Memory Loss
Memory is a multifaceted system synergistically created between the neurological system , the sensory system, and influenced by overall mental and emotional health. When memory as a whole is defined, it includes the ability to recall recent events, cherished landmarks in our own lives, tasks that we hope to accomplish, and facts and figures that give context to our daily interactions with the world.
The foundation for preserving high-functioning memory is the foundation of total wellness. Drinking sufficient water, regular exercise, and sufficient sleep are minimum requirements to keep your brain in proper order. All of these practices reduce stress, protect your circulatory system, and work to reduce inflammation. Inflammation presents a problem for memory in that it can lead to nerve damage and attack brain tissue directly, damaging the parts of the brain that process information and the parts that store the many different kinds of memory.
One supplement which is essential to brain health is omega-3 essential fatty acids, and, in particular, DHA, which functions as fuel for the further development of tissue in the brain. The brain, itself, is made up of 60% fat. Additionally, curcumin combats inflammation throughout your body. It can cross the blood-brain barrier to confront inflammation there, as well. Further, the B vitamins (B-6, B-12, folic acid) contribute to the proper functioning of your mental processes. Many people suffer from vitamin B deficiencies, as the synthetic forms in processed foods are not treated in your body as the natural forms, and commercial agricultural processes mean that our food supply is not as robust as it was in the past.
As I’m getting older, one of my biggest pet peeves only grows stronger—the myth that my brain is supposed to slow down as I age. This notion of inevitable “senior moments” couldn’t be further from the truth. It’s not natural for my brain or yours to slow with age. How long you live is not […]
For dementia caregivers, this devastating disease is a demanding disorder. It means understanding the dementia sufferer’s physical and emotional needs—with little help from the sufferer, who often can’t communicate their needs, especially around diet and mealtimes. As with every other disease, food can be helpful or harmful, a restorative blessing or a crippling curse. But […]
We’ve all been sick at one point or another. And after a few days of misery, plenty of rest, and maybe some medicine, we’ve gotten better…as good as new. However, in cases of more serious illnesses that require hospitalization, even if the infection is cured, research has found that we may not actually leave “as […]
Alzheimer’s is perhaps the scariest disease out there. Losing your mental faculties and sense of self is, for many people, much worse than losing physical skills or abilities with age. That’s why a new treatment, discovered at the University of Pennsylvania, is so exciting. It promises to improve memory—not just in Alzheimer’s patients, but potentially […]
What are Omega-3 fatty acids? Omega-3 fatty acids are one of several types of essential fatty acids (EFAs). They’re called EFAs because they’re essential to human health, but the body can’t make them, so they must come from dietary sources. The Standard American Diet is too low in these fats which are essential for good […]
Cognition: “The mental action or process of acquiring knowledge and understanding through thought, experience, and the senses.” Truly, nature’s gift that keeps on giving. Until illness or age begin to take it away. Which, thankfully, can be slowed and even prevented. Cognitive decline isn’t “natural” We used to think that when it comes to cognition, […]
When you’re young, nothing seems to matter. When your body is still young and fresh, it can compensate for almost anything. The older you get, though, the more help your body needs. Indeed, there are some medical researchers who classify aging as a disease—the one main disease that all others spring from. Now, I wouldn’t […]
There’s hope that the first true cure for Alzheimer’s disease is around the corner. In tests of patients with the disease, a new experimental drug removed plaque from their brains—amyloidal plaque—thought by many to be the underlying cause of the disease. This was a huge first. No previous drug, ever, had removed that plaque. Caution: […]
Over the past few years, I’ve seen an increase in patients who come in worried that they have ADHD, or ADD (they’re basically the same thing, with different names). Nothing has changed—the world isn’t suddenly creating more ADHD victims. However, as knowledge about this disorder has increased, more people are starting to realize that they’ve […]
A new study shows that lack of sleep helps set the stage for Alzheimer’s. Of course, Alzheimer’s is a complicated disease, with a strong genetic component. But, thanks to some new studies, we now know there’s no doubt—if you don’t get enough sleep, you’re at much greater risk of developing Alzheimer’s, along with other types […]
