Does Exposure to Toxins and Heavy Metals Cause Dementia?
Toxic Dementia – The Role of Heavy Metals in Dementia
It is certainly no surprise that “Toxins” are bad for the brain. That’s why they’re called toxins in the first place!
What can be surprising though is what may qualify as a toxin when it comes to brain health. There are many medications that people take without knowing what’s in them that are very clearly toxic to one’s brain and increase the risk of cognitive decline as time goes on. Sometimes these medications are necessary for other medical conditions that would be more devastating without them. But believe it or not, many times these medications are NOT essential or can be replaced with safer alternatives from the brain health perspective.
Therefore, understanding toxic dementia symptoms (dementia caused by exposure to toxins) can help people realize when a medication or other treatment may be causing the problems they are experiencing.
Can Metal Toxicity Cause Dementia: The Toxic Metals in our Environment
Research suggests that people who live in polluted environments are more likely to face cognitive decline as they age. Therefore the link between environmental toxins and autoimmune diseases is legitimate. These environmental toxins are generally covered under the umbrella of Air Pollution but heavy metals are the leading cause of dementia and should be termed as the most ‘toxic’ elements leading to dementia. These metals include:
- Lead
- Mercury
- Aluminum
- Solvents
- Carbon Monoxides
- CFC, etc.
Also known as Neurotoxis, these chemicals are responsible for encouraging the decline in cognitive abilities. Other than Alzheimer’s and dementia, prolonged exposure to neurotexins leads to personality disorders such as multiple sclerosis, erythematosus, Bipolar disorder and systemic lups.
All these conditons arise as a result of changes in brain DNA structure and mutations brought about by exposure to heavy metals Moreover, toxins generation by bacteria, black mold and fungi leads to the formation of Amyloid-Beta in brain thus contributing towards onset Alzheimer’s.
How to Identify Metal Toxicity: Symptoms of Toxic Dementia
Just like other causes leading to Dementia, dementia due to toxins also shows up as decline in brain functions. This decline emerges as minute difficulty in everyday tasks which then progresses at a much faster rate because metal toxicity brings changes into the brain. The general symptoms of metal toxicity include:
- Short-term memory loss
- Disorientation
- Confusion
- Personality changes
- Loss of balance
- Loss of appetite
- Difficulty in focus
Minimizing Cognitive Impairment and Dementia Due to Toxins
The first step in reducing the risk of cognitive impairment due to toxin exposure is to accurately identify what is harmful to the brain.
Through our systematic approach to reviewing toxin exposures and medications, we can accurately identify any toxins you may be exposed to that could be harmful to your brain health. We will always advise you to consult your physician before making changes but we can help you get educated and ask the right questions when seeing your clinicians.
Of course, there are more obvious toxins that we know about like illicit drugs and cigarette smoking. Minimizing exposure to any of these toxins and having a detailed understanding of the risks of each toxin can help reduce future risk of cognitive decline.
Let’s help all of us prevent cognitive decline, preserve our cognitive function, and prosper for many years to come.
Let’s Deter Dementia together!
It is certainly no surprise that “Toxins” are bad for the brain. I suppose that’s why they’re called toxins in the first place!
What can be surprising though is what may qualify as a toxin when it comes to brain health. There are many medications that people take that are very clearly toxic to one’s brain and increase the risk of cognitive decline as time goes on. Sometimes these medications are absolutely necessary for other medical conditions that would be more devastating without them – but believe it or not, many times these medications are NOT essential or can be replaced with safer alternatives from the brain health perspective.
Medications are complicated and need professional advice before any changes are made. We can help make this easier through our program. We are able to accurately identify any medications you may be taking for common conditions that could be harmful to your brain health. We will always advise you to consult your physician before making changes but at least we can help you get educated on the topic and start the conversation with your prescriber to see if there are better options for you.
Of course there are more obvious toxins that we know about like illicit drugs and cigarette smoking.
Your goal is our goal. Let’s help all of us prevent cognitive decline, preserve our cognitive function, and prosper for many years to come.
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