Alzheimer's Disease Treatments NYC - Dr. John Salerno

Complementary and Functional Alzheimer's Disease Treatments by Salerno Wellness in Manhattan, NY, and Connecticut

I am an experienced physician with over 30 years of experience helping patients who have been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. I know how devastating the diagnosis can be for you and your family. I know it can be scary, overwhelming, and it can feel like things will never be the same. Please know that you are not alone, and we will work together to get you through this. I take a very personal and compassionate approach with all my patients. I work to improve the quality of life and neurological function for my patients.

-Dr. John Salerno

What is Alzheimer’s Disease?

Alzheimer’s disease is named after Dr. Alois Alzheimer, a German psychiatrist and neuropathologist who, in 1906, described the case of a woman with progressive memory loss, disorientation, and behavioral changes. After her death, he examined her brain and identified hallmark abnormalities, amyloid plaques, and neurofibrillary tangles, leading his colleague Emil Kraepelin to name the condition “Alzheimer’s disease” in his 1910 psychiatry textbook.

Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that primarily affects memory, thinking skills, and the ability to carry out daily activities. It is the most common cause of dementia, accounting for up to 80% of dementia cases. The condition develops when abnormal protein deposits form plaques and tangles in the brain, leading to the deterioration and death of brain cells over time. Early symptoms often include subtle memory loss and confusion, which gradually worsen as the disease advances.

As Alzheimer’s progresses, individuals may experience significant difficulties with language, problem-solving, judgment, and behavior. The disease eventually impacts the ability to communicate, recognize loved ones, and perform basic self-care tasks. While Alzheimer’s mostly affects people over the age of 65, it is not a normal part of aging. The impact of the disease extends beyond the individual, profoundly affecting families and caregivers as well.

Common Symptoms of Alzheimer's Disease

The symptoms of Alzheimer's disease develop gradually and worsen over time, significantly affecting a person's ability to perform daily activities. While memory loss is the most recognized sign, the disease impacts various cognitive and functional domains. Recognizing these symptoms early is crucial for timely intervention and planning.

• Memory Loss That Disrupts Daily Life: This is more than occasional forgetfulness; it involves repeatedly forgetting recently learned information, important dates, or events. Individuals may ask the same questions repeatedly and increasingly rely on memory aids or family members for tasks they once handled independently.

• Challenges in Planning or Solving Problems: Some individuals may experience changes in their ability to develop and follow a plan or work with numbers. They may struggle to follow a familiar recipe, manage monthly bills, or focus on detailed tasks.

• Difficulty Completing Familiar Tasks: Individuals with Alzheimer's disease may struggle to perform daily tasks at home, at work, or during leisure activities. This could manifest as trouble driving to a familiar location, managing a budget at work, or remembering the rules of a favorite game.

• Confusion with Time or Place: Losing track of dates, seasons, and the passage of time is a common symptom. Individuals may forget where they are or how they got there, experiencing disorientation in even familiar surroundings.

• Trouble Understanding Visual Images and Spatial Relationships: For some individuals, vision problems can be a sign of Alzheimer's, leading to difficulties with reading, judging distance, and distinguishing colors or contrast. This can make activities like driving or navigating their environment challenging and unsafe.

• New Problems with Words in Speaking or Writing: Individuals may struggle to follow or join a conversation, often stopping in the middle of a thought with no idea how to continue. They might struggle with vocabulary, have trouble finding the right word, or refer to things by the wrong name.

• Misplacing Things and Losing the Ability to Retrace Steps: A person with Alzheimer's disease may put things in unusual places and struggle to recall the steps needed to locate them again. They might accuse others of stealing, especially as the disease progresses.

• Decreased or Poor Judgment: This may include making poor financial decisions, such as giving large amounts to telemarketers or other untrustworthy individuals. They may also pay less attention to personal grooming or keeping themselves clean.

• Withdrawal from Work or Social Activities: A person living with Alzheimer's may begin to withdraw from hobbies, social engagements, or work projects. They may struggle to keep up with a favorite sports team or recall how to complete a familiar hobby.

• Changes in Mood and Personality: The mood and personality of individuals with Alzheimer's disease can undergo significant changes. They can become confused, suspicious, depressed, fearful, or anxious, and may be easily upset at home, at work, with friends, or in places where they are out of their comfort zone.

Common Causes of Alzheimer's Disease

The exact causes of Alzheimer's disease are not fully understood, but it is believed to result from a combination of genetic, lifestyle, and environmental factors that affect the brain over time. At its core, the disease involves the progressive damage and death of nerve cells. Two key proteins, beta-amyloid and tau, are central to this process; plaques formed from beta-amyloid accumulate between neurons, while tangles of tau protein build up inside them. This pathological process disrupts cell communication and triggers an inflammatory response, ultimately leading to widespread brain damage.

While age is the greatest known risk factor, genetics also plays a role, particularly with certain genes, such as APOE-e4, which increases the risk. Furthermore, functional medicine identifies other contributing factors such as chronic inflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, insulin resistance, exposure to heavy metals and toxins, and imbalances in the gut microbiome. These elements can create a pro-inflammatory environment in the body that accelerates neurodegenerative processes.

Related Medical Conditions That Can Be Treated at Salerno Wellness

Managing Alzheimer's disease effectively often involves addressing co-existing medical conditions that can exacerbate cognitive symptoms or contribute to the underlying disease process. Dr. John Salerno's integrative approach focuses on treating the whole person, not just the neurological symptoms. By identifying and managing these related conditions, it is possible to improve overall health and potentially slow cognitive decline.

• Insulin Resistance and Type 2 Diabetes: These metabolic conditions are strongly linked to an increased risk for Alzheimer's, sometimes referred to as "Type 3 Diabetes." Impaired insulin signaling in the brain can affect neuronal function and contribute to the formation of amyloid plaques.

• Cardiovascular Disease: Conditions like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and atherosclerosis can reduce blood flow to the brain. This vascular compromise deprives brain cells of essential oxygen and nutrients, accelerating neurodegeneration.

• Chronic Inflammation: Systemic inflammation resulting from conditions such as autoimmune diseases, chronic infections, or poor gut health can cross the blood-brain barrier. This neuroinflammation is a key driver of the cellular damage seen in Alzheimer's disease.

• Hormonal Imbalances: Deficiencies in hormones such as thyroid, estrogen, testosterone, and DHEA can impact cognitive function and brain health. Correcting these imbalances is an important part of a comprehensive treatment strategy.

• Heavy Metal Toxicity: Chronic exposure to heavy metals, such as mercury, lead, and aluminum, can be neurotoxic. These substances can accumulate in the brain and contribute to oxidative stress and inflammation, worsening Alzheimer's pathology.

Dr. John Salerno’s functional medicine-based program is best suited for those willing to undergo advanced diagnostic testing to uncover underlying imbalances. The process requires a commitment to a personalized plan that may involve dietary modifications, nutritional supplementation, and other integrative therapies. Ultimately, individuals who want to partner with a physician to optimize their metabolic health, reduce inflammation, and enhance brain function will find this approach highly beneficial. This patient-centered model requires active participation and a desire to improve overall wellness.

Types of Alzheimer’s Disease Treatments

Drug-Based Treatments

• Cholinesterase Inhibitors: These conventional medications are prescribed to treat symptoms related to memory, thinking, language, and judgment. They work by boosting levels of a cell-to-cell communication chemical that is depleted in the brain by Alzheimer's disease. Cholinesterase inhibitors commonly cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, decreased appetite, weight loss, dizziness, headache, insomnia, vivid dreams, increased sweating, and muscle cramps. They can also slow heart rate and trigger bradycardia, fainting, or heart block in susceptible patients, and may worsen asthma or COPD by increasing bronchial secretions.

• Memantine: This medication is used to treat moderate to severe Alzheimer's disease and works by regulating the activity of glutamate, a neurotransmitter involved in brain functions such as learning and memory. It can be prescribed alone or with a cholinesterase inhibitor. Memantine can cause dizziness, headache, confusion, constipation, and sleep disturbances such as insomnia or somnolence; some patients also report hypertension, back pain, or cough. Less commonly, it may lead to hallucinations, agitation, or hypersensitivity reactions, and dose adjustments may be needed in significant renal impairment.

• Antipsychotics: In some cases, where patients experience severe behavioral symptoms like agitation, aggression, or hallucinations, antipsychotic medications may be used cautiously. Their use is carefully monitored due to potential side effects in elderly patients. Antipsychotics can cause sedation, dizziness, weight gain, metabolic changes such as elevated blood sugar and lipids, extrapyramidal symptoms (tremor, rigidity, akathisia), and anticholinergic effects like dry mouth and constipation. Older adults with dementia also carry an increased risk of stroke, pneumonia, falls, and mortality, so use is typically limited to severe agitation or psychosis with careful monitoring.

Complementary and Functional Medicine Treatments

• Nutrition Therapy: A functional medicine approach emphasizes an anti-inflammatory, nutrient-dense diet, often low in carbohydrates, to support brain health and overall well-being. Specific protocols may be employed to enhance insulin sensitivity and utilize ketones as an alternative energy source for the brain.

• IV Nutrient Therapy: The intravenous delivery of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants such as glutathione, and phosphatidylcholine can help reduce oxidative stress and inflammation. This method bypasses the digestive system to ensure maximum absorption and delivery of key nutrients to the brain.

• Hormone Balancing: Following comprehensive testing, bioidentical hormone replacement therapy may be utilized to address deficiencies in key hormones. Optimizing levels of thyroid, cortisol, estrogen, and testosterone can support cognitive function and overall well-being.

• Detoxification Protocols: These protocols aim to reduce the body's toxic burden, particularly from heavy metals and environmental toxins that can harm the brain. Dr. John Salerno may use chelation therapy and other supportive treatments to safely remove these substances.

• Lifestyle and Cognitive Rehabilitation: This includes personalized plans for cognitive training, physical exercise, and stress management. Engaging the brain with new activities and regular movement can help build cognitive reserve and support neuroplasticity.

• Sleep Optimization: Restorative sleep is critical for the brain's natural process of clearing toxins, including beta-amyloid. Treatments focus on identifying and addressing underlying causes of poor sleep, such as sleep apnea or hormonal imbalances.

How Conventional Medicine Treats Alzheimer’s Disease

Conventional treatment for Alzheimer's disease primarily focuses on managing symptoms with a limited number of FDA-approved medications. Neurologists typically prescribe cholinesterase inhibitors for mild to moderate stages and memantine for moderate to severe stages of Alzheimer's disease. These drugs do not stop or reverse the disease process, but can temporarily help with memory and thinking problems for some patients.

In recent years, newer antibody-based therapies targeting amyloid plaques have been introduced, though their effectiveness and side effects remain subjects of ongoing evaluation. The conventional model also involves managing behavioral symptoms, such as anxiety or agitation, with other classes of medication. Routine follow-up appointments are scheduled to monitor cognitive decline and adjust prescriptions as the disease progresses.

Dr. John Salerno: Complementary Medical Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease

Dr. John Salerno treats Alzheimer's disease by moving beyond symptom management to address the fundamental biological processes driving neurodegeneration. His functional medicine approach begins with personalized, in-depth assessments and advanced laboratory testing to identify each patient's unique metabolic, genetic, and environmental risk factors. Based on this data, he designs a multi-pronged strategy focused on key areas like optimizing nutrition with a brain-supportive diet and targeted supplementation. He utilizes specialized IV therapies to deliver high-dose nutrients directly into the bloodstream, combating inflammation and oxidative stress.

Great emphasis is placed on supporting metabolic and mitochondrial health to ensure that brain cells have the energy they need to function properly. Dr. Salerno also focuses on controlling systemic inflammation and restoring the gut-brain axis to promote overall health. His comprehensive plans integrate recommendations for cognitive training, physical movement, sleep optimization, and stress reduction, while always encouraging coordination with the patient's primary neurologist.

Possible Side Effects of Treatment

When considering Alzheimer’s treatments, it's important to understand potential side effects from both conventional and integrative approaches. Conventional medications like cholinesterase inhibitors can cause gastrointestinal issues such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Memantine may lead to dizziness, headache, and confusion. Newer amyloid-targeting antibody drugs carry risks of brain swelling or bleeding. In contrast, side effects from functional medicine therapies are generally mild and related to the body adjusting to changes.

For example, a significant dietary shift might initially cause fatigue or digestive changes. IV nutrient therapy carries a small risk of irritation at the injection site. Because Dr. John Salerno’s protocols are highly personalized and based on comprehensive testing, they are designed to minimize adverse reactions and support the body’s natural healing processes.

What Can Happen if Alzheimer's Disease is Left Untreated?

If Alzheimer's disease is left untreated, it follows a relentless, progressive course of decline that affects all aspects of a person's life. Initially, memory loss and confusion will worsen, making it increasingly difficult to manage finances, appointments, and daily responsibilities. Over time, the individual will lose the ability to recognize loved ones and communicate effectively. Judgment becomes severely impaired, leading to safety risks such as wandering or being susceptible to scams. As the disease advances into its later stages, the damage to the brain becomes so extensive that it impairs basic physical functions.

Patients will require full-time care as they lose the ability to walk, sit up, and swallow. This physical decline makes them highly vulnerable to infections, such as pneumonia, which is a common cause of death. Ultimately, untreated Alzheimer's leads to a complete loss of independence and a devastating decline in quality of life.

Salerno Wellness Patient Case Study

68-year-old Sarah had an appointment with Dr. John Salerno after her family became concerned about her increasing memory loss and social withdrawal. She had just been diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) by her conventional neurologist and told she was on a “wait and watch” path with no effective treatment, a response that had made her feel like there was nothing she could do. During her initial visit, Sarah tearfully expressed her fear of ending up like her mother, who had died of Alzheimer’s.

Dr. Salerno ran extensive tests that uncovered severe insulin resistance, mercury toxicity, and multiple nutrient deficiencies. He immediately began her on a customized protocol, which included a ketogenic diet to give her brain an alternative fuel source and IV chelation to remove the heavy metals. Her treatment also included IV nutrients to correct her deficiencies, as well as oral and IV supplements to decrease inflammation and support mitochondrial function. Within months, Sarah’s family noticed her “brain fog” had lifted, she was remembering recent events, and was re-engaging in hobbies she had abandoned. After one year in the program, Sarah’s cognitive scores not only stabilized but improved in an objectively measurable way, providing her and her family with hope.

Why Patients Choose Dr. John Salerno

Patients choose Dr. John Salerno because they are looking for a physician who offers more than just standard prescription-based care for cognitive decline. With over 30 years of experience in functional and integrative medicine, Dr. Salerno provides a level of expertise that is difficult to find elsewhere. He is renowned for his meticulous and investigative approach, utilizing advanced diagnostics to uncover the root causes of disease rather than merely managing symptoms.

Patients feel heard and empowered, as he creates a true partnership with them on their health journey. They are drawn to his proactive and hopeful perspective, which contrasts sharply with the often-pessimistic outlook associated with an Alzheimer's diagnosis. The comprehensive and highly personalized nature of his treatment plans, which integrate everything from nutrition to detoxification, gives patients confidence that every possible avenue for improvement is being explored. People seek out his care because they want a thorough, science-based strategy aimed at enhancing brain health and optimizing their quality of life.

Additional References

• Alzheimer's Disease Fact Sheet - National Institute on Aging
• About Alzheimer's - US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention