How To Take Early Action Against Cognitive Decline, From A Neurologist
Key takeaways
- "I think Alzheimer's is a medical disease that affects the brain as what doctors call 'the end organ,'" he explained.
- Isaacson shared the story of his dad's cousin, who started repeating herself back in 2007.
- This kind of dismissal is exactly what Isaacson wants people to push back against.
Why this matters: practical guidance grounded in recent research or expert insight.
Author: Jason Wachob June 07, 2026mbg Founder & Co-CEOBy Jason Wachobmbg Founder & Co-CEOJason Wachob is the Founder and Co-CEO of mindbodygreen and the author of Wellth.Image by Richard Isaacson x mbg creative June 07, 2026What if the cognitive glitches you've been brushing off as stress or a busy schedule are actually worth paying attention to, and the window to do something about them is wider than you think?
When I sat down with Richard Isaacson, M.D., a preventive neurologist at Atria Health and one of the leading voices in Alzheimer's prevention, on the mindbodygreen podcast, he explained the disease in a way I hadn't heard before. "I think Alzheimer's is a medical disease that affects the brain as what doctors call 'the end organ,'" he explained. In other words, he doesn't think Alzheimer's is a primary brain disease, but rather a medical condition you can fight with the same tools you'd use to manage any other health problem. Here's what he recommends to catch cognitive decline early, and give yourself the biggest window to bounce back.
Isaacson shared the story of his dad's cousin, who started repeating herself back in 2007. At the time, her care team thought this was simply part of normal aging. And, despite Isaacson personally advocating with her primary care doctor, it took years for her to receive an Alzheimer's diagnosis.