The Fastest Growing Chronic Illness Epidemic  

by Fred Harvey, MD  

There is another epidemic upon us. It is one of the more insidious of illnesses. It is not an acute infectious disease like influenza or an infection that triggers an immunologic crisis like COVID-19. Rather, it is a chronic disease that takes half a lifetime to reveal itself.  

           It sneaks up on the unsuspecting with increasing frequency. It steals the ability to function independently and causes a withering death of memory and physical loss. It is the end stage that follows years of subtle destructive changes. It is caused by chronic inflammatory processes which damage vital cellular function. It does not have a single cause like some diseases. It is called dementia.  

            Conventional medicine has yet to discover a treatment for Alzheimer’s Disease, the type of dementia that comprises the bulk of dementia cases or nearly 70% of the total. Other variants include vascular causes like hardening of the arteries and mini strokes. Some are induced by a combination of toxins like mercury and lead. It is frustrating to medical science because there are so many contributing factors and, as of now at least, no single remedy for the process in pharmaceutical medicine, despite over 275 trials attempted.  

              However, there is an exciting conference currently available online that can offer hope for patients with Alzheimer’s and other dementias. It is called “Alzheimer’s: The Science of Prevention.” I am inspired by these speakers because they confirm the success of techniques that we employ at The Harvey Center for Integrative Medicine.  

               One of the major takeaways is we can prevent the illness with our choices. Lifestyle factors, dietary choices and nutritional supplementation have been combined in new protocols to heal the brain and reverse cognitive decline. Supplements such as Memorall, Neuroactives Brain Sustain, Opticleanse GHI and D3 products can also make a difference.