If you fear your mental prowess is slipping and suspect you may be developing Alzheimer's disease, or even if you have been diagnosed with the devastating condition, don't despair. There's hope, says best-selling author Dr. Jacob Teitelbaum.

"Although receiving a diagnosis of Alzheimer's can be devastating, there is now an exciting new reason for hope," says Dr. Teitelbaum, author of Real Cause, Real Cure. "First, research shows that 30 to 50 percent of people diagnosed with Alzheimer's don't have it! Instead they have other, very often treatable, causes for their dementia which are simply being missed.

"Problems with memory and other cognitive functions are often linked to Metabolism, Infection, Nutrition and Drug side effects," he tells Newsmax Health. Dr. Teitelbaum uses the acronym MIND. He says that by using a four-step program that addresses the four factors, you can significantly improve your brain function, even if you have Alzheimer's.

Metabolism. Both high and low levels of thyroid hormone can cause confusion and memory loss, and can increase the risk of Alzheimer's. "If your levels are in the lower 25 percent of normal on the Free T4 blood test, ask your doctor to consider prescribing low dose desiccated thyroid," says Dr. Teitelbaum. Recommended dosage is 30 to 60 mg daily. Low testosterone levels are also linked to Alzheimer's. "Every 50 percent increase in testosterone is associated with a 26 percent decrease in the risk of Alzheimer's," he says. Dr. Teitelbaum adds a bioidentical testosterone cream if a patient's levels are low. "Even if it's at the lower quarter of the normal range," he says. He recommends limiting dosage to 50 mg a day.

Infections. Infections leave everyone feeling fuzzy-headed, he says, and can push cognitive function "over the edge" in dementia patients. He recommends treating all infections, including those of the bladder, gut, and sinus.

Nutrition. Dr. Teitelbaum recommends a daily multivitamin containing 500 mcg of B12 and at least 400 mcg of folic acid, 200 mg of magnesium, 2000 IU of vitamin D, and 50 mg of the other B vitamins. He recommends eating three to four servings of salmon or tuna weekly, which supply the same amount of omega-3s found in eight to 16 fish oil capsules. He also suggests taking curcumin, the active ingredient in turmeric.

"Alzheimer's is 70 percent less common in India than in the U.S., likely because of the large amounts of curcumin that are used in curries and other Indian dishes," he says. "Animal studies show it dissolves the amyloid plaques that are found in the brains of Alzheimer's patients." He recommends one to two capsules a day of a highly absorbable form of curcumin called BCM95.

Drugs. It's no secret that drugs are often overprescribed in the U.S., and their side effects can cause confusion and other problems. "Medication side effects are a very common cause of mental decline," says Dr. Teitelbaum. If you suspect a drug is causing problems, ask if you can suspend taking it for three weeks and see if you improve. "Substituting other medications or close monitoring can usually allow this.

"Dementia can improve, and even go away!"

Dr. Teitelbaum is currently conducting a new dementia study, looking for and treating reversible causes. For information on being in the study, call 410-573-5389.