryl to Xyzal, reducing her anticholinergic burden. This lesser-known risk factor could be quietly affecting millions of people's cognitive function.

What are anticholinergic medications: Drugs that block acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter crucial for learning and memory. While these medications treat various conditions, they can impair cognitive function, especially with long-term use.

The brain connection: Acetylcholine is essential for attention, learning, and memory formation. When anticholinergic medications block this neurotransmitter, they can cause confusion, memory problems, and increase dementia risk with chronic use.

Common anticholinergic medications:

• Antihistamines: Benadryl, Dramamine, some sleep aids
• Bladder medications: Oxybutynin, tolterodine
• Antidepressants: Some tricyclics like amitriptyline
• Sleep aids: Many over-the-counter sleep medications
• Muscle relaxants: Cyclobenzaprine and others

Safer alternatives:

• For allergies: Claritin, Zyrtec, Xyzal instead of Benadryl
• For sleep: Melatonin, magnesium, or sleep hygiene instead of PM medications
• For bladder issues: Work with your doctor on newer, less anticholinergic options

How to assess your risk:

• Review your medications: Check labels for diphenhydramine, doxylamine, and other anticholinergics
• Consider cumulative effects: Multiple low-risk medications can add up
• Talk to your pharmacist: They can help identify anticholinergic burden
• Work with your doctor: Don't stop medications without medical guidance

BetterBrain insight: Nancy's anticholinergic reduction was a simple but powerful intervention. Many people don't realize that common medications like Benadryl can affect cognitive function over time. Small changes in medication choices can have significant impacts on brain health.