Why Doesn’t My Doctor Know About This?

Last Updated: October 2025

• It usually takes ~17 years for new research to become standard medical practice.
• Most physicians are trained to diagnose and prescribe—not to find and fix root causes like inflammation, toxins, hormones, or nutrition.
• Because there’s no single drug that reverses Alzheimer’s, conventional training rarely covers reversal strategies.
• At The Carroll Institute, we use Bredesen ReCODE and functional neurology to identify and correct root causes so patients can improve.

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The 17-Year Lag Between Research and Medical Practice

Studies published in JAMA and indexed on PubMed estimate it takes about 17 years for new scientific discoveries to be widely adopted in clinical practice. Large health systems, regulatory processes, and continuing education timelines all slow the diffusion of new evidence. In progressive conditions like Alzheimer’s, that delay is critical—patients simply can’t wait nearly two decades for the system to catch up.

Why Most Doctors Aren’t Taught to Reverse Cognitive Decline

Conventional medical training emphasizes disease labeling and drug therapy. Physicians learn pharmacology in depth, but receive limited education in nutrition, environmental medicine (mold, heavy metals, chemicals), toxin avoidance, gut-brain connections, or neuroplasticity. As a result, many clinicians aren’t equipped to investigate the causes of cognitive decline—only to manage the symptoms.

• Nutrition & metabolism: Often minimal formal training
• Toxins & mold: Rarely covered beyond acute poisonings
• Hormone & inflammatory drivers: Underemphasized in neurodegeneration
• Neuroplasticity: Seldom integrated into everyday care plans

Most physicians are not yet trained in approaches like the ReCODE Protocol, which address cognitive decline through metabolic repair and functional neurology.

Why There Are No Drugs for Alzheimer’s—and Why That Matters

Alzheimer’s is multifactorial. Dozens of contributors—insulin resistance, chronic inflammation, toxin exposure, infections, nutrient gaps, hormone decline, sleep disruption, vascular issues—converge to damage brain networks. Because there’s no single root cause, a single medication rarely delivers meaningful reversal. Consequently, standard training (built around pharmaceuticals) offers few tools when drugs underperform.

It’s Not Your Doctor’s Fault

Your physician likely cares deeply. The limitation is the system—short visit times, insurance constraints, and curricula that focus on symptom control rather than cause correction. Lack of root-cause training is not a lack of compassion. Newer models—like Bredesen ReCODE and functional medicine—fill that gap by mapping and correcting each patient’s specific drivers.

What Patients Can Do Now

Alzheimer’s and related dementias are progressive, so time matters. You don’t need to wait years for mainstream adoption to act. A root-cause plan can start now:

• Comprehensive testing for inflammation, insulin resistance, hormones, toxins, infections, and nutrient status
• Therapeutic nutrition (anti-inflammatory, low-glycemic)
• Sleep optimization and circadian alignment
• Guided detoxification (mold, metals, environmental chemicals)
• Functional neurology exercises to strengthen neural networks
• Targeted supplementation based on labs, not guesswork

At The Carroll Institute, we deliver this precision approach using ReCODE plus brain-based therapies to help patients stabilize and often improve cognition—even when medications haven’t helped.

For an overview of the difference between standard care and functional neurology, see How Functional Neurology Helps Alzheimer’s.

How We Work With Your Doctor

We believe in collaboration. Our team communicates with your primary care physician and/or neurologist to coordinate labs, review medications, and ensure safety and continuity. You keep your medical team—while gaining a root-cause strategy that complements, not conflicts with, your existing care.

The Carroll Institute’s Approach

1. Advanced assessment: Metabolic, inflammatory, hormonal, toxin, infectious, and nutrient panels; cognitive baselines
2. Personalized plan: Anti-inflammatory, low-glycemic nutrition; targeted supplements; hormone and insulin balance; sleep restoration
3. Functional neurology: Brain-based exercises to rebuild connectivity and performance
4. Environment & detox: Air/water purification, exposure reduction, and clinician-guided detox when indicated
5. Ongoing tracking: Objective cognitive testing every 8–12 weeks with plan adjustments

By addressing the specific causes affecting your brain, we routinely see improvements in clarity, recall, and daily function.

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Related Reading

• Alzheimer’s Treatment in Sarasota
• Why Drugs Don’t Work
• Can Alzheimer’s Be Reversed?

Book a Discovery Call to discuss the latest reversal and prevention protocols.

Sources

• It Takes an Average of 17 Years for Evidence to Change Practice — PubMed
• It Takes an Average of 17 Years for Evidence to Change Practice — JAMA Network
• Why Are So Many Medical Doctors Behind on Integrating Scientific Discoveries Into Practice? — NOVOS Labs
• Reversal of Cognitive Decline: A Novel Therapeutic Program
• Rationale for a Multi-Factorial Approach for the Reversal of Cognitive Decline
• Sustained Cognitive Improvement Following a Precision Medicine Protocol

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