Alzheimer's disease is one of the most difficult health challenges of our time. Doctors say it is irreversible, and people don't understand exactly how it happens. Many of you have already cared for your parents, especially your mom, while Alzheimer's took her away, far away. Her body was there, but she wasn't present like the person you have known all your life. Just having a normal conversation is impossible now. How do you talk to someone who can't remember anything? And it seems to disproportionately strike women. In the UK, for instance, two out of every three people living with dementia are women, a trend observed globally. Newly published research from King's College London and Queen Mary University London, published on August 20, 2025, in Alzheimer's & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association, points out an imbalance that might explain a few things. (But as a health-minded individual, this research won't surprise you.) The study found that women with Alzheimer's had fewer omega-3 fatty acids and other polyunsaturated fats in their blood. This deficiency pattern was not seen in men.
Dr. Dale Bredesen's Pioneering Work on Cognitive Decline and Alzheimer's
To thoroughly understand these findings, it's important to put them into the context of what we already know about Alzheimer's. The disease isn't caused by a single factor gone wrong; interactions between genetic tendencies, lifestyle choices, and environmental contamination all play a role. Pioneering work by Dr. Dale Bredesen, a leading neurologist from the Buck Institute and UCLA, and author of The End of Alzheimer’s, has identified around 36 metabolic contributors to mild cognitive impairment that can escalate to full-blown Alzheimer's.
Dr. Bredesen's analogy of a roof with 36 holes in it is pertinent here. When does the rain stop coming through the roof? When you fix one hole? 10 holes? No, you have to fix all of the holes before the house is dry inside. This is the way to think about Alzheimer's. You have to address all of the 36 factors to really reverse Alzheimer's. By fixing the biggest holes first you can slow it down, but you can't stop there. This is why there will never be a drug that is able to do what Bredesen's ReCODE protocol can do.
Bredesen's ReCODE protocol uses holistic methods to address these factors. He sees three main subtypes of Alzheimer's: Inflammatory (Type 1), Atrophic (Type 2), and Toxic (Type 3). Each type reflects distinct underlying mechanisms, but all share a common outcome, but come from different causes, which need to be addressed differently.
The 3 Subtypes of Alzheimer's Disease
Inflammatory Alzheimer's, the most common subtype, is characterized by chronic, low-grade inflammation driven by oxidative stress. Some people refer to this type of Alzheimer's as "Type 3 Diabetes." As our cells metabolize hydrogen for energy, free radicals are produced, akin to sparks from an engine. Without adequate antioxidants to quench these, the body experiences "metabolic inflammation," manifesting as brain fog, pain, and cognitive decline. Omega 3 fats help with the inflammatory process throughout the body, including in the brain.
Atrophic Alzheimer's involves a "wasting away" of neural support systems, often linked to deficiencies in hormones (like thyroid, adrenal, and sex hormones) and nutrients essential for neuron growth and survival. There isn't so much inflammation here, just a lack of hormone support and the necessary building blocks for the brain to function normally.
Finally, Toxic Alzheimer's strikes younger individuals exposed to environmental toxins, heavy metals, or pesticides, overwhelming the body's detoxification pathways. When someone gets Alzheimer's at a young age, you can suspect this subtype. In these cases, prioritizing detoxification of contaminants is the key to reversal.
How does this new study fit into what we already know?
The brain is about 60% fat, and omega-3s like DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) are essential building blocks for cell membranes, especially in neurons. DHA supports anti-inflammatory metabolic pathways. DHA also helps the brain form new connections (synaptic plasticity). So, DHA is especially important for the inflammatory and atrophic subtypes of Alzheimer's.
What did the researchers do in this study?
Researchers analyzed blood samples from 841 participants, including those with Alzheimer's, mild cognitive impairment, and healthy controls. Using advanced mass spectrometry, they examined 700 individual lipids. (I didn't know there were so many types of lipids in the blood.) The main result: Women with Alzheimer's showed a sharp decline in unsaturated fats, particularly those rich in omega-3 fatty acids, compared to healthy women. In contrast, men with the disease didn't have significant changes in the fats in their blood. Saturated "unhealthy" lipids, on the other hand, increased markedly in affected women, suggesting a shift toward pro-inflammatory states.
Why wasn't this deficiency seen in men?
Well, it isn't because the men are all just healthier. Women generally have higher levels of omega 3 fats than men. It could be that something in the disease process in women causes the omega 3 fats to be used up, resulting in the lower levels seen in Alzheimer's disease. But omega 3 levels don't drop in men because they are already too low. So, women might need to consume more omega 3 fats to keep their levels high enough to counteract the higher rate of the omega 3 fats disappearing.
Omega 3 Fats: A Core Part of the Cognitive Impairment / Alzheimer's Rescue Plan
These findings resonate deeply with Bredesen's comprehensive model and practical interventions like the Cognitive Impairment/Alzheimer's Rescue Plan that we offer (available at myhdiet.com). This evidence-based rescue plan targets the very metabolic imbalances highlighted in the study, providing several targeted supplements and lifestyle guidance to optimize brain health. At its core is Professional Strength DHA, a highly concentrated omega-3 supplement that directly addresses the lipid deficiencies observed in women with Alzheimer's. DHA supports cognitive function, reduces inflammation, and bolsters cardiovascular and eye health—all essential for preventing the atrophic and inflammatory subtypes. Without sufficient DHA, cell membranes weaken, impairing signal transmission and leaving the brain vulnerable to toxins and stress.
Make it a Comprehensive Rescue Plan
Complementing DHA, the Rescue Plan includes Brain Reset, a multifaceted formula with Bacopa monnieri, Lion’s Mane mushroom, and Ginkgo biloba to enhance memory, focus, and neuroprotection. This aligns with Bredesen's emphasis on nutrient support for neuron survival in Type 2 Alzheimer's. For inflammatory aspects, Professional Strength Curcumin acts as a potent antioxidant, turning on anti-inflammatory genes and quenching free radicals—crucial for women prone to metabolic inflammation. Vitamin D3 with K2 ensures you supply some of the key nutrients for hormone support to help with atrophic types of Alzheimer's. Liposomal Vitamin C delivers high bioavailability for immune and antioxidant defense, while Magnesium Complex aids energy production and reduces anxiety, which is often seen in cognitive decline.
Detoxification is another pillar, vital for Type 3 Alzheimer's. FiberCleanse, with its blend of 28 herbs, psyllium, and flax seeds, promotes toxin elimination and gut health, which influences brain function via the gut-brain axis. Deeper detoxification steps can be taken with BioRay's Liver Life and NDF Plus, but FiberCleanse is a great start. BarleyMax® supplies phytonutrients, enzymes, and antioxidants to rebuild cells and quench inflammation. B vitamins (as bioactive forms of B12, B6, and folate) support detoxification, energy production, and homocysteine regulation. And high levels of homocysteine are another risk factor for Alzheimer's.
Supplements are not Enough: The Crucial Role of a Healthy Lifestyle
Lifestyle integration is key. Our Alzheimer's Rescue Plan encourages exercise, stress reduction, and mental stimulation, similar to Dr. Bredesen's holistic approach. Continuing to learn new things is important for brain plasticity. You don't want to get too set in your ways. Puzzles, Sudoku, interactive games, and good conversation all are helpful. Finally, practice being a person that people like to be around. When you get old, it is apparently harder to be nice, and if you haven't practiced, it will become impossible. And then you will be left alone, as your family finds better options than hanging out with a crabby old person. Don't let that be you.
Not a Magic Bullet
This study doesn't promise a magic bullet. As we have already emphasized, Alzheimer's reversal requires addressing all 36 factors. Taking enough omega 3 fats can be helpful as one critical, easy to check off item. And not just for women, but for men as well. I think the results weren't seen in men because their levels were already low and didn't drop further.
How do You Know if You Have Enough Omega 3 Fats?
The Omega 3 Index, a measurement of omega 3 fats in red blood cell membranes put together by Bill Harris, is provided by OmegaQuant. This test is available for doing at home without a doctor's visit. Generally, you need at least 1,000 mg combined of EPA and DHA for good health, and more to begin reversing cognitive impairment.
Wrapping it Up
In conclusion, this research illuminates a critical piece of the Alzheimer's puzzle: omega 3 fats are crucial for women to maintain normal brain function, Perhaps women are more prone to using them up faster, so that they need to be extra careful in keeping their intake high. Combining a high intake of omega 3 fats along with other important nutrients and supplements, and following a healthy lifestyle, many people can avoid cognitive impairment, and even reverse early cognitive decline before memory loss is horrible. The Cognitive Impairment / Alzheimer's Rescue Plan has targeted nutrition to help fortify the brain against the assault that takes away our memory, our independence, and our family. Take care of yourself now, so that your future you will be present in body and mind and able to enjoy your family in your elder years.
