I am reluctant to post this, because I know it's going to trigger a lot of negative commentary. But if it helps even one person, then it's worth it. But I'm not going to come back to see the vitriol I'm sure will follow.

If you're one of these people who "acts out their dreams", there may be a way to avoid the brain maladies mentioned here that most doctors won't know about. First of all, if you can stand on one leg for more than a minute (for both legs), relax. You're fine for now. But if you want to stay. fine, read on.

You know how some people are lactose intolerant and others aren't? Some people have celiac disease, and others don't? I've had a recent health scare, and I took a deep dive into the science of nutrition. Long story. I'll spare you. But I've learned that some people can be sensitive to red meat (anything mammal). It's just a little too close to cannibalism, and cannibalism causes all kinds of neurological disorders. For other people, any form of animal protein can be slightly toxic -- including fish. There have been cases of dementia and parkinsons disease reversed by eliminating animal proteins from their diets. But it doesn't work for everyone. You have to experiment and see what your body responds to.

Just so you know I'm not saying this for an animal rights agenda, I also learned that saturated fat from animals -- lard, tallow, ghee (butter with the milk proteins removed), is actually healthier for your brain than any vegetable oils, including coconut oil. Seed oils are the worst. But (and this is vitally important) you have to keep your saturated fat intake below 8% to 10% of total calories or it can cause deadly heart disease. (About two tablespoons per day on a 2000 calorie per day diet seems to be perfectly safe.)

Anyone under the age of 25 probably needs animal protein in their diets. They're still building muscle and other body structures. After 25 we don't typically do as much of that anymore, so we don't (on average) need as much protein anymore. There's plenty of protein in the vegetables and grains we eat.

Sugar is also toxic to your brain. It has about 3/4 of the toxic effects of alcohol. Remember Ronald Regan? He ate a lot of jelly beans every day. That was probably why his alzheimers disease was so profound. (this is just one anecdote, but it's illustrative.)

For some people the sugar toxicity stops with refined sugar, but for other people it extends into the high glycemic foods like white rice and potatoes. Again, you have to experiment, but this typically requires continuous blood glucose monitoring. Not cheap.

The bottom line: Eliminate sugar and animal proteins from your diet, eat about 8% of your calories from saturated fat (your brain is actually mostly made from saturated fatty acids), and use a mono-unsaturated fat (olive oil or avocado oil) for the rest of your fats, and your brain should be fine into old age. I used to be a hearty meat and potatoes man who drank a soda with dinner every night, but my research has turned me into a beans (cooked with lard!), grains (oatmeal flavored with ghee is great!) and colorful vegetables guy who only drinks water, tea and coffee.

A word about lard -- don't buy it. Store bought lard usually has a lot of trans fat mixed in. Trans fats are deadly. You can render your own lard (or tallow) easily using a microwave oven and a coffee filter. But you can research how to do that yourself. Store bought ghee seems to be fine.

FYI, I'm not a doctor. But I am a professional researcher trained in critical thinking skills. I'm not going to say more. Do your own research, but be careful. There's a lot of misinformation out there about keto and carnivore diets from people with an agenda. Short term results, even five years, are not the same as 100 year longevity with your wits and agility intact. Look at what the centenarians are eating. More importantly, what they were eating 50 years ago, and in what total quantities and proportions. And remember, medical science deals with averages. But no one is average. We are all unique. There are more than 10,000 chemical mechanisms in the human body related to diet and nutrition. Only a fraction of them have been investigated. The more confident someone seems to be about nutrition, the more skeptical you should be about their claims. Myself included.

Good luck out there.