Darrin Kasteler

Those three words changed my life forever

At the age of 53, I was in San Francisco with my wife, absolutely loving the service assignment I was asked to lead for three years. I was in the best shape of my life — mentally, spiritually and physically. Shockingly, just 18 months later, I started noticing that I was losing things — keys, wallets, phones, and more. My cognitive decline progressed quickly. Soon, I couldn’t type or do basic math. I even forgot how to tie my shoelaces.

Normally, patients wait as much as six months to be seen by a neurologist. I was fortunate to get an appointment at Stanford Neurology within a week. After more visits, lab results and MRIs, my primary doctor at Stanford shared with me and my wife a devastating diagnosis: early onset Alzheimer’s.

Those three words changed my life forever.

We got a second opinion which was eerily the same. We walked out of the clinic with a prescription for depression, which I threw away, plus a recommendation join a clinical trial, known for its side effects of brain bleeds and strokes.

Fortunately, I did not go down that path. A family member suggested The End of Alzheimer’s, by Dr. Dale Bredesen. I read it and acted on it immediately, and I have continued to trust its guidance, as it gave me hope. What I learned through testing was that I had type 3 Alzheimer’s brought on by mycotoxins.

Now, two years later, I have regained most of my cognitive abilities. I can type on a keyboard again, I don’t lose things like I used to, and my brain is getting sharper and sharper. My story is not yet over. I still have toxins in my brain that I’m working through, but based on my own personal experience, I am very confident I will win this battle. So, now I am focusing on helping others. There are so many people getting sick with cognitive decline, at earlier and earlier ages. To learn about other survivors watch our special video.