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Comment by canadiantim | Hacker News Reader

I recently discovered that a significant systemic yeast infection in my mom has been responsible for a large part of her cognitive decline and maybe even dementia symptoms. Currently treating it with diet avoiding feeding the yeast and various things to actively fight and kill off the yeast. Noticed a significant clarity of thought that hasn’t been there for years, which is wild to me. Did not think yeast could be such a significant influence

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Any kind of toxicity (including microbial) has a potential to cause a cognitive decline. The reasons why it happens are complex, but it boils down to energy. All such diseases have a common trait: they cause disruption of ATP production at the cellular level, affecting mitochondria. Then comes a domino effect: without sufficient energy supply, cells start to degrade. At early stages, it mostly affects high-energy cells like those in the brain and the rest of nervous system. Then comes the liver and muscles (including heart). At the end stage, the effect may cause a multiorgan failure and even death.

A reason why diets affect this situation so much is two-fold. First, a diet affects microbiota, causing stagnation and proliferation of selected species. Second, the diet affects cells and its organelles, especially mitochondria. For example, some acquired mitochondrial damages can be reversed by a sufficient supply of vitamins and minerals in combination with the right balance of carbohydrates and fats in the diet.

It is worth to mention that one has to eliminate the initial disruption factor that caused the problem in the first place. Be it infection, poison, or something else. Otherwise, the chances of recovery are dim.

What do you recommend as ideal foods to improve the microbiota? Are there any non-obvious foods, such we kefir?

What is a sufficient supply of vitamins and minerals? Are well talking joe rogan level or just taking a multi vitamin per day?

> What is a sufficient supply of vitamins and minerals?

General rule: Get your 100% daily values of everything. If you have worries about specifics of nutrition for yourself, a nutritionist or similar specialist would be the best option, as it also depends on any underlying conditions you have.

Considering just how toxic the modern day diet is, I’d say most people are in big trouble

Unirary tract infections cause the same symptoms and impact, speak to any decently experienced elderly care worker

This was a plotline on HBO's "Succession."

How did you figure out the link between yeast and cognitive decline?

Almost everything online wrt yeast seems like Goop-level pseudoscience.

Is the diet based on removing fast carbs like sugar, bread, potatoes, etc?

Wow! Mind giving a few specifics on the diet changes? I’m guessing removing sugar is one thing?

Would you mind sharing the name of the disease / symptom / yeast?

I’m celiac and always looking at food related illness.

SIBO/SIFO/Candidia/gut dysbiosis more broadly.

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