Protect Your Brain and Reduce Risk of Neurodegenerative Diseases
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
An “Alzheimer’s & Dementia” journal article* recently projected that Alzheimer’s cases could almost double by 2060 (absent any new breakthroughs in the field). This follows alarming rises in Parkinson’s disease, another neurodegenerative disease that doctors are keeping their eyes on.
What are the drivers? What initiates the loss of function and structural damage to nerve cells in the brain, spinal cord, or peripheral nervous system that results in cognitive decline and dementia?
Recent research suggests that exposures to environmental toxins play a significant role. This includes heavy metals, pesticides, endocrine-disrupting chemicals such as BPA and PFAS, air pollution, mold toxins, and many others.
The first step to protecting brain function from these potent environmental factors is detecting their presence.
Medical tests can help detect toxins (or the effect of accumulated toxins):
1. Liver enzyme tests and the Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP) results help quantify the body's ability to process and eliminate toxins.
2. Inflammation markers in blood tests (hs-CRP, ESR, ferritin) show the strength of reactions to stressors.
3. Heavy metals (mercury, lead, etc.) can be tested directly using blood or urine tests.
4. Testing of organic acids helps quantify the effects toxins have on metabolism, including detoxification pathways.
Once doctors know which environmental toxins are at work in your body, treatments can be customized to help eliminate or neutralize toxins - and strengthen the organs involved in detoxification.
TCIM’s Comprehensive Executive Physical is the place to start. Blood tests can be an early warning system, and our team will recommend additional testing if environmental toxins are suspected.
* Alzheimer's Association. 2026 Alzheimer's disease facts and figures. Alzheimers Dement. 2026;22(4):e70123. doi:10.1002/alz.70123. PMID: 40364259; PMCID: PMC13098189.
The Temecula Center for Integrative Medicine is an Integrative Medical Clinic specializing in all aspects of Functional Medicine.
Our focus is solely on the treatment and prevention of chronic disease and we specialize in helping patients with serious, life-altering illnesses.
951-383-4333
Dr. Erik Lundquist is the founder and medical director for the Temecula Center for Integrative Medicine. He is a member of the American Holistic Medical Association as well as the Institute of Functional Medicine. He specializes in endocrine disorders especially thyroid and adrenal dysfunction, chronic fatigue, migraine headaches, cardiometabolic disorders, and chronic pain.
