Winter Maladies: Natural Approaches
June Russell's Health Facts
Safer Ways to Maximize Brain Functioning
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[Phosphatidylserine]
[Acetyl-l-carnitine]
[Vitamin E]
[Diet]
More than three-fourths of Americans suffer from every day memory lapses, decreased alertness and forgetfulness. It can begin as early as age 30! You don’t have to be old to suffer from a decline in brain function, but loss of mental sharpness deepens with aging. Beside memory impairment we may experience more mood swings, stress-related problems, withdrawal and other manifestations of cognitive impairment usually associated with aging.
Phosphatidylserine
There is an essential fatty acid called phosphatidylserine (PS) that has been shown to boost brain function and revitalize memory. The FDA made it official that the manufacturers of PS can now make the claim that it may reduce the risk of cognitive dysfunction and reduce the risk of dementia in the elderly. Studies have shown that 300 mg of PS per day has improved mental function. They suggest an excellent book called The Memory Cure, by Thomas H. Crook III, PhD, and Brenda Adderly, MHA, 1998) that specifically addresses the benefits and usage of PS.
Of the more than 30 million Americans over the age of 65, more than 50% are likely to experience impaired capabilities to recall names and numbers, manipulate words, or to concentrate at work and maintain focus while at play. The effects of aging can be amplified by medication side effects, substance abuse, metabolic disorders, neurological disorders, infections, trauma, toxins, hormonal changes, tumors, depression and circulatory disorders. When these occur the communication between nerve cells become harder and less reliable. As you get older, your own natural production of phosphatidylserine (PS) drops off sharply, and it is important to make up the difference with PS supplementation. There is a naturally-occurring substance that nourishes your brain and slows or even reverses mental capacity loss. It can improve learning, boost memory, increase concentrations and improve your mind. This substance is called phosphatidylserine (PS). There are more than 60 human studies and over 3,000 scientific papers confirm that PS helps prevent age-related dementia. Scientists at the world-renowned Vanderbuilt University investigated PS and to their amazement, their own studies were even more impressive than earlier studies. Dr. Sherry Rogers reports in her book “Total Wellness” that earlier intervention is essential, because memory loss is easier to reverse at earliest stages, and even easier to prevent. Dr. Rogers says, “A mere 300 mg a day in over a dozen studies has provided marked improvement in memory and thinking ability. It has reversed early Alzheimer’s as well as depression, ’winter blues,’ seizures, crankiness and more. Although there are those who do not have dramatic improvements. Studies show that PS can slow down their brain and nerve degeneration. Dr. James Balch explains in “Prescription for Healthy Living”: “As long as you have plenty of PS in your bloodstream, your body automatically builds thousands of vibrant, healthy new brain cells at any age.” The FDA, although it has found enough evidence to approve PS, still concludes there is little scientific evidence supporting this claim. ( Editor's comment: This statement is from an agency that admits favoring the drug agencies over supplements and nutrients.) Dr. Balch recommends a beginning regimen of 100 mg of PS taken at each meal for a total of 300 mg a day for one month, then reducing the intake of PS to 100 mg total for a day.
PS may be helpful for: age-related illness due to stress, seasonal mood swings (feeling down in the dumps), mental impairment due to alcohol consumption, immune support, memory loss, “age-proofing” the brain, improving absentmindedness, age-related dementia and age-related cognitive dysfunction. Acetyl-l-carnitineAcetyl-l-carnitine (ALC) is a naturally occurring compound, and in multiple studies ALC appears promising as a brain-booster and memory enhancer for normal, healthy people, as well as a form of treatment for serious cognitive conditions like Alzheimer’s disease. In a study of 279 individuals, ages 60 to 80, with mild to moderately severe decline in mental function, ALC significantly improved cognitive function, emotional status, and behavior. ALC is structurally similar to carnitine, a molecule involved in energy metabolism, and also to acetylcholine, a compound that plays a role in central nervous system function.
Several other studies have confirmed the value of this compound for individuals with age-related mental decline. ACL is available by prescription only, so you will need to contact your doctor, or a doctor who is skilled and knowledgeable in alternative medicine if you want to try it. (For a list of alternative doctors in your area see www.acam.org.) Although the study used 1,500 mg of ALC, a “lower” dose is 250 mg once or twice a day. Check with your doctor to see what dosage is best for you. You should notice results within one to three months if the treatment is going to work, though some people report that they feel more alert within hours of taking it. Vitamin E
If you are wanting to reduce memory loss and learning problems, here is a much safer way: vitamin E intake is associated with less cognitive decline with age. In The Archives of Neurology, an AMA publication, those consuming about 258 mg a day had a 36 percent reduction in memory loss than those taking only 4.5 mg.
Diet
Researchers at the University of California in Los Angeles who studied Alzheimer’s in mice showed that consuming foods or supplements containing the omega-3 fatty acid known as DHA may be the best way to avoid Alzheimer’s disease — even if you carry a gene that makes you susceptible to the condition. Foods high in DHA are soy and fish or sardines,or can be taken in supplement form. The investigators encourage more people to consider increasing their DHA consumption. The study author, Greg Cole, PhD, said that the DHA-enriched diet was the ingredient that was holding the genetic disease at bay.
A high intake of the omega-3 fatty acid DHA can help protect the brain from memory loss and cell damage caused by Alzheimer’s disease. For the first time, neuroscientists have research that suggests that a diet rich in DHA, or docosahexaenoic acid, may help slow the progression of Alzheimer’s and even lower the risk of getting the disorder. Researchers have said that a study has proven that DHA “dramatically reduces the impact of the Alzheimer’s gene.” Exercise
Staying physically fit can reduce a person’s risk of cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and other conditions known to be associated with poor mental function in older adults. Cardiorespiratory fitness may be directly associated with blood flow to the brain.
Environmemt
Air pollution may cause brain damage similar to Alzheimer’s disease, as well as heart problems. Air pollution breaks down the vital blood-brain barrier that usually keeps toxic substances away from the brain, says Dr. Lilian Calderon-Garciduenas, of the University of North Carolina. Exposure to pollution causes inflammation in the respiratory tract.
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