CogMission

22/05/2026

I see people every week being told their bloods are “normal” while they are struggling with fatigue, brain fog, anxiety, migraines, inflammation, poor recovery, family history of stroke or heart disease, and sometimes early cognitive decline.
Then we check homocysteine.
And it is through the roof.
This marker matters far more than many people realise.
Raised homocysteine has been linked to damage in the blood vessels, increased cardiovascular risk, stroke, cognitive decline, and inflammation. Yet so many people have never even heard of it.
What frustrates me is that people are often only investigated once disease is already established.
But the body whispers before it screams.
High homocysteine can be a sign that the body is struggling with methylation, detoxification, nutrient status, gut health, chronic stress, inflammation, blood sugar imbalance, or genetic vulnerabilities such as MTHFR.
It is not about chasing numbers.
It is about understanding what the body is trying to tell us.
I have seen homocysteine improve dramatically with the right support and lifestyle changes, and alongside that, people often feel clearer, calmer, more energetic, and more resilient.
Please do not wait until something catastrophic happens before taking your health seriously.
Prevention is not extreme.
It is intelligent.

18/05/2026

Its so good to see this being properly discussed - we have been aware of this as a contributing factor for so long.

Could your medication be affecting your brain health?
A recent article in The New York Times explored the growing research around commonly used medications and their possible association with cognitive decline and dementia risk.
The conversation included medications such as:
• Antihistamines and sleep aids with anticholinergic effects
• Benzodiazepines used for anxiety and sleep
• Proton pump inhibitors for acid reflux
• Antipsychotic medications
At CogMission Clinic, we believe this is an important conversation, not to create fear around medications, but to encourage a more preventative and personalised approach to brain health.
Many medications are essential and life saving. This is absolutely not about stopping medication abruptly or without medical supervision. In fact, some medications can be dangerous to discontinue suddenly.
What this research highlights is the importance of asking deeper questions:
Why is sleep disrupted?
Why is anxiety increasing?
Why is reflux happening in the first place?
What role do inflammation, blood sugar balance, gut health, hormones, stress, toxicity, and lifestyle play in long term cognitive resilience?
The brain does not exist in isolation from the rest of the body.
At CogMission Clinic, we focus on understanding the underlying drivers that may influence cognition, memory, brain fog, and healthy ageing through a functional and integrative lens.
Prevention matters.
Small changes, made consistently over time, can have a profound impact on long term brain health.

09/04/2026

Free workshop:
Thursday 16th - 6pm - online.
Brain fog affects many people, showing up as poor concentration, forgetfulness, low energy, or simply not feeling as sharp as you used to. The good news is that there’s plenty you can do to support your brain and start feeling sharper again.
During this session, we’ll cover:
What brain fog really is and why it happens
The key drivers behind it, including stress, hormones, gut health, and inflammation
Practical, natural strategies to improve clarity, focus, and energy
This will be an informative and relaxed session, with time for questions at the end.
If you or someone you know has been struggling with brain fog, this is a great opportunity to gain valuable insights and actionable tips.
To reserve your place, simply reply to this email or follow the booking link:
We look forward to seeing you there!
Warm regards,
https://l.bttr.to/lcsWO

30/03/2026

Do you want to stay up to date with the latest research on how to protect and optimise your brain?

Would you like to be the first to hear about our free webinars, programmes, and events?

And most importantly, do you want to be part of a supportive brain health community?

Sign up for our newsletter to stay informed on all of this—plus receive two exciting free gifts!

https://2f045f0c.sibforms.com/serve/MUIFAECzJAAqozvPFRAbleBlDwubFzlLwAmhIFNqm_04Qj4snBdDgCXs3NtfPBxSOJqlxSb0FFJYkPrJfictfvNKhY5qXhNnvVEu-bvUMwoaASaanT4LbGD_3neH27R4XPinKxiX172xgXibkmS7sm-ObPJcQy3t8gGlW8DNQ2e_8clyn9z4cNQuUb_kuesWVlv5RFolMTzo7dCt

19/02/2026

Alzheimer Antibody Therapy Rejected in Scotland

Why This Strengthens the Case for Prevention

The Scottish Medicines Consortium has declined to approve donanemab for use within NHS Scotland for early stage Alzheimer disease .

The decision affects people with mild cognitive impairment and mild dementia who have confirmed amyloid pathology. Although clinical trials showed statistically significant slowing of decline, the committee raised concerns about how meaningful that slowing would be in real world care, alongside safety and cost effectiveness considerations .

For many families this is disappointing.

At Cogmission Clinic in Edinburgh, we see this decision through a wider lens.

It reinforces something we have believed for years.

By the time someone qualifies for an antibody infusion, the disease process has already been unfolding for decades.

Understanding the Therapy

Donanemab is a monoclonal antibody that targets amyloid plaques in the brain. In the phase 3 TRAILBLAZER ALZ 2 trial, it slowed cognitive and functional decline over seventy six weeks compared with placebo .

Treatment involves intravenous infusions every four weeks, along with genetic testing and repeated MRI monitoring. Amyloid related imaging abnormalities were common. Brain swelling occurred in twenty four percent of treated patients and microhaemorrhages in twenty percent .

This is not a simple intervention. It is complex, intensive, and designed for people who already have measurable decline.

Which raises the more important question.

Why are we waiting until then?

At Cogmission Clinic We Work Earlier

In our cognitive clinic in Edinburgh, we rarely wait for dementia.

We see:

• Raised homocysteine
• Insulin resistance
• Low vitamin D
• Poor sleep architecture
• Chronic inflammation
• Hormonal transition in perimenopause
• Environmental toxin exposure
• Mitochondrial dysfunction
• Early vascular change

These are not theoretical risk markers. They are modifiable drivers of cognitive decline.

Alzheimer disease is not simply an amyloid problem. It is a metabolic, inflammatory, vascular and environmental condition that evolves silently for years.

By the time plaques are visible on a scan, the terrain has already shifted.

The Real Prevention Gap in Scotland

The decision not to fund donanemab was based largely on uncertainty about meaningful benefit and cost effectiveness .

Yet we are not routinely investing in:

• Early metabolic screening
• Personalised cardiovascular risk profiling
• Advanced lipid and homocysteine optimisation
• Hormone support during cognitive transition
• Sleep tracking and circadian repair
• Environmental toxin reduction
• Gut and immune modulation
• Vascular imaging such as CIMT scanning

We fund late stage intervention.

We do not fund early terrain correction.

That is the true gap.

Prevention Is Not Passive

Prevention is often misunderstood as general advice.

Eat better. Move more. Sleep well.

At Cogmission Clinic, prevention is precise.

It is testing.
It is measuring.
It is personalising.
It is intervening before structural damage occurs.

We use data to identify biological age shifts, inflammatory burden, methylation imbalance, insulin signalling disruption, and vascular changes years before cognitive decline becomes visible.

We do this because once neurons are lost, recovery becomes far more difficult.

A More Intelligent Strategy

Is amyloid relevant? Yes.

Is targeting plaques part of the future? Possibly.

But amyloid accumulation is one downstream feature of a much larger biological story.

If we continue to focus primarily on late stage pharmaceutical rescue, we will always be reacting rather than preventing.

Eighty percent of strokes are preventable. Vascular dementia and mixed Alzheimer pathology share the same metabolic drivers.

If we truly want to reduce dementia burden in Scotland, we must:

• Screen earlier
• Stratify risk sooner
• Support metabolic resilience
• Address inflammation
• Protect vascular integrity
• Optimise hormonal transitions
• Reduce toxic load

This is not radical. It is rational.

Our Position at our Cogmission Clinic

We are not anti innovation.

We are pro early intervention.

The rejection of donanemab does not mean there is no hope. It means we must widen our focus.

Waiting for a drug once decline is measurable is not a strategy.

Building resilience twenty years earlier is.

At our Cogmission Clinic in Edinburgh, that is where we place our attention.

Because cognitive health does not begin at diagnosis.

It begins in midlife.

And prevention, when done properly, is powerful.

27/01/2026

This is fascinating research on the link between menopause and Alzheimer's like brain changes. The findings are from nearly 125,000 women and included 11,000 MRI scans.

HRT use did not appear to prevent the grey matter loss.

Menopause is linked to a loss of grey matter in regions involved with memory and emotion, study suggests.

26/01/2026

🧠✨ Brain Vitality Programme – Starts THIS Thursday! ✨🧠
Online | 6 weeks | Thursdays 1pm–2pm

We’re thrilled to announce the latest edition of our signature Brain Vitality Programme, created by three experienced practitioners from the Cogmission Functional Medicine Health Clinic in Edinburgh.

At Cogmission, we specialise in both the prevention of brain health issues and the support of cognitive decline, using the principles of Dr. Bredesen’s protocol — and this programme is designed to give you practical, empowering steps to protect and optimise your brain health.

📌 Starts this week: Thursday at 1pm
🖥️ Online (live) | 1 hour per session | 6 weeks
💥 SPECIAL DISCOUNT THIS WEEK ONLY
We have just 4 spaces left, so we’ve reduced the price to £195 for the lucky few who join now.

Dementia is now the leading cause of death for women in the UK, with someone developing it every three minutes. While research remains underfunded, the good news is there are proactive steps we can take now to better understand cognitive decline — and support brain resilience for the long term.

🌿 This hands-on programme brings together expertise in:
Functional Medicine • Nutrition • Herbal Medicine • Breathwork • Lifestyle Change
Over 6 weeks, we’ll cover key areas including:
✅ Risk Factors for Cognitive Decline
✅ The Importance of Clinical Testing
✅ Nutrition for Brain Health
✅ Optimising Gut Health
✅ Managing Stress & Nervous System Support
✅ Improving Sleep Quality
✅ The Role of Exercise
✅ Brain Training for Cognitive Function
✅ Psychology of Change & Habit Formation

Everything we teach is rooted in the latest scientific research — with practical guidance to help you apply it in a way that fits your lifestyle and your needs.
✨ Ready to invest in your brain health?
Join us for our next 6-week online programme starting Thursday at 1pm.
Book using this link. https://l.bttr.to/jP3BX

21/01/2026

The implications of even mild infections and cognitive health has been highlighted by the recent annual report from England’s Chief Medical Officer. Jean and Charmaine from CogMission discuss this as well as practical advice to prevent and if you get any infections through these winter months.

15/01/2026

Insulin resistance and its link to Alzheimers Disease.

14/01/2026

Can I really change the way my brain works?

This is a question we get asked a lot. People wonder if it really is possible to see tangible change when they are noticing cognitive declines such as memory loss or not being able to place a name.

There are many lifestyle changes that can support your brain - including diet, sleep, stress and exercise.

We are here to help you find the elements you can change and find ways of implementing them long term into your life.

And it's all based upon the latest research.

Just go to our website for our latest blogs and programmes:
https://www.cogmission.co.uk