CogMission

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!

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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

12/01/2026

NEW MONTHLY EVENT!
Brain Bites: Your Lunchtime Upgrade

We are so delighted to be starting the new year with these monthly sessions. They are just half an hour and we unpack the latest research, giving you practical tips to boost your brain health.

You can sign up for one (£15 per session) or even a full pass at £100 for the full year.

To sign up, click here:
https://www.cogmission.co.uk/event/brain-bites-your-lunchtime-upgrade-tiny-habits-lifelong-gains

Brain health is fundamental to our wellbeing and rapidly growing scientific evidence shows that shifts in lifestyle change the odds.

08/01/2026

Are you starting to notice changes, maybe subtle at first - lapses in memory, reduced mental sharpness, word finding difficulties, poorer focus or just even a sense that your brain isn’t as reliable as it once was?

Did you know that the menopause is a neurological event? Meaning that oestrogen and progesterone fluctuate and the brain must rapidly adapt.

If you’d like to understand more, go to our latest blog article: https://www.cogmission.co.uk/hormones-cognition-and-the-menopausal-brain-why-testing-matters-for-long-term-brain-health/

01/01/2026

Forget “New Year, New You”

Every year companies push big resolutions, expensive gym memberships and fad diets, with a lot of it not lasting passed January.

But you don’t need a new you… just habits that actually fit in your life.

We believe in change all year round. No pressure and not perfect.

That’s why all of our sessions include a variety of different actions that you can build into your life.

01/01/2026

Happy New Year!

Wishing you health and happiness for the year to come.

29/12/2025

It’s that period between Christmas and New Year when it gets dark early and can sometimes feel a bit exhausting post - all that eating.

There are some really easy things you can do to get you feeling back on track.

✨ Stay active – even a brisk walk can help clear your head and lift your mood
🥦 Keep a balance – enjoy your treats, but don’t forget a good side portion of vegetables
💧 Drink water – keep hydrated, especially if you’re enjoying a festive tipple
😴 Rest well – busy days mean good sleep matters
🧣 Wrap up warm – especially if you’re out and about in colder winter weather
💙 Look after your mental health – the holidays can be tough for some; check in with yourself and others

We have lots of tips on our latest blog - Festive not Frazzled: https://www.cogmission.co.uk/festive-not-frazzled-your-health-guide-to-christmas/