Early-onset Alzheimer’s disease is one of the most emotionally and clinically challenging diagnoses a patient—and their family—can face. Conventional treatments, including new immunotherapy drugs, show promise in clinical trials, but real-world results can be variable and often come with significant side effects. When the standard approach fails to halt decline, patients and caregivers are often left searching for anything that might help.

This was exactly the case for a 54-year-old white female who came to our clinic with her husband, seeking help after being diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. Despite aggressive pharmaceutical intervention, her short-term memory was deteriorating rapidly, and she had experienced drastic weight loss—from 115 lbs down to 80 lbs.

This blog explores how a functional medicine strategy—addressing neuroinflammation, nutritional deficits, gut dysfunction, and metabolic contributors—helped stabilize her symptoms and restore quality of life.

Initial Presentation: A Rapid Decline Despite Modern Treatment

The patient had been undergoing IV infusions of a newly approved Alzheimer’s immunotherapy drug for the past year. Unfortunately, despite regular treatment, her short-term memory continued to worsen, and her family noted clear, progressive cognitive changes.

More concerningly, she had lost nearly 35 pounds, despite no changes in appetite or diet. At the time of our evaluation, she weighed just 80 pounds, raising red flags about malnutrition and systemic imbalance.

Her husband described her as “fading away,” and was willing to explore any option to slow the progression of the disease.

A Functional Medicine Evaluation: Looking Beyond the Brain

Alzheimer’s disease is not just a brain disease. It is a whole-body inflammatory and metabolic disorder with numerous root contributors. Our functional medicine evaluation focused on the following:

• Neuroinflammation and mitochondrial dysfunction
• Gut dysbiosis and leaky gut
• Micronutrient and macronutrient deficiencies
• Insulin resistance and metabolic dysfunction (Type 3 diabetes)
• Environmental and oxidative stressors

A Systems-Based Plan for Neuroprotection

Rather than focus solely on the brain, we developed a multi-systemic strategy aimed at slowing disease progression, reducing inflammation, and optimizing cellular function.

Step 1: Targeting Neuroinflammation

Tools Used:

• Natural anti-inflammatory supplementation (including omega-3s, curcumin, and resveratrol)
• Hydrogen-rich water to neutralize free radicals and oxidative stress
• Earthing (grounding therapy) to promote vagal tone and reduce systemic inflammation

Neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s are now understood to be driven, in part, by chronic neuroinflammation. Using natural methods, we aimed to reduce inflammatory cytokine activity in both the central and peripheral nervous systems.

Step 2: Restoring Nutrition and Rebuilding Body Mass

At 80 lbs, this patient was experiencing muscle wasting, hormonal imbalance, and likely micronutrient depletion—all of which can accelerate cognitive decline.

Intervention:

• IV and oral nutrient repletion, tailored based on functional lab testing
• High-fat, anti-inflammatory diet optimized for brain health
• Protein-dense meals to support muscle maintenance
• Addressing gut absorption issues (see below)

Within weeks of initiating nutritional therapy, the patient began to regain weight, eventually stabilizing around 100 lbs. Her energy and alertness improved, and she reported feeling more grounded and engaged during daily activities.

Step 3: Healing the Gut-Brain Axis

We determined that the patient had evidence of gut dysbiosis and intestinal permeability, commonly referred to as leaky gut. This condition allows endotoxins, inflammatory proteins, and undigested food particles to enter the bloodstream, triggering immune activation and neuroinflammation.

Protocol:

• Probiotic and prebiotic therapy
• Glutamine, zinc carnosine, and herbal antimicrobials
• Elimination of dietary triggers contributing to gut inflammation

By healing the gut lining and rebalancing the microbiome, we improved both immune function and neurotransmitter synthesis, which occur largely in the gastrointestinal tract.

Step 4: Red Light Therapy with PEMF for Mitochondrial Support

After stabilizing her body weight and reducing systemic inflammation, we introduced the patient to full-body red light therapy with PEMF (pulsed electromagnetic field) technology.

Why It Matters:

• Red light therapy enhances mitochondrial function, promoting ATP production—critical for cellular repair and brain function.
• PEMF therapy supports cellular detoxification, blood flow, and electromagnetic balance in neural tissue.

Results:

After several sessions, the patient showed noticeable improvements:

• Improved attention span and verbal clarity
• More consistent mood
• Reduced fatigue and improved daytime alertness

Her family reported a subjective stabilization in cognitive function—a stark contrast to the previous year of steady decline.

Step 5: Addressing Metabolic Dysfunction (Type 3 Diabetes)

Alzheimer’s is often referred to as Type 3 diabetes, due to its links to insulin resistance in the brain. We initiated targeted dietary changes to reduce glycemic variability and support metabolic balance.

Interventions Included:

• A low-glycemic, anti-inflammatory diet
• Intermittent fasting, when tolerated
• Berberine and alpha-lipoic acid supplementation to enhance insulin sensitivity

Improving blood sugar stability helps reduce amyloid plaque formation and supports brain energy metabolism.

Current Status: Stabilized and Improving

Today, this patient’s condition is relatively stable. While we are not claiming reversal of disease, the family has reported:

• No further short-term memory decline
• Return of healthy body weight
• Significant improvement in daily energy and sleep
• More cognitive engagement and emotional presence

Her red light therapy sessions continue weekly, and we are now preparing for advanced functional testing to uncover any lingering contributors—such as heavy metals, chronic infections, or immune dysregulation.

Clinical Takeaways

1. Alzheimer’s Is a Whole-Body Disease

It is critical to move beyond a “brain-only” model. Neurodegeneration involves inflammation, gut health, nutrient status, and mitochondrial dysfunction.

2. Functional Medicine Can Slow Progression

While we cannot reverse Alzheimer’s, stabilization is a powerful win. In this case, targeting the roots of dysfunction allowed for a meaningful halt in decline.

3. Weight Loss in Neurodegeneration Must Be Addressed Aggressively

Unexplained weight loss in neurodegenerative patients is a serious warning sign. Functional nutrition can help restore body mass, energy, and nutrient absorption.

4. Red Light and PEMF Therapy Are Emerging Allies

These modalities offer non-invasive, scientifically grounded support for mitochondrial and neural function, and should be considered in advanced care settings.

Final Thoughts: Hope Through a New Lens

While no cure exists for Alzheimer’s disease, this case demonstrates the power of functional, integrative care to alter the course of decline. By viewing the brain in the context of the whole body, we give patients a fighting chance—not just to survive, but to maintain dignity, cognition, and quality of life.

If someone you love is facing early cognitive decline, there is more we can do. A functional medicine approach offers hope—rooted in biology, individualized care, and the body’s own capacity to heal.

‍