Dean Ornish, MD
Dr. Dean Ornish is one of the nine 2020 WAM Research Grants Recipients and is conducting the first randomized controlled trial to determine if the progression of early Alzheimer’s disease may be reversed by a comprehensive lifestyle medicine program. Dr. Ornish has dedicated decades to changing the way millions of people think about the simple lifestyle choices they make each day in dynamic relation to their health and wellbeing, with particular success in reversing cardiovascular disease through lifestyle interventions. This trial involves a whole foods plant-based diet low in fat and sugar with supplements, moderate exercise, stress management techniques, and support groups. Dr. Ornish’s study will determine if more intensive lifestyle changes may reverse the progression of early mild cognitive impairment due to Alzheimer’s disease and possibly provide more Alzheimer’s treatment and prevention options in the future.
More about Dr. Dean Ornish
Dean Ornish, M.D., is the founder and president of the non-profit Preventive Medicine Research Institute and Clinical Professor of
Medicine at UCSF. For over 40 years, he has directed clinical research demonstrating, for the first time, that comprehensive lifestyle changes may begin to reverse even severe coronary heart disease and also early-stage prostate cancer. Medicare created a new benefit category to cover his program. His research showed that comprehensive lifestyle changes “turn on” disease-preventing genes and “turn off” genes that promote cancer and heart disease, as well as the first controlled study showing that these lifestyle changes may begin to reverse cellular aging by lengthening telomeres.
He is currently directing the first randomized controlled trial to determine if these lifestyle changes may reverse the progression of early-stage Alzheimer’s disease. He is the author of seven books, all national bestsellers, including UnDo It! (co-authored with Anne Ornish). His three main-stage TED.com talks have been viewed by over six million people. He was appointed by President Clinton and also by President Obama to White House Advisory Commissions and by Governor Newsom and Maria Shriver to the Governor’s Brain Trust on Alzheimer’s Disease Prevention and Preparedness. The “Ornish diet” has been rated “#1 for Heart Health” by a panel of experts at U.S. News & World Report for ten years from 2011-2021. www.PMRI.org & www.ornish.com & www.undoitbook.com
If you would like to learn more about Dr. Ornish’s clinical study click HERE.