What to Expect When Starting the ReCODE Program

Last Updated: October 2025

Beginning the ReCODE Program marks a powerful step toward restoring your brain health. Unlike taking another pill or supplement, this approach is a personalized, science-driven process designed to identify and reverse the specific factors driving your cognitive decline. Whether you’ve recently noticed subtle memory lapses or already received a diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment or early Alzheimer’s disease, the ReCODE Program helps you regain clarity, focus, and confidence by addressing the true causes of decline—not just the symptoms.

At The Carroll Institute, each patient moves through a three-phase system—Reclaim, Restore, and Renew. This process is built on more than 25 years of scientific research by Dr. Dale Bredesen, published in leading journals such as Aging, Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience, and Biomedicines. Every phase builds on measurable results and continual progress, ensuring you experience real improvement rather than symptom management.

Phase 1: Reclaim — Identifying Your Root Causes

Recovery begins with understanding why cognitive decline occurred in the first place. Instead of running standard lab panels, we perform comprehensive root-cause testing to uncover the underlying triggers. This approach helps us find what’s disrupting your brain’s chemistry, metabolism, and communication pathways.

• Inflammation markers (CRP, IL-6, TNF-alpha)
• Hormone and nutrient levels (thyroid, estrogen, testosterone, B vitamins, vitamin D)
• Insulin resistance markers (fasting insulin, HbA1c, HOMA-IR)
• Heavy metal and mycotoxin testing
• DNA and cognitive genetics, including APOE status
• Functional Neurology brain mapping to assess lost or weakened pathways

This deep testing gives us a clear picture of your unique biology. Because no two people share the same causes, your plan is completely individualized. Once these factors are identified, we can begin reversing them in a targeted and strategic way.

Phase 2: Restore — Repairing and Rebuilding Brain Function

After uncovering your root causes, the focus shifts to active restoration. During this phase, we reduce inflammation, balance hormones, optimize energy metabolism, and begin rebuilding the brain’s neural pathways. These steps create an environment where healing can truly begin.

Through customized nutrition, detoxification, and advanced therapies such as Functional Neurology and Photobiomodulation Therapy, the brain receives the stimulation and support it needs to reconnect and grow. As the brain begins to heal, patients often report clearer thinking, better word recall, improved mood, and restored confidence in daily tasks.

While some individuals notice results within weeks, others experience gradual improvement as their body clears toxins and restores balance. Regardless of the pace, steady progress is the goal—and consistent follow-ups ensure we fine-tune your plan along the way.

Phase 3: Renew — Maintaining Cognitive Vitality for Life

Once your brain function stabilizes, the next goal is to sustain those gains long-term. The Renew phase helps you build daily habits that preserve brain health for life. Through proper sleep, movement, toxin avoidance, and nutrition, we reinforce the progress your brain has made and continue strengthening new neural pathways.

Additionally, we provide ongoing follow-up testing to ensure your biomarkers remain balanced. Regular reassessments help us prevent future decline and maintain optimal brain performance. Over time, these sustainable habits form the foundation of lasting cognitive resilience.

Tracking Your Progress with Measurable Results

We measure cognitive progress using standardized testing tools such as MoCA, CNS Vital Signs, and the Neurocognitive Index. These evaluations provide objective data on your memory, processing speed, attention, and executive function. As your treatment continues, improvements become quantifiable—showing measurable change that reflects true recovery.

On average, 84% of patients following a ReCODE Program show measurable gains within six to nine months. Many even reverse from mild cognitive impairment back to normal cognitive function. These published results represent a level of improvement unmatched by any pharmaceutical treatment alone.

What Makes The Carroll Institute Different

At The Carroll Institute, we combine the precision of functional medicine with the science of neuroplasticity. Dr. Garland Glenn has over 500 hours of advanced Functional Neurology training under Dr. Ted Carrick—the founder of the Carrick Institute—and holds certification in the ReCODE Program. This expertise allows our team to not only stop cognitive decline but also retrain and rebuild the brain’s lost pathways.

As the only ReCODE-certified Functional Neurology clinic in Sarasota, our patients benefit from an integrated care model that blends deep diagnostic testing, personalized nutrition, neurological retraining, and evidence-based cognitive rehabilitation. Each plan is customized to the individual’s unique brain health profile, ensuring both precision and long-term success.

“Our patients don’t just stop declining—they start improving. Real progress, measurable change, and renewed independence are possible for nearly everyone.”

— Dr. Garland Glenn

References

• Bredesen DE. Reversal of Cognitive Decline: A Novel Therapeutic Program. Aging, 2014.
• Bredesen DE, et al. Rationale for a Multi-Factorial Approach for the Reversal of Cognitive Decline. Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience, 2023.
• Bredesen DE, et al. Sustained Cognitive Improvement in Alzheimer’s Disease Patients Following a Precision Medicine Protocol. Biomedicines, 2024.
• Apollo Health. Setting the Record Straight: Yes, Cognitive Decline Can Be Reversed, 2024.

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Medically reviewed by: Dr. Garland Glenn, DC, PhD, AFMC (Advanced Functional Medicine Clinician)

The Carroll Institute — Sarasota, FL

Learn more about the ReCODE Program · Explore Functional Neurology · Discover Root Causes

This content is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice.