In the realm of medical advancements, one remarkable discovery stands out: we have the ability to greatly reduce the chances of getting Alzheimer’s disease. Recent knowledge shows that by making smart choices, we can significantly lower the risk of getting this condition. On a global scale, about 55 million people are living with Alzheimer’s disease or related memory issues, making it clear that we need effective ways to prevent it.
This review focuses on a book that directly tackles the challenge of preventing Alzheimer’s disease. ‘The Alzheimer’s Revolution’ by Joseph Keon demonstrates how our daily choices impact our brain health. It provides a clear and evidence-based guide to help avoid Alzheimer’s disease and maintain a strong mind.
Author’s background

Joseph Keon is an investigative writer specialising in preventive medicine. He possesses fitness expert certifications from both the Cooper Institute for Aerobics Research and the American Council on Exercise.

With over 20 years of experience as a wellness consultant, Keon focused on the connection between modifiable lifestyle choices and chronic degenerative diseases. He has served on the Board of Directors of organisations like the Wild Oats Wellness Foundation and Dr. Helen Caldicott’s Nuclear Policy Research Institute, and the Marin Health Council.
What is the book about?

‘The Alzheimer’s Revolution’ by Joseph Keon presents an evidence-based approach to preventing Alzheimer’s disease. He challenges the idea that Alzheimer’s is inevitable, offering a program centred around seven lifestyle factors that boost cognitive resilience and lower Alzheimer’s risk.
The book underscores the urgency of addressing Alzheimer’s, a pressing public health crisis affecting millions of people worldwide. Around 55 million people suffer from Alzheimer’s or other dementias, underscoring the need for a shift in focus from solely seeking a cure to emphasising prevention. The author highlights that although the search for a miraculous Alzheimer’s drug has been unfruitful so far, redirecting resources towards prevention holds greater promise.
By using insights into Alzheimer’s causes and progression, Keon suggests early intervention can disrupt its development. His practical lifestyle plan, backed by thorough studies, focuses on positive factors. The book proposes a lifestyle plan that is both straightforward and practical, focusing on key factors shown to have a positive impact based on extensive and long-term studies.
Table of contents

- Foreword
- Introduction
- PART I UNDERSTANDING ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE
- 1. Incurable but Largely Preventable
- 2. Understanding Alzheimer’s Disease by Understanding the Brain
- 3. Rust and Fire by Other Names
- PART II PRIMARY CONTROLLABLE RISK FACTORS FOR ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE
- 4. What about Genetics?
- 5. Cardiovascular Disease
- 6. High Blood Pressure
- 7. Obesity and Overweight
- 8. Diabetes
- 9. High Saturated Fat Intake
- 10. Trans Fats: A Fat to Forget
- 11. Elevated Homocysteine
- 12. Foods that Raise Risk
- PART III EMERGING RISK FACTORS
- 13. Alcohol and Brain Damage
- 14. Insomnia and Alzheimer’s
- 15. Concerned about Dementia? Check Your Hearing
- 16. Meddling with Metals
- 17. Pesticides: Poison by Another Name
- 18. A Toxic Catch
- 19. A Prescription for Trouble
- 20. Depression and Alzheimer’s Disease
- 21. Airborne Pollution
- 22. Traumatic Brain Injury
- PART IV THE ALZHEIMER’S REVOLUTION LIFESTYLE PLAN
- 23. Your Master Plan
- 24. Foods for Thought
- 25. Superfoods for the Brain
- 26. Brain-Supporting Supplements and Seasonings
- 27. Making the Transition
- 28. Pure Water is Essential
- 29. How to Get the Lead and Aluminum Out
- 30. How to Sleep Like a Baby
- 31. Inoculating Yourself Against Stress
- 32. Your Brain Wants You to Move
- 33. Keeping the Mind Active
- 34. Building Community
- Afterword
- Acknowledgments
- Resources
- Endnotes
Key takeaways from ‘The Alzheimer’s Revolution’

1There is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, but it is largely preventable
The key point, the author endeavours to deliver, is the fact that Alzheimer’s is incurable but highly preventable. Neurological diseases like Alzheimer’s are becoming more prevalent and are impacting both elderly and younger individuals. The rise in such diseases poses emotional and financial challenges for families and society, as healthcare systems struggle to cope. The pharmaceutical industry’s search for effective Alzheimer’s drugs has largely failed, leaving prevention as the most compelling approach. Keon proves that lifestyle changes, including addressing risk factors like diabetes, hypertension, obesity, smoking, depression, cognitive inactivity, and physical inactivity, have been shown to significantly reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s. The author cites various research papers that have indicated that adopting multiple protective lifestyle changes can lead to substantial improvements in cognitive function and memory. Driven by encouraging studies and expert insights, a shift towards prevention over treatment is necessary to effectively combat the impending Alzheimer’s crisis.
2It is not all about genetics
While genetics do play a role in neurological diseases like Alzheimer’s, they are not the sole determinants of risk. Genetic testing for Alzheimer’s risk is not reliable, as lifestyle and environmental factors significantly influence the development of these diseases. Two types of Alzheimer’s exist: early onset, linked to specific gene mutations, and late onset, primarily associated with the APOE gene variations (E2, E3, and E4). While APOE4 increases risk, having the gene does not guarantee disease. Lifestyle choices can modulate genetic expression, potentially mitigating risk. Epidemiological studies have shown disparities in disease rates between different populations due to varying lifestyles. Identical twin studies have further demonstrated that genetics alone do not fully explain discrepancies in disease development. Lifestyle factors can play a crucial role in susceptibility to Alzheimer’s, and the interplay between genetics and lifestyle underscores the importance of making healthful choices.
3Cognitive challenges and new experiences are necessary to maintain brain health
The fourth part of the book solely focuses on the lifestyle plan that can help prevent Alzheimer’s disease. The plan includes aspects like nutrition, supplementation, sleep and others. One of the most important points, covered in the plan, is the one of keeping your mind active.
Keeping the mind active through cognitive challenges and novel experiences is a powerful strategy for maintaining cognitive health and reducing the risk of dementia. Engaging in meaningful and intellectually stimulating activities, and social interactions, and pursuing higher levels of education builds cognitive reserve, protecting against brain atrophy and cognitive decline. Cognitive inactivity can lead to degeneration and cognitive impairment, while active engagement with mental challenges can enhance brain connectivity and volume. Reading, learning new languages, playing musical instruments, and participating in memory training techniques like the method of loci are effective ways to stimulate the brain. Novelties, such as changing routines, appreciating and creating art, attending lectures, and even participating in memory Olympics, contribute to cognitive well-being. By consistently engaging the mind, individuals can foster cognitive health and enrich their overall quality of life.
Strengths and weaknesses, according to readers’ reviews

Strengths
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Provides in-depth and trustworthy information about Alzheimer’s disease, backed by thousands of references to published medical articles and journals.
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Offers actionable advice, emphasising simple yet impactful changes such as proper nutrition, exercise, mental engagement, and reducing exposure to toxins.
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The book is accessible even to readers without a medical background, avoiding excessive jargon while explaining complex concepts.
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The author’s personal insights into his family’s experiences with cognitive issues add an emotional and relatable aspect to the book.
Weaknesses
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Exhibits a bias against certain food sources like meat, dairy, and fish, without acknowledging the distinction between minimally processed, high-quality options and conventional, processed variants.
Best quotes from ‘The Alzheimer’s Revolution’

“The brain is an energy hog, using more energy (20 percent of oxygen and blood) than any other organ in your body. Its 100 billion neurons, each about one-hundredth the size of the period at the end of this sentence, together have a memory capacity equivalent to one million gigabytes. A personal computer with that much memory could store 200 million songs or 500 million eBooks. What’s fascinating, and very different from how computers function, is how neurons work together.”
“The largest long-term studies have shown that those who remain the most fit reduce their risk of Alzheimer’s by about 50 percent. So it’s unfortunate that today only 18 percent of medical schools in the USA even broach the subject, with a single course in exercise science, for their students.”
“Managing how we respond to stress is critically important to the Alzheimer’s prevention lifestyle. A negative response to stress – that is, feeling overwhelmed by stressors – triggers biochemical and physical changes in the body that promote established risk factors for AD. Clinical studies have shown that those who are exposed to chronic stress demonstrate cognitive impairments and an acceleration of cognitive decline.”
Final takeaway

‘The Alzheimer’s Revolution’ by Joseph Keon offers an empowering and well-researched approach to preventing Alzheimer’s disease through lifestyle modifications. The book underscores the importance of recognising Alzheimer’s as a preventable condition rather than an inevitable one. By addressing primary controllable risk factors, adopting brain-supporting habits, and promoting cognitive challenges, the book provides readers with actionable steps to enhance cognitive resilience.
This book is a valuable resource for individuals interested in proactively safeguarding their brain health and reducing Alzheimer’s risk through practical lifestyle changes.
Where to buy
You may purchase ‘The Alzheimer’s Revolution’ on Amazon at the best price. It is available in paperback and Kindle versions, so you may choose an option that appeals to you the most.