Frequently Asked Questions
General Information
Common questions about working with the Amos Institute.
The simple answer is, we are everywhere! The Amos Institute is the world’s leading online platform that assists people with the implementation of the nutrition and lifestyle components of the Bredesen Protocol all around the world. Our first office was originally located in Los Angeles, but with the demand for the Bredesen Protocol around the world, we have perfected a plan which allows you to receive private one-on-one consultations and all of our course materials and lessons from the comfort of your own home.
No, there is not one way to treat Alzheimer's. In fact, most people are not aware that there are different types of Alzheimer's. One of the unique aspects of the Bredesen Protocol is that it addresses the underlying etiologies of Alzheimer's disease. Dr. Bredesen has identified at least 36 different contributors for Alzheimer's disease. The goal is to determine which of these contributors have caused the disease in each individual client and address them accordingly. Because client’s contributors vary, the treatment plan varies to some degree as well.
ApoE is a gene and there are three different alleles or types of that gene: ApoE2, ApoE3, and ApoE4. Every person is born with two copies of ApoE. You receive one ApoE gene from each parent. There are many factors that contribute to why some people get Alzheimer’s disease, but one of the most important genetic factors are your ApoE alleles. According to the most current research, ApoE2 is the rarest gene and seems to carry the least risk for Alzheimer's. ApoE3 seems to carry a neutral risk. And according to a large body of evidence, ApoE4 carries a very high risk for Alzheimer's and is the strongest known genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's disease.
75 million Americans have one copy of ApoE4 and 7 million Americans have two copies of ApoE4. Studies vary, but generally your risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease if you take no steps to improve your cognitive health:
The good news is that with all of these scenarios your odds of preventing the disease can be dramatically improved with implementation of the Bredesen Protocol.
75 million Americans have one copy of ApoE4 and 7 million Americans have two copies of ApoE4. Studies vary, but generally your risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease if you take no steps to improve your cognitive health:
- With 0 copies of ApoE4 your risk is about 9%.
- With 1 copy of ApoE4 your risk is about 30%.
- With 2 copies of ApoE4 your risk may be as high as 90%.
The good news is that with all of these scenarios your odds of preventing the disease can be dramatically improved with implementation of the Bredesen Protocol.
Not necessarily. If one or both of your parents had a copy of ApoE4 that they passed on to you, your genetic risk is elevated. However, your genetics do not determine what will happen to you and your health. We can greatly influence our genes through our lifestyle choices. This is why at the Amos Institute, we take an aggressive and proactive approach to treating and preventing Alzheimer's disease.
Yes. There is an insurmountable amount of misguided nutrition information in the public forum. "Eating healthy" is unfortunately not what most people think it is. And beyond the misinformation issue, our food supply is laden with hidden toxicants, many of which are not even listed on nutrition labels.
At the Amos Institute, we specialize in a nutrition program that is specifically designed for preventing or reversing chronic disease. We take this idea of 'healthy eating' to a whole new level. For nearly all of our clients, including those that formerly considered themselves “healthy eaters”, our nutrition program is both rigorous and challenging.
At the Amos Institute, we specialize in a nutrition program that is specifically designed for preventing or reversing chronic disease. We take this idea of 'healthy eating' to a whole new level. For nearly all of our clients, including those that formerly considered themselves “healthy eaters”, our nutrition program is both rigorous and challenging.
Yes. Alzheimer’s is a terrifying disease and feeling worried about one day developing Alzheimer’s is normal. The good news is that even with strong genetic predisposition, you can help prevent the disease in you and your family by following our program. The concept behind how this works is called ‘epigenetics’ in the science community. Through factors like diet, exercise, stress management, and sleep, we all have the ability to turn on and off various genes in our body's genome, through a process called methylation. With our program, we are using epigenetics in a favorable way, by signaling to our body to turn on genes that will help prevent cognitive decline and turn off genes that contribute to it.
We are not affiliated with the Alzheimer’s Association. Unfortunately, the Alzheimer’s Association continues to promote the myth that there is no treatment available to stop the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. The published scientific results of the Bredesen Protocol demonstrate that Alzheimer's can be prevented, stopped, and reversed. We believe that the financial incentives to the big pharmaceutical companies from promoting drugs to Alzheimer’s patients has influenced many such organizations that claim to help the Alzheimer's cause (even though it is well documented that these drugs provide no hope for regaining cognition).
No. The fees of the Amos Institute are not currently covered by insurance. It is our hope that our lobbying efforts will one day change this. Unfortunately, at the current time our healthcare system places strong restrictions on the type of care you can receive. We are able to provide you with our standard billing invoice, but we do not create a healthcare superbill for our plans.
The purpose of the Office Hours offered in the Cognitive Health Program is to provide an opportunity to ask general questions about the Bredesen Protocol, share stories, recipes and ideas with others who are changing their lives through the Bredesen Protocol. All questions are welcome, as long as they do not address your personal information, including your genetics, your labs, and your unique situation. Keeping questions to a general nature allows us to protect your privacy.
The Bredesen Protocol
Questions about the Bredesen Protocol, the first program in the world shown to prevent and reverse cognitive decline.
ApoE, or Apolipoprotein E, is a gene. Three common variants of this gene exist, and they are called ApoE2, ApoE3, and ApoE4. Every person is born with two copies of ApoE. We receive one ApoE gene from each parent. ApoE variants are relevant to Alzheimer’s disease because the ApoE variants that you carry alter your genetic risk of developing Alzheimer’s. Studies vary, but generally if you take no steps to improve your cognitive health:
- With 0 copies of ApoE4 your risk of developing AD is about 9%.
- With 1 copy of ApoE4 your risk of developing AD is about 30%.
- With 2 copies of ApoE4 your risk of developing AD may be as high as 90%.
No. Alzheimer’s is a devastating and very complex disease. In fact, Alzheimer’s is not just a brain disease but is more precisely a systemic, metabolic problem with brain manifestations. As a result, the fight against Alzheimer’s disease is also a complex battle. Following the Bredesen Protocol takes time, great dedication and patience, but it can also give you the highest quality and enjoyment of life ever experienced. The protocol requires you to make many significant lifestyle changes in eating, exercise, stress management, and sleep. Our intense and personalized curriculum will give you every tool you need and will provide you with the information, resources and motivation you need to succeed.
No. The Amos Institute does not offer any medical testing. The tests that Dr. Bredesen refers to as the ‘Cognoscopy’ are offered direct to consumer through his company, Apollo Health. Apollo Health packages the results into a ReCODE report, which is the gold standard results summary of the Bredesen Protocol. More information can be found on their website. Alternatively, we have worked with many clients who choose to get the tests run by their own physician. For more information on how we will review with you your ReCODE report or the tests run by your physician in order to tailor the nutrition and lifestyle components of the protocol to meet your specific needs, see our list of Comprehensive Services.