Many people are guilty of the misconception that chiropractic is about bones (and the snapping or cracking of bones). Certainly bones and joints are manipulated and adjusted, but the true value of chiropractic is in strengthening roadways for nerves (it’s just that the skeletal system is what carries those nerves). The spinal column is the main highway for nerves, which is why the network is called the central nervous system (CNS), which is basically the brain and spinal cord. It’s like the tree trunk, and all the branches and roots are the nerves that literally “branch out” to the tips of our fingers and toes.

When years of bad posture or unnatural strain or acute injury damage this spinal column, it interferes with the nervous system’s ability to communicate with itself. This means the brain is disconnected from the rest of the body in its efforts to identify and correct problems. This also means the brain is not operating at its full capacity because it cannot gather all the details from the rest of the body the way it was meant to collect and process information. When the brain is cut off like this, it’s only a matter of time before operating at less-than-full capacity leads to dementia (which is also a form of operating at incomplete capabilities).

Choosing a chiropractor can be a tricky situation. Certainly the idea of having the neck snapped is a scary thought. There are also different schools of chiropractic with different training techniques and emphasis. If choosing a chiropractor to prevent dementia, ask a lot of questions up front about their specialty and health focus. Look for someone with a gentle approach; someone with an aggressive approach may do more harm than good.