Knoxville brain health assessments for early dementia detection

Podcast Transcript: Dr. Randy Purdue: Hey there. It’s Dr. Randy Purdue, and I’m here with Dr. Bill Burkhart, who's a friend and also a patient. He has gone through some hard times in the last few years, and I want to talk to him about it—get his perspective on what he’s gone through. From the perspective of our Vital Wellness program and some of the things we've worked on, I’d like him to talk about that with you. So, Bill, do you want to tell us a little bit about your journey? Dr. Bill Burkhart: Sure, sure. Glad to. I'm happy to be here. My journey in this case began about four and a half years ago. I’ve been a practicing physician for 38 years. Since residency, I was in practice with my dad and brother in family medicine. Our family has over a hundred years of medical history in this town. My great-uncle was also a physician. So medicine is deeply rooted in our background and history. We worked hard to do what was best for our patients. But over the last couple of years, prior to my retirement, I noticed I wasn’t able to remember things well. I had a patient who had a significant medical illness, and I made all the referrals. But when she was talking to me about it later, she interrupted me and said, “You don’t know what I’m talking about, do you?” And I had to admit I didn’t. She reminded me about her breast cancer diagnosis and the referrals, and I then remembered. That was the first red flag. More incidents happened. I always prided myself on maintaining relationships with my patients, remembering family connections, their history, and identifying risk factors. That was always so important in medicine. But I started losing that. The real kicker was when I was sitting across from my nurse one afternoon and couldn’t remember her name. That’s when I knew something was wrong. I went to my physician. He did a mental status exam, and I missed a couple of things. He said, “I think you’ve got a problem.” I went through an extensive workup: PET scans, CT scans, lab work—you name it. The diagnosis came back as mild cognitive impairment with a high risk of Alzheimer’s progression. Thankfully, I didn’t test positive for both Alzheimer’s genes, only one, but there was still a chance it could progress to an Alzheimer’s-like state. I went back to work, but within a month, I made two dosing errors that I had never made before. After that, I retired on disability. It was a tough wake-up call to realize that I was no longer the physician I had been, and that I wasn’t in the health I thought I was. My blood pressure was elevated, and everything seemed wrong. That’s when I found out about your Vital Wellness program. My wife actually found it and encouraged me to get involved. I didn’t attend the brain health class right away because you had already taught me so much about nutrition, exercise, and lifestyle changes. But about six months ago, I was in your office when my long-time trainer retired. I needed someone new, and that’s when I learned about your gym and met Derek Morgan. He said, “I’ve got a little group that you’ll fit in well with,” and he was right. It’s been a family atmosphere at the gym. We encourage each other, correct each other when we’re doing something wrong, and it’s been life-changing for me. I’m off blood pressure medication, taking minimal meds, and on supplements you recommended. My overall health has improved tremendously. Dr. Randy Purdue: What about your wife? I’ve been so impressed with how she’s helped you through this. Would you like to talk about her a bit? Dr. Bill Burkhart: Oh, absolutely. My wife is an engineer by training, so she’s meticulous about everything. She’s a fabulous cook and really understands nutrition. She’s been instrumental in ensuring I eat what’s best for my health. We follow a modified keto diet with minimal starches, lots of vegetables, and healthy proteins like chicken, fish, and shrimp. She even makes keto bread and chocolate—things that make sticking to this lifestyle so much easier. I can’t give her enough credit for how she’s transformed my health. Dr. Randy Purdue: That’s incredible. As we’ve seen in the Vital Wellness program, having a partner or helper in your health journey is often critical to success. Dr. Bill Burkhart: Absolutely. I’ve seen it with patients over the years too. You need someone who understands and supports you, especially when dealing with chronic illnesses. It’s a partnership, and I’m so fortunate to have my wife by my side. Dr. Randy Purdue: Let’s talk about exercise. You mentioned your group at the gym, and I love how you’ve created this camaraderie. Functional resistance training is one of the key pillars in our wellness program. It’s about building strength in a way that helps you function better in daily life—whether it’s carrying groceries, lifting your grandkids, or working in the yard. How has that aspect of the program helped you? Dr. Bill Burkhart: When I first started, I honestly thought I wouldn’t make it out of there. It was hard, but the exercises really target areas I hadn’t worked on before. Derek is excellent at guiding us, making sure we’re doing everything correctly. The community is supportive, and we all push each other to get better. I’ve never exercised with kettlebells before, but now they’re part of my routine, and I feel stronger than I have in years. Dr. Randy Purdue: That’s great to hear. And it sounds like it’s had a positive impact on your mental and physical well-being. Dr. Bill Burkhart: Absolutely. I feel better in every way—physically, mentally, and emotionally. My mood is better, I sleep better, and I’m just in a better place overall. Dr. Randy Purdue: Speaking of sleep, did improving your sleep become part of your wellness journey? Dr. Bill Burkhart: Yes, definitely. As a physician, I used to get by on five hours of sleep, but I noticed the toll it was taking on me. Now, I prioritize sleep and even take naps in the afternoon when I need them. It’s made a huge difference in how I feel. Dr. Randy Purdue: Sleep is one of those crucial pillars of health that so many of us overlook. It’s when our bodies recover, and even our brains get "cleaned" through processes like the glymphatic system. That system works while we sleep to clear out toxins and keep our brains functioning optimally. Dr. Bill Burkhart: Yes, understanding that really changed my perspective on sleep. I’m much more mindful of how important it is now. Dr. Randy Purdue: That mindfulness is part of the peace pillar in our program. Being mindful of things like creation, gratitude, and our place in the world helps us stay grounded. Would you say that’s something you’ve experienced? Dr. Bill Burkhart: Yes, without a doubt. Taking time to appreciate life and the people around me has been a huge part of my recovery. I feel more grateful every day. Dr. Randy Purdue: Gratitude is so important. It changes your mindset, especially when dealing with challenges like cognitive decline. Dr. Bill Burkhart: Absolutely. I’m grateful for the people in my life who have helped me through this, and I’m grateful to God for giving me another chance to live the way I want to. Dr. Randy Purdue: That’s wonderful to hear. Any final thoughts for others who might be facing similar challenges? Dr. Bill Burkhart: I’d just say, don’t lose hope. Everyone’s journey is different, but with the right support and a positive attitude, you can improve or at least slow down the progression of cognitive decline. The Vital Wellness program has been a lifeline for me, and I hope others find similar help on their journey.