Felix’s Story
Falls & Dementia Prevention in 3 months
Falls, Blood Pressure, Hearing, Diabetes, Nutrition, Exercise
Felix was 72 when he came to the clinic with his wife. She was worried because he had a few near-falls in the last three months.
Felix wasn’t too worried. As a former referee for a national football team, he thought he was in pretty good shape for his age.
He was right - but so was his wife. Near-falls are something to be taken seriously as a sign that our health is in danger.
He needed a comprehensive look to see if there was anything that could be done to boost his brain health & longevity.
What Did We Find?
Felix was almost falling from low blood pressures, and he had several risk factors for dementia that could be reversed.
1) Falling from low blood pressure
Felix’s falls always happened within a few minutes of standing up. He felt dizzy and like his legs were about to give out.
This is a classic story of orthostatic hypotension - which is a type of low blood pressure that happens only after you stand up, and usually resolves on its own after a few minutes - but is a common cause for falls.
In his case, it was being triggered by too high of a dose of his blood pressure pills.
2) Hearing Problems
Felix had hearing damage from all those years in the noisy stadium blowing whistles.
He had been slowly increasing the volume on his TV and not catching what his wife said (more than usual).
3) Diabetes
Felix’s blood work showed he had very mild diabetes. His HbA1C (the body’s average blood sugar over 3 months) was 7.7%, with a normal level being <7.0%.
4) Lack of exercise
Since retiring, Felix was spending more and more time on the couch watching re-runs of his favourite sports teams.
A previously very active person, not moving was doing more to Felix than causing muscle wasting and fatigue - it was also leading to loss of his identity as a “sporty” person.
What was Felix Doing Right?
Felix was doing a number of things right to protect his mind, including:
Drinking only 1-2 alcoholic drinks a week
Having a positive mindset and good relationship with his emotions
Sleeping well
Quitting smoking back in the ‘60s.
What Did He Do?
Felix and his doctor decided on the following plan together:
Decrease his blood pressure pill (Bisoprolol) which was causing his low blood pressure
See an audiologist for a hearing assessment
Talk to a dietician to learn about the MIND diet to improve his diabetes and protect his memory
Return to some easy exercise with after-evening walks with his wife
How is Felix Now?
A few months later, Felix’s blood pressure is no longer dropping when he stands up, and he is no longer having near-falls.
His standing and sitting blood pressure are now both around 130/80 - a reasonable range given his diabetes.
He is wearing hearing aids, walking 20 minutes every day, and has cut down on the sugar in his diet. He has lost about 5 pounds, and his HbA1C is now 7.2%.
Another few months of his new diet and exercise routine, and he will likely no longer be diabetic.
What Does Felix’s Story Show Us?
With just four tiny interventions - reducing a medication, getting hearing aids, eating less sugar, and going for a daily walk - Felix has drastically improved his health and ability to protect his mind.
While health can sometimes feel like an uphill battle, with a bit of personalization you can find a relatively simple plan that creates a big impact.
Disclaimer: The stories shared on this website are composites of several clinical cases, designed to protect individuals' privacy. They are intended for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice or a reflection of any specific person. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or deceased, is purely coincidental.